Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1845-12-16

new treaty was concluded. By this treaty it was
provided that the interest due or the awards in
favor OF the claimants under the convention OF the
eleventh of April 80 should be paid on the
the thirteenth of April '43, and the princi-
pal OF the said awards, and the interest arising
thereon, shall be paid within five years in
equal insallments every three months the said
term # five wears TO commence on the thirteenth
day OF April '43 as aforesaid The interest due
on the thirteenth day of April 43 and thee first
of the twenty installnents, have been paid. Sew
enteen oil these nstallments remain unpaid, seven
of which now due.
The claims which were left undecided by the
oint commission amounting to more than 3d.
000, 600 together with other claims for spo'iauons
on the property Of citizens were subsequently
! presented to the Mexican government Tor pay
| ment, and were SO far recognized that treaty
providing for their examination and settlement
by joint commission was concluded and signed
| at Mexico on the Goth of November '43. This
treaty was ratified by the u States with certain
| amendments, TO which no just exception could
have been taken but il 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 afiiu-
ence to bankruptcy are without remedy unless
their ri ghts are enforced by their government
Such a continued and unprovoked series 0:
wrongs could never have tolerated by the U. >;
had they been committed by one of the principal
nations of Europe. Mexico was however,a neigh
boring sister republic. which following our ex-
ample had achieved her independence
and for whose success and prosperity all
our sympathies were early enlisted. The U.
States were there first to recognize her indcpend-
encc and to receive her into the family OF
nations, and have ever been DESTROYS OF cul.
tivating with her good understan'
ding. We have, therefore, borne the re.
peated wrongs she has committed, with
great patience, in the hope that return
ing sense Of justice would ultimately
guide her councils, and that we nigh t.,
if possible honorably avoid any hostile
collision with her.
Without the provisions authority of Congress, the
Executive possessed no power to adopt or enforce
adequate remedies for the injuries we had suffered
to do more than be prepared to repel the threat
ened aggression on the part OF Mexico After our
army aud navy had remained on the frontier and
coasts of Mexico for many weeks, without any hos
tile act on her part though her menaces were con
tnued; deemed it important to put an end LIT pos
sihe, to this state of things. With the view, |
caused steps TO be taken, in the month of Septr
last, ascertain distinctly, and in an authentic
form, what the desi gns of the Mexican govern
inert were; whether ii was their intention to de-
clare war, or invade Texas, or whether they were
disposed to adjust and settle, in an amicable man
ncr, the pending differences between the two
countries. On the 9th of November an official
answer was received, that the Mexican govern
ment consented to renew the diplomatic relations
which had been suspended in March laat, and for
that purpose were willing to accredlt minister
from the United States. With a sincere desire to
preserve peace and relations of good understand
ing between the two countries. / waived all
ceremony as to the manner of renewing dplo-
matte intercourse between them, and assuming
the initiative, on the 10Th af November dstingu
ishcd citizen of Louisiana was appointed Envoy
Extraordinary, and Minister Plenipotcntionary TO
Mexico, clothed with full power to adjust, and
definitely settle, all pending differences between
the two countries, including those OF the bounda.
ny between Mexico and the State of Texas The
Minister appointed hac set out on his mission,
and is probably by this time near the Mexican
capital. He has been instructed to bring the me-
gociation with which he is charged 10 conclusion
at the earliest practicable period, which it is eX-
pected, will be in time to enable me to communi-
cate the result to Congress during the present ses
sion. Until that result is known, | forebear to
recommend to Congress such Interior measures
of redress for the wrongs and injuries have
so long borne as it would have been proper to
make, had no such negotiation been instituted.
Congress appropriated at the last session the
sum of 1926, 0O0 for the payment of the April
and July instalments of the Mexican indemnities
for 1914; Provided it snail be ascertaned to the
satisfaction of the American government that
said instruments had been paid by the Mexicans
TO tho Agent appointed by the U. States to re-
ceive the same, in such manner US to discharge
all claim ag INST the Mexican government, and
said agent to be delinquent in renting the
money to the U. States"
The unsettled state of our relations with Mexi-
co has involved this subject in much mystery.
The first information In an authentic form, from
the agent of the U. States, appointed under the
administration OF my predece ssor. was receive at
the State Department on the 9th of Nov. last
This is contained in letter date0 the 18th of
October. addressed by him 10 one of our citizens
then in Mexico, with the view of having it COM
munlcaed to that department. From this it APP
pears that the agent on the Goth of September.
1874. gave receipt to the treasury OF Mexico
for the amount of the April and July indemnity.
In the same communication, however he as
serts that he had no! received q single dollar in
cash; but that he holds such securities as warrant
ed him at that time in giving the receipt and en-
tertains no doubt but that he will eventually OBJ
tain the money. As these instruments appear
never to have been actually paid by the govern
mcnt of Mexico to the agent, and as that govern
ment has not therefore been released so as to dis
charge the claim. | do not feel myself warranted
in directing payment 10 be made to the claimants
out ofthe tire asury, without further legislation
Their case is undoubtedly, one of much hard
ship; and it remains for Congress to decide
whether any and what relief ought to be granted
to them. Our minister to Mexico has been in
struced to ascertain the facts of the case fro the
Mexican government in an authentic and official
form; and report the result with as li:te delay as
possible.
My attention was early directed TO the negocia-
tionwhlch, on the 18th of March last i found pend.
ing at Washington between the United Suites and
Great Britain, on the subject of the Oregon Terri.
tory, Three several attempts had been previous
ly made to settle the question in dispute between
the Two countries, by negotiation, upon the prin-
cple OF compromise; but each had proved un.
successful.
The negotiation took place at London, in the
years 1918, "a and 26: The two first under the ad
ministration of Mr.. Monroe, and the last under
that OF MIR. Adams The negotiation of 1918 hav-
ing filled to accomplish its object resulted in the
convention of the Goth of October of that wear.
BY the third article of that convention, it was
agreed that the country that may be claimed by
either party on the northwest coast of America,
westward of the Stony Mountains shall, together
with its harbors, bays and creeks and the naviga.
ton OF all rivers within the same be free and open
tor the term OF ten years from the date of the
signature OF the present convention to the vessels
citizens and subjects OF the two Powers; it being
well understood that this agreement is not to be
construed to the prejudice OF any claim which
either OF the two high contracting parties may
have any part OF the said county; nor shall i,
be taken 10 affect the claims of any other power
or state TO any part of the said country the onl,
OBJECT OF The high contracting parties in that re.
10 fnt LIT