The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1845-12-13

| are now Que.
The claims which were left undecided by the
JOINT commission, amounting 10 more than three
millions OF dollars, together with other claims for
spoliatlons on the property of our citizens, were
subsequently presented To the Mexican govern
ment for payment, and were so far recognised, that
treaty, providing for their examination and set
Element by Joint commission, was concluded and
signed at Mexico on the twentieth day Of Novem-
Der, 1913. This treaty was ratified by the United
States, with certain amendments, to which no Just
exception could have been taken; but il has not
yet received the ratification of the Mexican gov
ernment In the neahtime, our citizens who suf-
fered great losses, and some OF whom have been
reduced from affluence to bankruptcy, are without
remedy, unless their rights be enforced by their
go, ernment. Such continued ard unproyoked
series of wrongs could never have been tolerated
by the United States, had they been committed
by one of the principal nations of Europe. Mexi-
co was, however, neIghborihg sister republic,
which, following our example, had achieved her
independence, and for whose success and prosper
ty all our sympathies were early enlisted The
United States were the first TO recognise her inde
pendence, and to receive her into the family of ma
| tions, and have ever been deslrous OF cultvating
with her good understanding. We have, there
fore, borne the repeated wrongs she has committed,
with great patience, in the hope that a returning
sense of justice would ultimately guide her coun-
clls and that might, if possible honorably avoid
any hostile collision with her.
Without the previous authority of Congress, the
Executive possessed 10 power to adopt or enforce
| adequate remedies for the injuries we had suffered
or TO do more than be prepared to repel the threat
ened aggression on the part of Mexico After our
army and navy had remained on the frontier and
coasts of Mexico for many weeks, without any hos
tile movement on her part, though her menaces
were continued, deemed it important to put an
end, If possible, to this state of things. With this
view, caused steps to be taken in the month of
September last, to ascertain distinctly and in an
hentic form, what The designs of the Mexican gov
ernment we're; wether It was their intention TO de-
clare war, or invade Texas, or whether fhey were
disposed to adjust and settle, in an arucabe man.
ner, the pending differences between the two coun-
tries On the ninth of November an official answer
was received, that the Mexican government con-
sented to renew the diplomatic relations which had
been suspended in March last; and for that pur-
pose were willing to accredit minister from the
United States. With sincere desire to preserve
peace, and restore relations of good understanding
between the two republics, waived all ceremony
as TO the manner of renewing diplomatic inter-
course between them, and assuming the initiative,
on the tenth OF November distinguished citizen Of
Louisiana was appointed envoy extraordinary and
minister to plenipotentiary to Mexico, clothed with
full powers to adjust and defnitivey settle all pend
1 ing differences between the two countries, incud-
lug those of boundary between Mexico and the
State OF Texas. The minister appointed has set out
on his mission, and is probably by this time near
the Mexican capital. He has been instructed 10
bring the negotiation with which he is charged to
a conclusion at the earliest practicable period.
which. it is expected, will be in time to enable
me to communicate the result to Congress during
the present session. Until that result is known, /
forhear to recommend to Congress such ulterior
measures of redress for the wrongs and injuries
we have so long borne as It would have been prop
er TO make had no such negotiation been instituted
Congress appropriated, al the last session, the
sum Of two hundred and seventy-fve thousand
dollars for the payment CT the April and July in
stalmens Of the Mexican indemnities for the year
1914. {" Provided it shall be ascertained TO the
sati:tactlon the American government that said
instalments have been paid by the Mexican gov
ernment to the agent appointed by the United
States 10 receive the same, in srch manner as to
discharge all claim on the Mexican government,
and said agent to be delinquent in renting 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 Department on the 9th of November last
This is contained in letter, dated the seventeenth
Of October addressed by him to one of our citizens
then in Mexico, with the view of having it commu-
nicated to that department From this it appears
that the agent,o the twentieth ofSeptember, 1874,
gave receipt to the treasury of Mexico for the |
smount Of the April and July instalments Of the |
indemnity. In the same communication, however |
he asserts that he had not received single dollar
in cash; but that he holds such securities as war
ranted him at the time in giving the receipt, and
entertains no doubt but that he will eventually /
obtain the money As these nstaments appear !
never to have been actually paid by the govern
ment OF Mexico to the agent, and as that govern
ment has not therefore been released as to dis
charge the claim, do not feel myself warranted |
in directing payment TO be made to the claimants
out of the treasury, without further legislation. |
Their case is, undoubtedly, one of much hardship,
and it remains for Congress TO decide whether |
any, and what, relief ought to be granted 10 them.
Our minister to Mexico has been 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 negotia-
ton, 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 pre-
viously made to settle the question in dispute be-
tween the two countries, by negotiation, upon the
principle Of compromise, but each had proved un-
successful.
These negotiations took place at London, IN the |
years 1913, 1924, and 1926; the two first under the
administration Of Mr., Monroe, and the last under |
that Of Mr.. Adams The negotiation of 1878 hav-
ing failed to accomplish its object resulted in the
convention OF the twentieth of October Of that |
year. BY the third article Of that convention. il |
was "agr eed, that any country that may be claim
ed by either party on the northwest coast of Amor
lea, westward Of the Stony mountains, shall ogeth-
er with its 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, to the vessels,
citizens, and subjects Of the two powers; it being |
well understood that this agreement is 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 II
be taken to affect the claims of any other power or
State to any part Of the saie country; the only OBJ
ect Of the highcontracting parties in that respect
being, to prevent dispute and difference among