The Somerset herald and farmers' and mechanics' register. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 183?-1852, 1845-12-09

make had no such negotiation been ln-
stituted.
Congress appropriated. at the last ses-
sion. the sum Of two hundred and seven
ty-five thousand dollars for the payment
of the April and July instalmenls of the
Mexican indeminities for The year 1874;
provided il shall be ascertained 10 the
satisfaction Of the American government
that said instalmen,s have been paid by
the Mexican government TO the agent
appointed by the United States 10 receive
the same, in such manner as TO discharge
all cl aim on the Mexican government,
and said agent to te delinquent in re-
hitting the money TO the United States. :"
The unsettled state OF our relations
with Mexico has involved this subject
in much mystery. The first information
in an authentic form from the agent Of
The United States, appointed under the
administration OF my predecessor, was
received at the State Deparimeet on the
ninth of November last. This is con-
laned in letter, dated the seventeenth
of October. addressed by him to one Of
our citizens then in Mexico, with
the view Of having il communicated to
that department.. From This j. appears
that the agent, OH the twentieth of Sep
tember, 1914, gave receipt TO the treas
ury of Mexico for the amount Of The
April and July inslalmenis of The ihdem-
nifty. In the same communication,
however, he asserts that he had not re-
ceived single dollar cash; bul that be
holds such securities as warranted him
at the time in giving the receipt, and en-
tertains no doubt but that he will eveniu-
ally obtain the money. As these install
ments appear never 10 have been actual
ly paid by the government of Mexico 10
the agent, as Iha; government has not
therefore been released so as 10 discharge
the claim, do not feel myself warranted
in directing payment to be made TO the
claimants ont Of the treasury, without
further legislation. Their case is, un-
doubledIv, one of much hardship; and
il remains for Congress to decide wheth-
ca any, and what, relief oughtto be grant
ed 10 them. Our minister 10 Mexico
has beeu instructed TO ascertain the facts
Of The case from the Mexican government
in an authentic and official form, and
report the result with as little delay as
possible.
My attention was early directed to the
negotiation. whick on the fourth of
March last, found pending at Washing
ton between the United States aud Great
Britain, OIL the subject of The Oregon
territory. Three several attempts had
been previously made to settle the ques-
ton in dispute between the two countries
by negotiation, upon the principle Of
compromise; but each had proved un-
successful.
These negotiations took place at Lon
don, 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 tie convention Of the twenti-
eth of October Of that year, BY the
third article of that convention, it was
''agreed, that any country that may be
claimed by either party OIL the northwest
coast Of America, westward Of the StO-
| ny mountains, shall. together with lis
! harbors, bays, and creeks, and the navi-
CATION Of all rivers within the same, be
free and open for the term Of Ten years
from the date OF The signature of the
present convention, 10 the vessels, citi-
zens, and subjects of the two Powers; it
being well understood that This agree
meni is not 70 be construed 10 the preju-
| dice Of any claim which either Of the
two high contracting parties may have
to any part of the said country, nor
| shall il be taken to affect the claims of
any other Power or State TO any part OF
the said country; the only object of The
high-cOnlracling parties in that respect
being, to prevent disputes and diiIeren.
ees among themselves.
The negotiation of 1894 was produc-
tive Of no result, and the convention Of
| 1918 was left unchanged.
The negotiation Of 1896, having also
failed 10 effect an adjustment by COM
promise resulted in the convention Of
August the sixth, 1897. bv which il was
agreed to continue in force, for an indef-
mite period. the provisions Of the third
article of the convention of the twenti-
| eth Of October, 1918; and il was further
provided, that sit shall be competent,
however, to either of the contracting
parties, in case either should think fit,
at any time after The twentieth Of Oclo-
Der, 1928. on giving due notice Of twelve
months 10 the other contracting party, TO
annual and abrogate this convention; and
! il shall, in such case. be accordingly ens
tirely, annulled & abrogaied after The ex-
piration of the said term of notice. -
In these attempts to adjust the conIro-
versy, the parallel of the foriy-ninth de.
gree Of north latitude had been offered
by the United States TO Great BrIIian,
and in those of 1918 and 1926, with a