The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1845-12-06
in favor of citizens of the United State. agains.

oil claims undecided. vi the latter, the Amerl-
can commissioners had decided in favor of our
citizens, claims amounting To nine hundred and
twenty. eight thousand six hundred and twenty
seven dollars and eighty eight cents, which were
left Enacted on by the umpire authorized by the
treaty. Still further claims, amounting 10 be-
tween three and four millions of dollars, were
submitted to the board too late to be considered,
and were left undisposed of. The sum of two
millions twenty-six thousand one hundred and
thirty nine dollars and sixty eight cents, decided
by the board, was a liquidaed and ascer,ained
debt due by Mexico To the claimants, and there
was no juslifiabe reason for delaying its payment
according to the terms or the treaty. Ii was not,
however, paid. Mexico applied for further in
diligence and, in that spirit Of berality and for
beaIance which has ever marked the policy of the
United States towards that republic, the request
was granted and on the 30th of January, IS4S,
new treaty was concluded. BY this treaty i.
was provided, that the interest due on the awards
in favor of clalments under the convention Of the
lth of April, 1899. should be paid on the 30ih of
April, 1913; and that the principal of the sa id
awards and the interest arising. thereon, shall be
paid in five years. in equal instaments every three
months the said term Of five years to commence
the 30th day of April lS43, and the three first
of the twenty instalmen's, have been paid Seven
teen of these nsialments remain unpaid seven of
which are now due.
The claims which were left undecided bv the
joint commission, amounting to more than three
millions of DOLLARS together with other claims for
spnllaiions on the property of our citizens were
subsequently presented 10 the Mexican govern
ment for payment, and were so far recognized.
that a treaty, providing for the examination and
| settlement by joint commission, was concluded
and signed at Mexico on the twentieth day of
October, 1S43. This treaty was ratified by the
| United States, with certain amendments, to
which no just exception could have been taken
but 1t has not yet received the ratification of the
Mexican government. In the mean time, our
citizens who has suffered great losses, and some
of whom have been reduced from affluence to
bankruptcy, are without remedy, unless their
rights be enforced by their government Such,
continued and unprovoked series of wrongs could
never have been tolerated by the United States
had they had been committed by one of the prin-
cipa nations of Europe. Mexico was. however,
neghboring sister republic, which, following
our example, had achieved her independence, and
for whose success and prosperity all our sympa-
thies were early enlisted. The United States
were the first to recognize her independence, and
to receive her into the family of nations and have
ever been DESTROYS uf cutivating with her good
understanding. We have, therefore, borne the
repeated wrongs she has committed, with great
patience, in the hope that returning sense of
justice would ultimately guide her councils and
that we might, if possible, honorable avoid any
hostile collision with her.
Without the previous authority of Congress,
the Executive possessed power to adopt or
enforce adequate remedies for the injuries we had
suffered, or 10 do more than be prepared to repel
the threatened aggression on the part of Mexico.
After our army and navy had remained on the
frontier and coasts of Mexico for many weeks,
without any hostile movement on her part though
her menaces were continued, deemed it impor-
tant to put end, if possible, to this state of
things. With this view, | caused steps TO be
taken, in the month of September last, to ascer-
tain distinctly, and in an authentic form, what
the designs of the Mexican government were; ;
whether it was their intention to declare war, or
invade Texas, or whether they were disposed to
adjust and settle, in amicable manner, the
pending differences between the two countries
On the ninth of November official answer was
received, that the Mexican government consented
| to renew the diplomatic relations which had been
suspended in March last, and for that purpose
were willing to accredit a minister from the
| United States With a sincere desire to pre- =
serve peace, and restore relations of good under
standing between the two republics, | waived all
ceremony as to the manner of renewing diplomat
ic intercourse between them and, assuming the
initiative, on the tenth of November distln
guished citizen OF Louisiana was appointed Envoy
| Extraordinary and Minister PenipolentaIy to
Mexico, clothed with full powers to adjust, and
defntivey settle, ali pending differences be-
tween the two countries. including those of boun
Diary between Mexico and the State of Texas.
The minister appointed has set out on his mission,
and is probably by this time near the Mexican
capital. He has been instructed to bring the
negotiation with which he is charged, to con-
cluslon at the earliest practicable period; which,
it is expected, will be in time TO enable me 10
communicate the result to Congress during the
present session. Until that result IS known,
foTbear to recommend to Congress such ulierior
measures Of redress for the wrongs and injuries
we have so long borne, as it would have been
proper to make had no such negotiation been in
Stituted.
Congress appropriated, at the last session, the
sum of two hundred and seventy five thousa nd
dollars for the payment Of the April and July in
slamenis Of the Mexican indemnities for the year
1914 Provided it shall be ascertained to the
satisfaction of the American government that said
instruments have been paid by the Mexican gov
eminent to the agent appointed by the United
States to receive the same, in such manner as Ia
discharge all claim on the Mexican government
and said agent to be delinquent in RENTING the
money to the United States
The unsettled state Of our relations with Mex
co has involved this subject in much mystery