The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1846-12-19

seemed 10 attribute TO weakness and indie.
cisIon on our part lorbearance which wa,
'he olt'sptrg OF msgnanlmily and of sin.
cete desne ~ preserve friendly relations
WIN sister republic.
Scarcely had Mexico achieved her indie.
Ipendcnce, which The United States, were
NE first among The nations 10 acknowledge
when she commenced the system OF insul,
and SpoIatlun, which she has ever since
pursued. Our ciuzens engaged iE Lawful
c"Inmerce were imprisoned their vessels,
seized, aud our flag nsulted in her porIs.
! II money was wanted. the avess seizure
aud conliscaIIon Of our merchant vessels
'nd their csrepes was ready resource; and
II TO accomplish their purposes i, became
necessary to imprson the owners, cap,ains.
and crews twas done. Rulers superseded
rulers ia Mexico in rapid succession, but
SUI there was no change in this system Of
depreciation. The government Of the Uni
ted States made repeated reclamallons on
behalf ol lis CItZens,but these were ans wer
ed by new oulrages. Promises of redress
made by Mexico in the mos. solemn forms
were lponed or evaded. The flies and
records OF The Department Of Stale contain
conclusive ptuols Of numerous lawless acts
pefpe'rs'ed upon ihe properly and persons
OF ON cluzens by Mexico, and of wan,on
insults to our national flag. The inter posi-
ton OF our government, 10 obtain redress
W as again and again invoked, under circum-
stances which no nation ought 10 disregard
II was hoped sha. these ou,rages would
Al ha
ny the laws winch regulate tie conduc, OF
civilized nations IN their intercourse with
Zach other after The treaty Of ami,y, cons
metce aud navigation Of The fifth Of April,
1881, was concluded between the two re,
puoiice; but this hope soon proved TO be
vain. The course of seizure and contisca-
lion Of The property of our citizens; the vio-
aiion Of their persons and The insults to our
flag pursued by Mexico previous TO that
nme were scarcely suspended for even q
hrlei period, although the treaty SO clearly
!elines the rights and duties OF lhe respec,
live parties IhAtii is impossible 10 misunder.
siand or mistake them. In less than seven
years after Ihe conclusion OF that treaty our
grievances had berome so intolera5le lha, 10
he opinion OF President Jackson, they
should be no longer endured.
~ hls message to Congress, in February
1897. he presented Them 10 the consldeia
llon Of lIat body, and declared that 'Tat
length Of t!me since some Of The injuries
have been committed, the repeated an un>
tvaIling app icail0ns for redress, the wani0n
character of some Of The ou,Iages uprn III,
properly and persons of our ciUzsns, upoI
she officers and (tg Of the United States
independent Of recent insults TO this govern
menl and people by ,Se late extraordinary
Mexican minister, would justify in lhe ey
0f all nations Immediate war In spiIii ol
kodoess and Inrbearance, however, he re-
commended Iepisals as mllder mode oil
redress.
He declared lha, war should not be used
as remedy by Just and generous nations
IN thei snength for injuries COM
Dltted, if it can be honorably avoided andI
aided, 1T has occurred to ne that, consid
erng the prssen, embarrassed condition oil
that country, we should act with both wis
dnm and moderation, by giving to NeXico
one more opportunity TO atone Tor the past
before we take redress into our own hands.
10 avoid all mlsconcepllon on the part oil
Mexico, as we'll as to protect our own ma
uonsl character from reproaCh, opportunity
should he gwen with he svowed design and
full preparation To take immediate sstSlac-
tnn # II should not be obtained on a repeu'
ton OF tIIe demand for i.
70 lh.s end recommend that an aci bel
passed authorizing reprisals, and ihe use o
the naval force of the UDled States, by theI
Executive, aglnsl Mexico, to enforce then
~ the event Of refusal by the MeXlcan|
government to come TO an ahicable ad usl-
men, o: the matters n controversy between
us upou sno,hor demand thereof, made
from on board one of our vessels OF war on
Ihe coast Of Mexico
Commiuees of both hHouses oICOngrsss, To-
W which lhIs message of this President was
referred. fully sustained his views Of the
character Of the wrongs which we had sui
lered from Mexico, and recommended that
another demand Tor redress should be made
before authorizing war or reprlsaIs.
The Commlure Oh Fol eign Relations Of
lihe Senate. in their report, say: AT
ter such demand. should prompt jusuct
he refused by the Mexican government, VT
may spreal 10 all nations not only for lht
lequiiy and moderation with which we shall
have acted towards sister republic, but SoI
me necessity waIch will then compeI us to
seek redress Cor our wrongs, either by aeIu
al war or by rePrsals. The subject will
then be presented before Congress. al The
IcommPnCemen of The next session, IN .