Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1845-12-11


ments, to which no just exception could have
been taken but il has'not yet received the ratif-
cation oil the Mexican YovernmSnt In the
meantime, our citizens who suffered great losses,
and some OF whom have been reduced from afilu.
ence TO bankruptcy, are without remedy, unless
their rights be enforced by their government.
Such continued. and unp-ovoked series OF
wrongs could never have been tolerated by the
United States, had they been committed by one
ot'the principal na'ions of Europe. Mexico was,
however, neighboring sister republic, which,
following our example, had achieved her indie
pendence, and for whose success and prosperity
all our sympathies were early enlisted. The u
nited States were the first to recognise her indie
Pendence, and to receive her into the family of
nations, and have ever been DESTROYS of cul,iya-
'iDg with her good understanding. We have,
therefore, borne the repeated wrongs she has CON-
mitted, with great patience, i'm the hope that
returning sense Of justice would ultimately guide
her councils, and that We might, il possible. no.
morally avoid any hostile collision with her.
without the previous authority of Congress,
the Executive possessed no power to adopt or
enforce adequate remedies for the Injuries we
mad suffered, or TO do more than be prepared to
repel the threatened aggression on the part Of
Mexico. After our army and navy had remain
ed on the frontier and coasts Of Mexico for many
weeks, without any hostile movement on her
part, though her menaces were continued deem
ed 1t important to put an end ii possible, to this
state Of things. With this view, caused steps
10 DO taken In the month of September last, to
ascertain distinctly, and in an authentic form,
what the designs Of the Mexican government
were; whether it was their intention to declare
war, or invade Texas, or whether they were dis
posed to adjust and settle, in an amicable man.
ner, the pending differences between the two
countries. On the ninth Of November an official
4bafS IL,
ment consented to renew the diplomatic relations
which had been suspended in March last; and
for that purpose were willing to accredit minis.
Ter from The United States. With sincere de-
sire 10 preserve peace, and restore relations OF
good understanding between the two republics,
waived all ceremony as to the manner of re.
newiHg diplomatic intercourse between them :
and, assuming the Initiative, on the ten,h of No
Vember distinguished citizen of Louisiana was
appointed envoy extraordinary and minister pie.
nipoientiary TO Mexico, clothed with fall DOW.
eIs to adjust, and deRnitiyely settle, all pending
differences between the two countries, including
those of boundary between Mexico and the State
OF Texas. The minister appointed has set ou
on his mission, and is probably by this time nea,
the Mexican capitol. He has been instructed tc
bring the negotiation with which he is charged
to a conclusion at the earliest practicable period
which, it is expected, will he in time TO enable
the present session. Until the result is known
l forbear to recommend 10 Congress such ulter
or measures Of redress for the wrongs and pu
} Iles we have so long borne, as il 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 five thousand
I dollars Tor the payment of the April and July in
stalments Of the Mexican indemnilies for the
= Ipd ch,n bo
the satisfaction of the American government tina
establishments have been paid by the Mexican
government to the agent appointed by the United
states 10 receive the same, in such manner as L
discharge all claim on the Mexican government
and said agent to be delinquent in RENTING tho
money to the United States"
The unsettled state of our relations with Mex
leo has involved this subject in much mys
The first information, in an authentic form, from
the agent Of the United States, appointed undo
The administration Of nay predecessor, was receiv
sd at tho S.ato Department on the 9th Of Novem.
Der last. This is contained ia a letter, dated the
seventeenth of October, addressed by him to one
oil our citizens then in Mexico, with the view of
having 1t communicated ID that department.
FROM TINS IL appears that the agent, on the TWEEN
uelh oil September, 1874, gave receipt to the
treasury OF Mexico for the amount Of the April
and July instaments of the indemnify, In the
same communication, howev he asserts that
ne had not received single dollar in cash but
mat ne holds such securities as warranted him at
Inc tlme In giving the receipt, and entertains no
doubt but that he will eventually obtain the mo.
ney. AS these instalments appear never to have
been actually paid by the government Of Mexi-
co to the agent, and as that government has not
therefore been released so as to discharge the
claim, do not feel myself warranted in direct
ing payment to be made to the claimants out of
The treasury, without further Legislation. Their
case is, undoubtedly, one of much hardship and
IL remains Tor Congress TO decide whether any.
and what, relief ought TO BIZ granted to them.
Our minister to Mexico has been instructed to
ascertain the facts of the case from the Mexican
government, In an authentic ard official form, and
report the result with as little delay as possible.
! My attention was early directed to the neooti.
alton, which, on the fourth Of March last, found
pending at Washington between the United
States and Great Britain, on the subject of the
Oregon Territory. Three several attempts had
been previously made 10 settle the questions i'm
dispute between the two countries, by nego,ia-
ton, upon the principle of compromise; but each
mad proved unsuccessful.
These negotiations took place at London, in
the years 1918, 1924, and 1896 the two first
under the administration of Mr. Monroe. and the
last under that Of Mr.. Adams. The negotiation
of 1918 having failed to accomplish its object.
resulted In The convention of the twentieth of
October OF that year. BY the third article of that
convention, 1t was "agreed. that any country that
may be claimed by either party on the northwest
coast OF America, westward of the Stony noun.
tains, shall, together with its harbors, BAYS, and
creeks, and The navigation of all rivers within
the same, be free and open for the term of ten
years from the date of the signature of the pre-
sent convention, to the vessels, citizens, and
subjects OF the two powers; it being we'll under
stood that this agreement ia not to be construed
TO the prejudice of any claim which either of the
two high contracting parties may have to any
part OF the said country, nor shall it be taken to
affect the claims of any other mower mr. S,ate tn
any part of the said country; the only object of