The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1845-07-19
MEXICAN INDEMNITIES.
To the Hon. lanes Buchanan, See
,etary of State:
WASHINGTON, July 2, 1S45.

f States, have noticed that at least q
portion of the public are laboring under
incorrect views with regard to the pay.
ment of the fourth and fifth instalments
due our citizens from Mexico, under
the treaty Of the 3lst January, lS43;
and also that some unjust reflections
have been cast upon me. as we'll as 9th.
ers, in reference to the manner in
which the business had heen transact.
eG. ] deem 1t not out of place for me
to communicate to you the facts in re-
lation to the two instalments in ques-
tion,so far as they are within my knowl-
edge, with the view not only of putting
you in possession of the true state oi
the case, but Of setting myself ight in
the matter. This | should have done
at an earlier period, had been aware
that there was any difficulty on the
subject, or that there was any doubt in
any quarter as to the facts of the case. +.
The fourth instalment fell due on
the 3Oth April, lS44. and the fifth on
the 3Olh Of fthe following July; and did
not arrive in Mexico until the evening
of the 26th Of the following August. -
On my arrival in Mexico, the fourth
instaIment had been due near four
months, and the fifth near one month,
and the date of Mr.. Voss's receipt, clo-
sing the matter with the Mexican gov
ernment, understand, is the 9th Au.
gust. 1t wi be perceived from these
dates, that could have had no agency
in advising tie arrangement that was
made with the Mexican government
by Mr.. Voss. Soon alter my arrival
in Mexico, on inquiry of Mr.. Voss,our
agent, who had been appointed to re-
ceive the money, as to the payment Of
the two instruments in question, he in
formed me he had in vain sought TO
obtain the money from the national
treasury in Mexico; that he hard failed
in all his efforts to do so; for the reason.
that, as fast as The money came into
the national treasury. it was absorbed
for the purpose Of the army, and by
Mexican claimants, whose influence
with the government was such as to
enable them to obtain the preference
over the American claimants; that fin.
ding all efforts TO Obtain payment in
Mexico had failed, he prevailed on the
government to give him drafts on the
local treasures for IN amount sufficient
ly large to cover the prime pal and in.
terest due on the two instalments, and
the cost of collecting the same. and
transmitting the money to Vera Cruz.
H also advised me that the English
house Of Taylcur, Jamison & Co.. in
Mexico, had claims on the Mexican 60
vernmcnt, and that they had taken
drafts Of similar character, and were
about to collect them; and that he had
handed over the drafts. which he had
received, to that house, for collection at
the same time. The house Of Tayleur.
Jamison & Co., it is proper should
remark. is one of undoubted response
bllity. The contributions that had been
levied, in order to raise the four mil |
lions voted by Congress, and placed at
the disposal OF the government, were
in q rapid course of collection at the
time, and no doubts were entertained
but the dra is won d he promptly met
and paid. He stated that, under these
circumstances he considered the drafts
as cash, or the same as cash; and that
he had receipted to the Mexican gov
ernment according y, and that | might
consider the instalments in question as
paid; that there would be no other diff
Guilty about the matter, than delay of
a few weeks in transmitting the money
to the U. States. On the day after
had been presented TO the President
that is, on the 2d Of September-l re-
ceived note from Mr.. Rejon, the
Mexican Secretary Of State, u copy of
which has heretofore been communica-
ted TO your department, in which he
states that he had been advised by the
Secretary of the Treasury, under date
OF the 9th August, that the two IN
stalments had been paid. On the 9th
of September, | had an interview with
President Santa Anna in relation to
the release Of the Texian prisoners,and
the unadjustei claims of our citizens
on the government Of Mexico; in which
he took occasion to speak of the pay
ment of the two instalments above ma.
med, and the difficulties the govern
ment had to encounter TO meet them;
and assuring me, at ihes same time, that
he had caused arrangements to be made.
which would enable the government to
meet the future instament promptly as
they fell due. All this put nv mind to
rest on the subject Of these indemnities;
and it was upon this state Of facts that