Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1845-12-04

occupied an attitude Of hostilify towards tho
United Staies--kas been nlarshalling and ofeani-
King armies, issuing Proclamntious, and eyow-
Ing the intention 10 make war on The United
ling Texas. Both the Congress and COnvenfion
Z Of To people Of TEXAS insted his government
10 send an army into thst territory, % protect and
I defend them against the menAced attack ins
= mosnant tie teStns q enuexafion, oefed ~ me
United Staies were accepted BY Texas. the ialtef
{ became 50 far 4 part Of onr own country, - ~
make il our duty to atI0fd such prctection anoae
: fence. therefore deemed il proper, az Precaa-
tieaary measurc 70 oder strong squadron % the
2 coasts Of Mexico, and 70 concentrate A egeient
I military force on the western frontier q lexas.
: IOur army was ordered % take position ~ the
: country between the Nueces and The Del Merle,
and 70 repel any invasion Of the Texas territory
which might be attempted By the Mexican iorees.
Oar squadron IN the gulfwas orderedt eo-opeSale
with the army Bat though cur army and navy
were placed 10 position e protect our OWE, and
the rights Of Texas they were ordered 70 ccntnir
no act OF hostility against Mexico, unless she de-
clared war, or was herself the agsressor by strik
j ing the 6rsi blow. The result has been, that
\ Mexico has made no aggressive movement, and
our military and naval commanders have executed
their orders with SUCH discretion, that the
peace. Of the iso republics has not been dis
turhed. x@4 fe
Texas had declared her Independence, and
maintained it By her arms for more than nine
years. She had has an organized government
in successful operation during that period. Her
separate existaDce, as an independent State, had
been recognised by the United States and the
principal powers Of Europe. Treaties Of com
> merce and navigation had been concluded with
her BY different nations: and it become mani
fest to the whole world that any further attempt
on the part OF Mexico 70 conquer her, or over
her IN
Mexico herself had become satisfied Of tits
..act, and Wills. the question OF annexation was
pending before the people Of Texas, during the
! past summer, the government Of Mexico, BY a
tormalact, agreed TO recognise the Independence
OF Texas on condition that she would not annex
: herself to any other Power. The agreement to
! acknowledge The Independence of Texas, whe-
: Their with or without this condition, is: conclu-
!, sive against Mexico. The independence of
Texas is a fact conceded BY Mexico herself,
: and she had no right or authority to prescribe
I restrictions as to the form Of government which
= Texas might afterwards choose to assume
: But though Mexico cannot complain Of the
: Hnited States on account of the annexation sof
Texas il Is to be regretted that serious causes OF
: misunderstanding between the two countries,
continue to exist, growing out Of upredressed in
: jufies inflicted by the Mexican authorities and
: people on the persons and property Of citizens
J of the United States, through long series Of
years. Mexico has admitted these injuries, but
! has neglected and refused to repair them Such
1 was the character Of the wrongs, and such the
y insults repeatedly offered to American citizens
Y and the American flag by Mexico, in palpable
! violation Of the laws Of nations and the treaty
:, between the two countris Of the fifth Of April
= 1881, that they have been repeatedly brought tc
{ the notice Of Congress by my predecessors As
= eagly as the eighth Of February, 1887, the Pre-.
:, sident Of the United States declared, in mes.
= sage to Congress, that the length Of time since
: some Of the injuries have been committed, ule
q repeated and unayailing applications for redress
= the wanton character Of some Of the outrages
: upon the persons and property Of our citizens
= upon the officers and flag of the Uhited States
independent of recent insults to this government
j and people by the late Extraordinary Mexican
minister, would justify in the eyes OF all nation.
: immediate war" He did not, however, recon
: mend an immediate resortto this extreme mea
: sure, which, he declared, 'should not be used b,
" just and generous nations, coniding in theil
strength for Injuries committed, if it can be hon
Z orally avoided" but, in spirit of forbearanee
= proposed that another demand be made on Mexico
for that redress which had been so long and m
= Justly withheld. In theseg views, committees o
= the two houses of Congress, III reports made e
= their respective bodies, concured. Since these
, proceedings more than eight years have elapsed
: during which, in addition 70 The svrans. a.
y complained Of others OF an aggravated charaete
u have been committed on the persons and properly
i, Of our citizens. A special agent was sent 4
= Mexico in the summer Of 1888, with full authhri
: ty To make another and final demand for redress
Q The demand was made the Mexican government
{ promised TO repair the wrongs Of which we CON.
. planned and after much delay, a treaty of inieH.
; nifty with that view was concluded between The
two Powers on the eleventh of April, 1889, and
Hulu ifaI b,, bnfh Al.
trcafy a, joint commission was created TO adudi-
cate and decide on the claims of American citi-
zens on the government of Mexico The commits
sion was organ zed at Washington on The twenty
fifth day Of August, 1910. Their time was limit
ed TO eighteen months, at the expiration Of which,
they had adjudicated and decided claims amount
ing TO two millions, twenty-six thousand one
hundred and thirty-nine dollars and sixty-eieht
cents in favor Of citizens Of the United States
against the Mexican government, leaving .
large amount of claims undecided OF the BIT
ter, the American commissioners had decided in
favor Of our citizens, claims amounting to nine
hundred and twenty-eight thousand six hundred
and twenty-seven dollars and lightweight cents
which were LEFT Enacted on by tie umpire author
lied by the treaty. Still further claims. amount
ing to between three and four millions Of dollars,
were submitted to the board too late to be consid-
cred, and were left undisposed Of. The sum or
4 Two llttons twenty six thouSanG one hundred and
thirty nine dollars and sixty-eight cents, decided
by the board, was lquidated and ascertaned
debt due by Mexico to the claimants, and there
Twas no justifable reason for delsyingfts payment
according to the terms Of the treaty 1t was
not however, paids Mexico applied for further
indulgence; and, in that sprit6f hberality and
forbearance which has ever marked the policy Of
the United States towards that republic the re-
quest was granted; and on the thirtieth Of jan
uary, 1913, new treaty was concluded By this
treaty it was provided, that the interest due on
tho awards in favor OF claimants under the con-
venilon Of the eleventh Of April, 1889, should be
paid on the thirtieih Of April 1913; and that's The
principal Of the said awards ana the interest arts.
ing thereon, shah be paid in FIVE years, in equal
instruments every three months; the said term
Of five years TO commence on tie thirtieth day Of
April, 1913, IS Aforesaid The interest due on
me JIM; :;, :. AL, ls.3, and The three rst
o. The twenty instalmeRtss have been paid. Sev.
eateen OF these instalmenis gcmsia unpaid, seven
OF which are now due. s
III The clnirris Styhrh ttcsa len nnla ;4.I NJ tta