The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1845-12-16

vi April, 1910; ana lldI "lHe pIlHClpdl vi
the said awards, and the interest arising
} thereon, shall be paid in five years, in equal
irstaIments, every three months; the said
term of five years to commence on the thir-
tieth day of April, ls43, as aforesaid" The
interest due on the thirtieth day of April,
ls43, and the three first of the twenty install
ments, have been paid. Seventeen of thes e
instaments remain unpaid seven of which
are now due. ..
The claims which were left undecided by
f the joint commission, amounting 10 more
than three millions of dollars, together with
other claims for spoliations on the property
of our citizens, were subsequently presented
to the Mexican government for payment, and
were so far recognised, that treaty, provid-
ing for their examination and settlement by
Joint commission, was concluded and signed
al Mexico on the twentieth day of November,
ls42. This treaty was ratified by the United
States, with certain amendments, TO which
no Just exception could have been taken
but it has not yet received the ratification Of
the Mexican government. In the meantime,
our citizens who suffered great losses, and
some of whom have been reduced from af-
fuence to bankruptcy, are without remedy,
unless their rights be enforced by their 60
vernment. Such continued and unprovok-
ed series of wrongs could never have been
tolerated by the United States, had they been
committed by one of the principal nations of
Europe. Mexico was, however, a neighber-
ing sister republic, which, following our
example, had achieved her independence,
and for whose success and prosperity all our
sympathes were early enlisted The United
States were the first to recognise her nde-
pendence, and TO receive her into the family
of nations, and have ever been desirous of
cultivating with her good understanding.
We have, therefore, borne the repeated
wrongs she has committed, with great pa
tience, in the hope that returning sense of
justice would ultimately guide her councils,
and that we might, if possible, honorably
avoid any hostile collision with her.
Without the previous authority of Congress,
the Executive possessed no power 70 adopt
or enforce adequate remedies for the injuries
we had suffered, or TO do more than be pre-
pared 10 rcpel 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 hos
tile movement on her part, though her men
aces were continued, deemed it important
to put an end, if possible, TO this state of
things. With this view, | caused steps to be
taken in the mouth of September last, to as
certain distinctly, and in an authentic form,
what the designs of the Mexican government
were; whether it was their intention to de-
clare war, or invade Texas, or whether they
were disposed to adjust and settle, in an
amicable manner, the pending differences
between the two countries. On the ninth
of November an 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 accredt minister
from the United States. With sincere
desire to preserve peace, and restore rela-
tons of good understanding between the
two republics, waived all ceremony as to
the manner Of renewing diplomatic inter-
course between them; and, assuming the
initiative, on the tenth Of November a dis
tnguished citizen of Louisiana was appoint
ed envoy extraordinary and minister pleni-
potentiary 20 Mexico, clothed with full powers
to adjust, and defnitively settle, all pending
differences between the two countries, in
cludng those of boundary between Mexico
and the State of Texas. The minister ap-
pointed has set out OH his mission, and is
probably by this time near the Mexican capi-
tai. He has been instructed 10 bring the ne
gotiaton with which he is charged TO con-
clusion at the earliest practicable period
which, it is expected, will be in time TO
enable me to communicate the result 10
Congress during the present session. Until
that result is known, forbear to recommend
to Congress such ulteror measures Of redress
for the wrongs and injuries we have so long
borne, as it would have been proper 10 make,
had no such negotiation been instituted.
Congress appropriated, at the last session,
the sum of two hundred and seventy-fve
thousand dollars for the payment of the April
and July instalments Of the Mexican indem-
mites for the year 1874: "Provided it shall
be ascertaned to the satisfaction of the A
merican government that said instalments
have been paid by the Mexican government
to the agent appointed by the United States
to receive the same, in such manner as 10
discharge all claim on the Mexican govern
ment, and said agent TO be delinquent in re-
mitting the money to the United States"
The unsettled state of our relations with
Mexico has involved this subject in much
mystery. The first information, in an authen-
tic form, from the agent Of the United States,
appointed under the administration of my
predecessor, was received at the State De-
partment on the ninth of November last
This is contained in letter, dated the seven