Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1845-03-08
PROCEEDINGS IN CONGRESS.
IN SENATE.
MEXICAN INDEMNITIEs.

For paying the April and July nstaments Of the Mexican
ndemnes due in 1884, S275 900 Provided II shall be as
cerancd to the satisfaction OF the American Government
said instruments have been paid by the Mexican
the agent appointed by the United States receive the
In support Of his motion Mr. B. read the following para
graph from Mr. Shannons official despatch of the 2st of Sep
enber last to show that the nsalmens referred had been
paid to the United States agent in Mexico the 2h day
August last
The nsalments which fell due the 3Oh of April and
3oh OF July last under the convention Of the soh January,
1si3, paid the agent of the Government appointed
receive and transmit the the eth ultimo. am in
cined TO believe that this Government will hereafter be
prompt meeting its engagements under the above named
treaty than it has heretofore been and if it should
otherwise il will be owing real inability raise the means
am advised that il with the difficulty that this
Government able raise the money pay the two last
nstamens The truth is, there is money the Treasury
and the large military establishment kept by the Govern
en and which must be paid absorbs the fast
they come in But Santa Anna is DESTROYS avoid rup-
that every exeion will be made the part of this Govern
ent to meet the future insalments they become due
Mr. b. said this authentic declaration to our Gov
eminent that the money had been paid months ago the
United States agent and in conformity il official notice
given by the Department Of State Immediately on the receipt
OF Mr. Shannons letter. that such the fact but on ap-
pcation at the Treasury, the claimants informed that
nothing had been remtted and this continues to be the
up to the present day In consequence of this dsap
pointmen call had been made upon the President at the
instance of the claimants for all the information relation
these payments and, in answering that CALL the President
had communicated the letter of Mr. Shannon just quoted
Benjamin f. Green dated in this city, the 25h of Janua-
last to rcbut the letter of Mr. Shannon by saying that the
payment the 9th of August made by giving orders on
an empty Treasury which not paid when presented To
this letter of Mr.. Benjamin f. Green, Mr. b. said that there
three four different be given each of which
nvaidated it. In the first place. Mr. Shannon arms posi-
hvey, twenty-five days after payment, that it made in
money and with money raised with great difficulty, and in
order to avoid any difficulty with the United States This
statement totally variance with fictitious payment by an
order on empty treasury This Another
was that Mr. Shannon wrote another letter early November
to give notice to the Government that the nsamcnt due
the 30h OF October had been paid and SAYING nothing
about those Of April and July, and this in letter full Of
plants against the Mexican Government This prompt COM
munication OF the nonpaymen of the October nstament
without suggesting or stating any failure to pay the two pre-
vous ones, any mistake in his letter. full proof that
up to that time which upwards Of months after the
alleged payment OF the two previous nsamens he had
heard of any mistake default about these two payments
Another answer was, that the letters from Mr. Shannon
were continued down to the 9th Of January and in Of
these did he mention any bak failure in the payment of the
two nstamenis suggest his report Of the
further was that the agent whom the money
alleged to have been paid the 9th of August last had
yet given any information of payment payment to the
American Government, silence which strongly implies that
there has been default the part Of Mexicono fictitious
payment by idle orders empty treasury still further
that the agent had received orders empty
treasury, illegally done, and the United States
liable for the act Of their agent. Mr. b. said the treaty
for gold and silver and made purpose avoid the dan
ger OF paper orders empty treasury The treaty.
vcnon first agreed upon for payment in notes upon the
Mexican treasury, and pay down the whole ndemnies
once This article changed by subsequent convention
from paper payment to payment and prompt
payment of the whole extended into FIVE years quarterly
staments in gold and silver This the convention and
after that to take orders the treasury Illegal and doing
what the second convention made to prevent.
These were answers enough (Mr b. sadly TO Mr.. Benz
T. Green's statements but he, mr. b. in the amendment
which he had submitted did ask the Senate decide
sh. fof1
to the American Government and authorize the Govern
men to make payment to the claimants provided found
that THEN agent had received the money He the agent
the Government not of the claimants and the claimants could
themselves
Several Senators here asked the of the agent
Mr.. BENTON answered, Messrs. Hargous & Co
Mr.. ARCHER said the attention of the Committee on
Foreign Relations had been directed this natter and he
stated has for approving of the motion made by the
Senator from Missouri.
Mr. BENTON observed that he understood from the claim
nts that they considered the agency appointed for them
,eher They could have had the money RENTED
Vera Cruz for much less than the expense agency and
without risk There could be objection TO the amendment
it provides that it only in the event Of satisfactory
proof to our Government that the has been paid to
accredited agent that the appropriation will be made Of
Mr. McDUFFIE considered it a very dangerous precedent
Il would be making the Government insurer of agencies
and liable for deacaons of agents ransacnu business be-
tween other parties
Mr.. ARCHER understood from mercantile gentleman Of
undoubted information that there not respectable
firm in the country than the house Of Hargous Co, in
New York. branch Of which located in Vera Cruz The
that they have not received the money! or,
u they have, may be on the way to the United States
Treasury
Mr.. McDUFFIE. IF this is a house Of undoubted good
standing las he had doubt il was il only made confusion
worse conounded The money has been paid it Who
has il Where is it
Mr.. WOODBURY. thought it would be precipiate to
act without due information There really cvi-
dence of the payment Of the money Of the defaca
ton Of the agent There the letters Of Mr. Shannon
but he may have been deceived by the statements made him
when he wrote these letters The matter appeared him
Mr. W. TO be open plain solution II is very probable,
and he had doubt il would turn out that the Mexican
Government handed to the agent orders the Mexican ca
su and, having done So told Mr. shannon that the install
ments paid But il appears by Mr. Green's letter. of
the 18th December last that the orders the Mexican Trea
suy were not paid consequently the instruments yet remain
unpaid. Mr. w. here quoted the letter alluded to
WASHINGTON, DECEMBER is, 1874.
SIR In reply to your note Of yesterday have inform
that up TO the time left the city of Mexico neither OF thu
three insalments which fell been paid From the
30h April last until the arrival Of Mr. Shannon made almost
daily application for the money, but the large raised BY
forced loan TO pay claims had been applied other pur
poses by the Mexican Government and inquiries al
ways answered b. promise TO pay the morrow in few
days.
When Mr. Shannon arrived in Mexico the Minister of For
egn Relations addressed him dated the 2d September
in which i stated that the money had been paid TO the
agent appointed receive IT, The fact is tina; orders upon
the treasury given 10 the agent but when these orders
were presented no money could be obtained them up
time when Mr.. Trg,eros left the Treasury Department and
the first act OF his suspend the payment Of NIL
ORDERS
have to believe that the OF the Mexican Minis
ter OF Foreign Relations Of the ID September written in
consequence Of an impression that The Mexican Government by
Ealing TO pay the nstamcn which cell due on the h OF Aprii
bad forfeited Us right 70 pay by insislmcn under the