The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1845-12-09

Both the Congress and convention OF the people
of Texas invited this Government to send an ar
my into that territory, to protect and defend them
against the menaced attack. The moment the
terms of annexation, offered by the United States,
were accepted by Texas, the latter became so lar
a part OF our own country, as to make IT our duty
TO afford such protec ton and defence. L there
fore deemed it proper, as precautionary mea-
sure, To order a strong squadron to the coasts OF
Mexico and to concentrate an efficient military
force on the western frontier of Texas. Our ar
INV was ordered TO take position in the country
between the Nueces and the Del Nerie, and to
rcpel any invasion of the Texan territory which
might be attempted by the Mexican forces. Oul
SQUADRON in the gull was ordered 10 cooperate
with the army But though our army and navy
were placed IN position TO defend our own and
the rights of Texas, they were ordered to commit
no act of hostility against Mexico, unless she de-
clarcd war; or was herself the aggressor, by strik
ing the first blow The result has been that mex
leo has made no aggressive movement, and our
military and naval commanders have executed
their orders with such discretion, that the peace
of the two republics has not been disturbed
Texas had declared her independence, and
maintained it by her arms for more than nine
years She has had organized government
IN successful operation during that period. Her
separate existence, as an independent otale, hao
been recornized by the United States and the
inerce and navigation had been concluded with
her by different nations, and II had become man
ifest TO the hole world that any farther attempt
on the part of Mexico TO conquer her, or over
throw her government, would be VAIN Even
Mexico herself had become satisfied OF this fact ;
and whilst the Question of annexation was pend
inc before the people of Texas, during the past
summer. the government of Mexico by formal
act agreed TO recognize the independence OF Tex
as on condition that she would not annex her
selfto any other power. The agreement to &C
knowledge the independence of Texas, whether
with or without this condition, is conclusive a
qainst Mexico. The independence OF Texas is
fact conseded by Mexico herself, and she had
no right or authority 10 prescribe restrictions as
to the form of government which Texas might
afterwards choose to assume.
But though Mexico cannot complain of the u
nited States on account of the anne Ration of Tex
as il is TO be regretted that serious causes of
misunderstanding between the two countries
continue to exist, growing out of unredressed
injuries inflicted by the Mexican authorities and
people OH the persons and property of citizens of
the United States, through long series of years.
Mexico has admitted these injuries, but has neg
lected and refused TO repair them Such was
the character of the wrongs, and such the insult
repeatedly offered to Aincricancitizens and the
American flag by Mexico, in palpable violation
Of the laws OF nations and the treaty between the
two ct"utres the filth Of April 1881, thatthey
| have bcen repe-'edly tr Iught TO the notice OF
Congress by my pr, ,'Hessors- As early as the
eighth of February, Ioj7, the President of the
United States declared, in message TO Congress
that ''the length of time since some of the INT
res have been committed, the repeated and una
vailing applications for redress Ia" wanton chdr-
acter of some of the outrages upon the persons
and property of our citizens, upon the officers
and flag of the United States, Independent OF
recent insults to this government and people Dy
the late Extraordinary Mexican minister, would
Justify in the eyes of all nations immediate war. >
He did not, however, recommend an immedi-
ate resort TO this extreme measure, which, he
declared, "should not be used by Just and gener-
Gus nations, confiding in their strength for niu-
ries committed, lift can be h0norably avoided ;
but, in aspirit of forbearance, proposed that a
mother demand be made Mexico for that re-
dress which had been long and unjustly
| withheld. In these views committees of the
two Houses of Congress, in reports made to
their respective bodies concurred. Since
these proceedings, more than eight years have
elapsed, during which, in addition to the wrong:
then complained OF, others of an aggravated
, character have been committed on the person:
and property of our citizens. A special agen
was sent to Mexico in the summer oflS3S, with
/, full authority to make another and final demand
for redress. The demand was made the Mex
lean government promised TO repair the wrong:
of which we complained; and after much delay,
a treaty of indemnity with that view con
cluded between the two Powers on the 18th o
, April, $780, and was duly ratified by both govern
5 mcnts. By this treaty a joint commission wa
created to adjudicatc and decide on the claims o
American citizens on the government of Mexico
= The commission was organized at Washington oil
the 18th dav of August, 1910. Their time wa
J limited to eighteen months at the expiration O
D which. they had adludicatcd and decided claim
r amounting to two millions twenty SIX thousan
= one hundred and thirty nine dollars and slxt
= eqht cents in favor of citizens OF the Unite
L States against the Mexican government, cavin
d A LARGE amount of cllins undecided. vi the Ia
n tor The American commissioners had decided !
: favor of our citizens, claims amounting 10 MN
# hundred and twenty eight thousand SIX hundre
If and twenty seven Illars and eighty eight cent
: which were left unacted on by the umpire al
thorizcd by the treaty. Still further claim
Il amounting TO betwc en- three and four millions
IS dollars. were submitted TO the board too late
IS be considered, and were left undisposed of.
V The sum OF two millions twenty-six thousan
q one hundred and thirty-nine dollars, and sixtl
: eioht cents, decided by the board, was Liquids
Ie ted md asccrtained debt due by Mexico To Il
s. claimants and there was no luStIiiabe reason f
lr delaying its payment according to the terms
III the treaty. 1t was not however paid. Mexlt
Of applied for further indulgence; ana, IN lilat spa
Of OF hberality and forbearance which has CIV
IL markedthe policy of the United States towar
sc that republic, the request was granted and I
" the thirticth of January, 1913, new treaty W
Z concluded. By this treaty IT was provided, I'll
IT the interest due on the awards in favor OF clan
ants under the convention of the eleventh OF Al
er 1889, should be paid on the th;rtieth of Apr
lsi3 and that ''the principal Of the said aware
E. and the interest arising thereon. shall be paid
of five years, in equal instalments every thu
as months, the said term of five years to common
nd on the thirteth day of April, 1913, aforesl
NJ The mite rest due on the thirtieth day of Apr
TO 1914. and the three first of the twenty inst
&C. ments, have been paid. Seventeen of these
ay staments remain unpaid, seven of which n
lst now due.
of The claims which were left undecided by I
Ill, Joint commission, amounting to more than thr
- millions of dollars, together with other clail
raj for spoiatons on the property of our citizei
all were subsequently, presented to the Mexic
nd government for payment, and were so far r,
he ognized, that a treaty, providing TOR their {
n animation and settlement by 4 JOINT commissic
was concluded and signed at Mexico on
It'll twentieth day of November, lol3 This trea
en- was ratified BY the United Stats, with cert;
ire amendments, to which no just exPtion COZ
iii have been taken but it has not yet received
il ratification of the Mexican government. In
IL. n