The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1846-12-25

thoriSIng war or reprlsalS. The
Committee on Foreign Relations o
the Senate, in their report, say -
CATER such demand, should prompt
Justice be refused by the Mexican
Government, we may appeal to al
nations, not only for the equity ano
moderation with which we shall have
acted towards sister republic, but
for the necessity which will then
compel us to seek redress for oui
wrongs either by actual war or by
reprisals. The subject will then be
presented before Congress, at the
commencement of the next session,
in clear and distinct form; and the
committee cannot doubt but that
such measures will be Immediately
adopted as may be necessary TO vim
dictate the honor Of our country, and
insure ample PREPARATION to our injur-
ed citizens"
The Committee on Foreign Affairs
of the House Of Representatives
made similar recommendation. In
their report, they say that they "ful-
ly concur with the President that
ample cause exists for taking redress
into our own hands, and believe
that we should be justified in the
opinion Of other nations for taking
such a step. Bat they are willing
to try the experiment Of another de-
mand, made in the most solemn form,
upon the Justice Of the Mexican gov
eminent, before any other proceed
ings are adopted"
No difference of opinion upon the
subject is believed TO have existed
in Congress at that time. The Ex-
ecutive end Legislative departments
concurrcd; and yet such has been
our forbcarance, and desire TO pre-
serve peace with Mexico, that the
wrongs of which we then complain
ed, and which gave rise to these
solemn proceedings, not only remain
unredressed to this day, but addi-
tional causes of complaint, of an ag-
gravated character, lave ever since
been accommodating.
Shortly after these proceedings, a
special messenger was despatched to
Mexico, to make a final demand Of
redress; and on the Goth Of July,
1887, the demand was made. Tie
reply Of the Mexican government
bears date on the 29th of the same
month, and contains assurances of
the "anXious wish" Of the Mexican
government "not to delay the mo-
ment Of that final and equitable adj
justment which is TO terminate the
existing difficulties between TIC two
goyernmcutS;' that "notlina should
be left undonc which may contribute
to the most speedy and equitable de-
termination Of the subjects which
have so seriously engaged the otten-
ton Of the American government"
that tie "McXican govcrnm't would
adopt, as the only guide for its con-
duct, the pIaincst principles Of pub
lie right, the sacred obligations i'm
posed by international law, and the
religious faith of treaties" and that
"whatcvcr reason and Justice may
dictate respecting each case, will be
done" The assurance was further
given, that the decision Of the McXi-
can government upon each cause Of
complaint, for which redress had
been demanded, should be commit
nicated to the government Of the L..
States by the Mexican ministers at
Washington.
These solemn assurances, in an
swer TO our demand for redress,
were disregarded. BY making them,
however, Mexico obtained further
delay. President Van Buren,, in his
annual message TO Congress Of the
9th Of December, 1887, states, that
"although the larger number" ofour
demands for redress, and "many OF
them aggravated cases Of personal
wrongs, have been now for years be-
fore the Mexican government, and
some of the causes of national COM
/ plant, and those Of the most often
sive character, admitted of immcdi-
ate, simple, and satisfactory replies,
it is only within few days past that
any specific communication in an
swer to our last demand, made five
months ago, has been received from
the Mexican ministcr;' and that '.fol
not one of our public complaints has
satisfaction been given or otfered;-
that but one Of the cases Of personal
wrong has been favorably consider
ed, and that but four cases of botl
desert ptions, out of all those formally
presented, and earnestly pressed
have as yet been decided upon b,
the Mexican government" Presi
dent Van Buren,, believing that i
would be vain to make any furthe
attempt TO obtain redress by the or
binary means within the power o
the Executive, communicated hi
! opinion to Congress, in the messag,
. referred TO. i'm which he said. WOn