The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1845-01-03


erees she has threatened TO pcrpctrate,
and Of which the late inhuman massacre
at Tobasco was but the precursor.
The bloody and inhuman murder OF
Fanin and his compatrlots, eqnalled only
in savage barbarity ly the usagcs Of the
untntored Indian tribes, proved how little
confidence could be placed on the most
solemn stipulations of her Generals. while
the fate of others who became her cap.
tives IN war. many of whom, no lorger
able TO sustain The iatigues aud prvalion's
OF long Journeys, were shot down by the
way side, while their companions who
survived were subjected TO suffering even
more painful than dralh-had LEFT an in,
dellihle stain upon the page Of civilization
/ The Executive. with the e,i lence of an
intention on The pan of Mexico To renew
scenes so revolving 10 humanity, could do
no less Than renew the circumstances for
merly urged.
For fulElling duties so imperative,
Mexico has thought proper, through her
accredited organs, because she has had
represented to her the inhumanily of such
proceedings, to indulge in language I'M
known 10 the courtesy Of diplomatic in
;crcOurse, and offensive in the highest de-
gree to this government and people. Nor
has she offended in this only. She has
not only violated existing conventions be-
tween the two countries, by arbitrary and
unjust DEGREES against our trade and in
terccurse, but wihholds instalmen,s Of
debt, due to our citizens, which she sol
emily pledged herself to pay, under cir
cumstances which are fully explained by
the accompanying letter from Mr.. Green,
our Secretary of Legation. And when
our Minister had invited the attention of
her Government to wrongs committed by
her local authorities, not only on the pro-
perry but on the persons of cur lellow-cit-
liens, engaged in prosecuting fair and
honest pursuits, she has added insult to
injury, by not even deigning. for months
together. TO return an answer TO his rep
reservations.
Still further to manifest her unfriendIv
feelings towards the United States, she
has issued dacrees expeling from some
OF her provinces American citizens engag.
ed in the peaceful pursuits of life, and
now denies to those of our citizens pros
ecuting the whale fishery on the north
ives. coast of the Pacific, the privilege
which has, through all time, heretofore
been accorded to them, Of exchanging
goods of a small amount in value at her
ports in California for supplies ndispen-
sable to their health and comfort.
NoI will it escape the observation of
Congress, that in conducting a correspon.
dence with the Minister of the United
States, who cannot, and does not, know
any distinction between the geographical
sections of the Union, charges wholly I'M
founded are made agans, particular States,
and an appeal TO others for aid and pro-
lection against supposed wrongs. In this
same connection sectional prejudices are
attempted TO be excited, and the hazard
Gus and objectionable effor, is made to
loment divisions among the States of the
Union, thereby to embltter their peace.
Mexico has still TO learn that however
freely we may indulge in discussion
among ourselves, the American people
will tolerate no Interference in their do
nestle affairs by any foreign government
and in all that concerns The constitutional
guarantees and the national honor the peo-
pie Of the United States have but one
mind and one heart.
The subject of Annexation addresses
itself most fortunately to every portion of
the Union. The Executive would have
been unmindful Of its highest obligations,
if i, could have adopted course of poll
cy dictated by sectional interest and local
feelings. On the contrary, it was be-
cause the question was neither local nor
sectional; but made its appeal to the in
terests of the whole Union, and of every
State in the Union, that the negotiation,
and finally the Treaty of Anne xa,ion was
entered into; and it has afforded me no
ordinary pleasure TO perceive that, SO far
as demonstrations have been made upon
i, by the People, they have proceeded
from all portions of the Union.
Mexico may seek to excite divisions
amongs, us, by u,,ering unjus, denuncia-
tons against particular States, but when
she comes to know that the invitations adj
dressed to our lelow-cilizens by Spain,
and afterwards by herself to settle Texas,
were excepted by emigrants from all the
States; and when, in addition to this, she
refreshes her recollection with the fact