The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1845-12-06


the Mexican government were; whether H. was Their
intention 10 do2lae war, invade Texas, or wheIh-
they were disposed IL adjust and settle, IN nm na-
cable manner, the pending differences between the
two cOnntries On the ninth of November nm official
answer WIS received, that the Mexican government
con sGnied to renew the diplomatic relations which
had been suspended ia March last, and for that pur
pose were willing TO aGcrcd,t minister from .he Uni
I'D Slatcs-Wilh sincere desire to preserve pface,
and restore relations Of good understanding between
the two republics, waved nll ceremony rs To the
manner Of renewing diplomatic intercourse between
them;and assuming the nilmIve,on the tenth of Nov.
distinguished citizen Of Ioulslnnn was appointed I'm
voy Extraordinary aud Minister Plrnipotentiary TO
Mexico clothed with full powers TO adjust, and def
niley SETTLE all pending differences between the two
countries including those oC the boundary between
Mexico and the State Of Texas,
The minister appointed las set out on his mission,
and is probably by this time near The Mexican cnpi-
tai. lie has been instructed 10 bring tho negotiation
with which he is charged 10 conclusion NJ the earle
practicable period; which II l. expected, will he IN
time 10 enable m" TO communicate The result 10 Con-
gress during the present scssnn. Until the result IL
known fprhaaf To recommend 10 Congress such Ill
terror Of redress for the wrongs ana injuries
we have long horne, ~ il would have been proper
10 make, had no such negnliatun been instituted
Congress appropriated nj the las; session, the sum
Of two hundred and seyenty.Gvc thousand dollars for
the payment of tho April and July nsulmens Of the
Mexican indamnities for the year 1874; Provided ii
shall be ascorlained to the satisfaction Of the Ameri-
lean Government that said nstalmenis have hecn
paid hy the Mexican Government to the agent APP
pointed by the United States to receive the same in
such manner a. 10 discharge all claim on tho Next
can government. aud said agent 10 be delinquent in
reuins tho money 10 the United States
The unsettled stale OF relations with Mexico
has involved this Subject in much mystery The first
information, in authentic form, Crnm the Agent OF
the uniod States, appointed under the administration
Of my predecessors was received at the State Depart
mcni, on the ninth OF November last. This is
tnned in n letter dated the seventeenth Of October,
addressed to him 10y Of our citizens thon in MeNi
co, with tho view 10 have it communicated to that De
pnrtment From this ii appears that the agent,
the twenty ninth Of September, 1874 gave a recent
the treasury of Mexico FOR the Of the April
aud July enatnlmcn'S of The indemnity Ia the same
communication, however, he asserts that he had
received dollar IN cash; but that he holds such
cuiiiics warranted him nj the time Of giving the
receipt, and enlPrtans doubt but that he VIII event
uaIIy obtain the money. As these instruments appear
to have never been paid actually by the government
Of Mexico to the ngeut, and as that government has
not therefore been released to discharge the
CHIN, do not feel myself warranted in directing pay
ment 10 be made In the claimants dur of the treasury
without further legislation. Their i. undoubied
", Of much hardship, and remains for Congress
10 decide whether any, and what relief ought TO he
granted To them. Dur minister to Mexico has been
instructed to ascertain The facts of the from tho
Mexican government, IN m authentic and official FORM
and report the result with as little delay possible
My attention was early directed To the negotiation
which, on tho fourth OF March last. I found pending
ut Washington between the United States aud Grcal
Britain the subject Of the Oregon Territory. ! hree
several attempts had been previously made to settle
the questions in dispute between III" TWO countries
by nrgoatiun upon The principle Of compromise ;but
each had proved unsuccessful.
These negotiations Ionk place ut London, in the |
years ISIS, 1924 ,and 1926; the first under tho
OF Mr Monroe, and the last under Mr.
Adams. The negotiation Of 1878, having failed to |
ia ol,iprf Tesupd in tho or
the twentieth Of October Of that year. Bv the third
article Of that convention, It was "ngreed that
country that may he claimed by either pnuy the
north west coast of America, westward Of the Sioney
Mountains, shall together with ia haibots, bays and
creeks, and the navigation Of MI rivers within the /
same he free and open for the Of yenrs from
the date Of the signature Of tho present convention to
The vessels, citizens and suhjects Of the two powe3
il being well undcrstond that this Hgrecmen; il not tn
be construed the prrjudce Of any claim which eth
sr Of tho two high contracting parties may have in
part OF the said country, shall II be taken
affect the claims oc any othcr power State to any
pnrt of the country; ,he only object Of tho high
racting pneIs in that respect being prevent dis
putes and differences among themselves
The negotiation of 1924 productive OF no re-
suit md the convention &C ISIS was irfl unchanged /
The negotiation ri 1926, having also failed in ar
Getting an adjustment 10y compromise, resulted in the
yenrnn of August the 9Th, 1927, by which il was
greed to continue in force for Indefinite period
he provisions or the third article Of The convention Of
he twentieth or October. 1878, and il was further
provided that. at shall competent, however, eth
~ of the contracting parties, IN case either should
hinE it, ut any time after tho twentieth or October,
s2S on giving due notice Of twelve months to the
,ther contracting party, 10 nunul and abrogate this
conventions and it shall in such case, be accordingly
entirely annulled and abrogntcd after the expiration of
lie said term Of notice" In these attempts Ia adjust
he controversy tr parallel Of the nrty ninth degree
# north latitude had been offered by the United
states, 10 Great Britain and in those of 1918, 1896,
With a full concession of the free navigation Of the
Columbia river south Of shat latitude The parallel
f the forty ninth degree from the Rocky Mountains to
Is Intersec,ing with The northwesternmost branch Of
he Columbia and thence down the channel Of that riv
to the sea- had been offered by Great Britain with
n addition Of small detached territory north of the
'oumnia Each Of these propositions lind been re-
ected by the parties respectively
In October, ls43, the Envoy Extraordinary and
inistcr renipotenlnry the United States in Lon
on was authorized To make n similar offer to those
made in 1918 and 1926 Thus stood the question,
when the negotiation shortly transferred TO
and the 23d Of August 1884, was
Drmay opened under the direction Of my immediate
PREDECESSOR, Like all the other previous negotiations
was based upon the principles Of compromise
I'D the avowed purpose Of the party was, ''to trent
u ~. Il. ar l,..N. IL.