Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1845-12-06

relations Of good understanding between the two Republics,
waived all ceremony the of renewing diplomatic
intercourse between them, and assuming the initiative,
the 10th Of November distinguished citizen Of Louisiana
appointed Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenpotenary
to Mexico clothed with full powers TO adjust and denivey
settle all pending differences between the two countries,
GLIDING those boundary between Mexico and the State OF
Texas The Minister appointed has set out his mission,
and is probably by this time the Mexican capital He
has been instructed bring the negotiation with which he is
charged to conclusion at the earliest practicable period
which, is expected will be Ia time TO enable to
ncae that result Congress during the present session I'M
ill that result is known orhear to recommend to Congress
such Interior Of redress for the wrongs and injuries
have long borne would have been proper TO make
had no such negotiation been instituted
Congress appropriated al the last the of two
hundred and sovenyve thousand dollars for the payment Of
the April and July nsaments OF the Mexican inemnies for
the year 1874 Provided shall be the Balls
faction Of the American Government that said ipstalnents
have been paid by the Mexican to the agent APP
pointed by the United States the same such man.
TO discharge all claim the Mexican Government and
said agent TO be delinquent in renting the money the Uni
ted Saies."
The unsettled state Of relations with Mexico has in
voved this subject in much mystery The FIRST information
in authentic FORM from the agen. Of the United States APP
pointed under the Administration of predecessor was re-
ceved at the State Department the ninth Of November
last This contained in letter dated the seventeenth Of
October, addressed by him Of ci1es then in
Mexico, with the view Of having it communicated thai De-
parmen From this appears that the agent the tven-
ueh OF September, 1874, gave receipt the Treasury of
Mexico for the amount Of the April and July nsamens Of
the indemnify In the communication however, he as
sers that he had not received single dollar in cash but that
he holds such securities warranted HIM at the time in CIV
ing the receipt and entefanso doubt but that he will
uay obtain the money As these instruments appear never
to have bsen actually paid by the of Mexico to
the agent and that Government has not therefore been
leased SO as to discharge the claim do not feel myself
raned in directing payment be made TO the claimants out
OF the Treasury without further legislation Their case is
undoubtedly one Of much hardship and remains for Con-
gress TO decide whether any and what relief ought be
granted to Them Our Minister to Mexico has been INSTRUCT
ed to ascertain the facts Of the from the Mexican Govern
men in authentic and official form, and report the result
with as little delay possibs.
My attention WA early directed the negotiation which,
on the fourth OF March last found pending Washington
besween the United States and Great the subject Of
the Oregon territory Three several attempts had been pre-
vousy made to settle the questions dispute between the two
countries by negotiations upon the principle of compromise but
each had proved unsuccessful
These negotiations took place at London the years 49,
1874, and $50; the two first under the administration of
Mr.. Monroe and the last under that of Mr. Adams The
negotiation Of 1918 having failed accomplish s object re-
suited IN the convention of the goth of October Of that year.
by the third article Of that convention it agreed that
any country that may be claimed by either party the north
west coast OF America, westward Of the Stony Mountains
SHALL together with its harbor bays and creeks and the
vgaon Of all rivers within the same be free and open the
term oil ten years from the date of the signature the present
convention, to the vessels citizens and subjects of the
Powers being well understood that this agreement not
the two high contracting parties may have any part of the
said country, shall be taken affect the claims of any
other Power or State to any part of the said country the
object OF the high contracting parties in that respect being
70 prevent disputes and differences among themselves"
The negotiation of 1924 productive Of no result and
the convention of 1918 was left unchanged.
The negotiation of 1895, having also failed to effect ad
usiment by compromise, resulted in the convention Of Au
gust the 9th 1927, by which agreed to continue
force, for an indefinite period, the provisions of the third
Gle of the convention Of the Goth Of October 1885, and
was iuiher provided that 1T shall be competent however, to
either of the contracting parties in case either should think
h at any time after the Goth of October 1925 giving
notice of twelve months TO the other contracting party to
nut and abrogae this conventions and it SHALL such case
be accordingly entirely annued and abrogated after the exp
ration OF The said OF notice. In these attempts 10 adjust
The controversy the parallel Of the forty ninth degree north
latitude had been Offered by the United Great B
an and IN those OF 1918 aud 1925, with further
SION OF the ee navigation OF the Columbia river south of that
latitude The parallel Of the fortynnth degree from the
Rocky Mountains to its with the norteasenmot
branch OF the Columbia and thence down the channel Of that
river to the sea- had been offered by Great Britain with an
addition OF small detached territory north Of the Columbia
Each oil these propositions had been rejected by the parties
respectively.
In october lsi3, the Envoy Extraordinary and Minister
fenlPotentaTy OF the United States London was auhoz
ed to make similar offer 10 those made in 1918 and 1875
ihus stood the question when the negotiation was shortly az
Unconstitutional to ashington and on the 23d of
1874 formally opened under the nv immediate
predecessor Like all the previous negotiations it was based
OF the parties to treat Of the respective claims
countries to the Oregon territory with the view 10 establish
permanent boundary between them westward Of the Rocky
Mountains 10 the Pacific Ocean, Accordingly ION the 26h
OF August, 1914, the British Penpoeniay offered divide
the Oregon territory by the forty ninth parallel Of north la
ude from the Rocky Mountains the point Of ntesec
ton with the northeasernmos branch of the Columbia river
and thence down that river the sea- leaving the free
CATION OF the river TO be enjoyed by both parties
the county south Of this line belong to the United States
and that north of it TO Great Britain. AT the same time he
proposed In addition yield to the United States detac-
ed territory north OF the Columbia extending along the pac
hc and the Straits of Fuca from Bunchs Habo inclusive
to Hoods Canal and make free to the United States any
port ports south Of latitude degrees which they
might DESIRE either the main land or on Quadra and Van
couvers Island With the exception Of the free ports this
the offer which had been made by the British and
rejected by the American Government in the negotiation Of
1926 This proposition properly rejected by the Ame
can PleniPoenary on the day it submitted. This
the only proposition OF compromise offered by the British
Penipotentary The proposition the part of Great Britain
having been rejected the British Plenpoeniay requested
that proposal should be made by the United States
equitable adjustment Of the question"
When came into Office, found this to be the state
of the negotiation Though entertaining the settled con-
maintained to any portion Of Oregon territory upon any
principle Of public law recognised by nations yet in defer
ence to what had been done by my predecessors and epe
caly IN consideration that propositions Of compromise had
been thrice made by two preceding Administrations adjust
the question on the parallel of forty degrees and
OF them yielding Great Britain the free navigation Of the
Columbia, and that The pending negotiation had been
menced on the basis Of compromise deemed it to be my
duty not abruptly break Off In consideration too that
under the conventions Of 1918 and 1927 the citizens and
subjects Of the two Powers held joint occupancy Of the
try induced make another effort n settle this lono-