The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-06-10
lro thn edilor Of ths union.l
WASHINGTON, June 10, ls45.

ITO the editor of the union.l
WASHINGTON, June 10, 1916
SIR: In consequence of the many stateme nts
made in different newspapers, but principally IN the
New York Herald and Journal OF Commerce, IN
relation TO the Mexican instruments due on the Goth
April and 30th July, 1914, deem il proper for the
information of those who really desire information,
to state what confident are the real facts Of the
case.
Mr.. Voss received from the minister of the treas
ury, drafts upon the departmental treasures of Qua
dalajara, Gpanauato, and, believe, Zacatecas. He
took these drafts to the house Of Tayleur Jamison
& Co., one Of the best English commercial houses
in Mexico, and requested them to be sent on for
collection. They were sent on; and the reply was,
that the drafts were good, and would be paid as
any revenue could be collected for that pur-
pose. In consequence of the revolution, and the
distracted state Of things in Mexico SINCE they have
not yet been paid.
When left Mexico, | knew that these drafts had
not been paid and that the money for them had not
been received by any agent of the United Sates but
did not know upon whom, or what place, they
were drawn, or who was the person employed by
MIR. Voss to collect them, One of the partners OF
the house of Tayleur, Jamson g. Co. was recently
in this city. He informed me that his house had
sent the drafts ON that the above stated had
been given when the drafts presented; and that
they had not been paid when he left Mexico, about
three months since.
being unable to pay all the drafts and orders out
standing, and of which payment had been inter-
rupted by the revolution, had established fund Of
so much per cent. of the revenues of the custom
houses, if ! remember rightly, Of Monterey and
Matamoras; that all persons holding such drafts or
orders had been forced to come into this arrange
ment, except Mr. Voss, in whose favor an excep-
ton had been made; and that the minister of the
treasury had made this exception in Mr.. Voss's
favor, and had agreed to make some arrangement
to pay his drafts as soon possible and in prefer
ence to all others, because his drafts given for
the American instruments, which had not been paid
but that this arrangement with Mr.. Voss had not
been completed when he left Mexico. Two other
gentlemen recently from Mexico, one Swiss, and
the other Scotch merchant, informed me that this
preference in Mr.. Voss's favor had been made. In
reply to my inquiry how Mr. Voss had succeeded
in obtaining this preference, one of them replied
that he supposed it was because the Mexican gov
eminent feared that our government would resent
the manner in which its agent, Mr.. Voss, had been
treated
II is proper to add, that even had the money been
paid TO Mr.. Voss in Mexico, it would not have
released the Mexican government, because its re-
sponsibility, according to the treaty, remains until
the money reaches Vera Cruz. The custom in
paying these instruments has been to deliver the
money to Mr. Voss in Mexico, TO be counted; it is
then redelivered to the Mexican government, and at
its risk carried to Vera Cruz, where it is delivered
to Mr.. Voss's partners, and final receipt given.
When Mr.. Voss received the drafts above refer
red to, he told Mr.. Shannon that he was confident
the money would be paid, and that in fact he might
write home that it had been paid. Both Mr.. Shan
non and Mr.. Voss felt confident the money would
be paid, and hence the notice Of payment published
in the United States Of all the previous instruments
Mr.. Voss had advanced large portion. But in the
case of these ins,alments he positively refused
to make any advance, because the Minister of the
Treasury had failed to pay him for his last advance
according to promise. Had the drafts given to Mr.
Voss been paid, suppose the money would have
been advanced in Mexico by Tayleur, Jamison, &
Co., and delivered to the Mexican government to
be transported to Vera Cruz at the risk of that gov
eminent.
trust that those persons who only wish to know
whether the money was really ever received by
MIR. Voss or not will be satisfied by this statement
that it was not and that however indiscreet Mr..
Voss may had been in taking these drafts, or Mr..
Shannon in announcing the payment, their honor
and honesty ought not to be mpeached assailed
on vague surmise.
As regards the clamor raised against Mr. Shannon
because of his silence this point, it by no means
him. that he has not written; for his letters may
have miscarred or been intercepted-no unusual cir
cumstance between this and Mexico. If he has not
written however, it has been owing to his illness
and to the expectation that this money would be paid
from day to day.
The object of the virulent attacks made by the
Washington correspondent of the New York Her
aid and Journal of Commerce, upon Mr.. Shannon,
the present and late Secretaries of State, and the
President himself, is to drive the President to pay
the amount of the instalments in question, out of
the appropriation made last session. to be applied
to that purpose in the event that the money had
been received by the agents of the United States.
should like to see the claimants paid think that
their claims have never been pressed with sufficient
energy, or as France or England would have press
ed the claims of their citizens. | have no interest
in opposing the wishes of the claimants at this time.
am not responsible in any way, either for the ar
rangement with Hargous & Co., or for the forth
coming Of the much questioned instalments. My
name is not connected with the matter in any way,
further than that in reply to an inquiry from the
Secretary ofState, on my return from Mexico,
gave him all the information possessed 1t is due
to myself therefore, to stae-and desire the claim
ants, to whose wishes am forced to speak adverse
ly, to understand--that have been drawn into this
statement by the attacks of the person who writes
these articles in the New York Herald and Journal
of Commerce, upon Gov. Shannon, Mr.. Calhoun,
Mr.. Buchanan, the President himself, and your
humble servant,
BEN. E. GREEN.