Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1846-12-11


if it can be honorably avoide1,'' and added,
. it has occurred 10 me that, considering the
present embarrassed condition of that country,
we should act with both wisdom and modera-
ton, by giving 10 Mexico one more opportu-
nifty to atone for the past, before we take re-
Gress into our own hands. To avoid all MIS-
conception on the part OF Mexico, as well as
to protect our own national character from re-
proach, this opportunity should be given with
the avowed design and full preparation 10 take
immediate satisfaction, if it should not be OBJ
tanned on a repetition of the demand for it.
To this end | recommend that an act be pas
sed authorizing reprisals, and the use of the
naval force of the United States, by the Exec
utive, against Mexico, to enforce them III the
eveGt of refusal by the Mexican government
to come to an amicable adjustment of the mat
tiers IN controversy between US, upon another
demand thereof, made from on board one oil
our vessels of war on the coast of Mexico"
Committees Of both houses of Congress, to
which this message Of this President was re-
ferrel, fully sustained his views OF the char
acter of the wrongs which we had suffered
from Mexico, and recommended that another
demand for redress should be male before au-
thorizing war or reprsais. The Commute on
Foreign Relations of the Senate, in their re-
port, say: CATER such a demand, should
prompt Justice be refused by the Mexican gov
eminent, we may appeal to all nations not on
y for the equity and moderation with which
we shall have acted towards sister republic,
but for the necessity which will then compel
us to seek redress for our wrongs, either by
actual war or by reprisals The bject will
then be presented before Congress, at the COM
mencement 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 vindicate the
honor Of the country, and insure ample rep
aration to our injured citizens"
The Committee On Foreign Affairs of the
House of Representatives made a similar re-
communication. In their report, they say thai
they "fully concur with the President thai
ample cause exists for taking redress into oul
own hands, and believe that we should be
justified in the opinion of other nations for ia
king such a step. But they are willing tc
try the experiment OF another demand, made
in the most solemn form, upon the justice O.
the Mexican government, before any furthe
proceedings are adopted"
No difference Of opinion upon the subject /:
believed to have existed i'll Congress at that
time; the Executive and Legislative depart
ments concurred; and yet such has been GU
forbearance, and desire to preserve peace with
Mexico, that the wrongs of which we ther
complained, and which gave rise to these SO
Tenn proceedings, not only remain unre
dressed to this day, but additional causes O
complaint, of an aggravated character, have
ever since been accommodating.
Shortly after these proceeding, a specia
messenger was despatched to Mexico, to MAKE
final demand for redress and on the twenti
eth of July, 1897, the demand was made
The reply of the Mexican government bear
date on the twenty ninth of the same month
and contains assurances of the "anxiou
wish of the Mexican government not to de
lay the moment of that final and equitable ad
iustment which is to terminate the existin;
difficulties between the two governments :;
that nothing should be left undone which
may contribute to the most speedy and equit
able determination OF the sub jects which hav
80 seriously engaged the attention of the A
merican government; - that the Mexican gov
eminent would adopt, as the only guides TO
its conduct, the plainest principles of publ
right, the sacred obligations imposed by inter
national law, and the religious faith of trea
ties - and that whatever reason and justlc
may dictate respecting each case will be done.
The assurance was further given, that the de
cis;on of the Mexican government upon eac
cause OF complaint, for which redress ha
been demanded, should be communicated t
the government of the United States by tn
Mexican minister at Washington.
These solemn assurances, IN answer to GU
demand for redress, were disregarded. B
making them, however Mexico obtained fur
Their delay President Van Buren,, in his an
nual message to Congress of the fifth of De
cember, 1887, states, that although the lal
ger number of our demands for redress, an
" many OF them aggravated cases OF persona
wrongs, have been now for years before tn
Mexican government, and some of the cause
! of national complaint, and those OF the mos
offensive character, admitted of immediate
: simple, and satisfactory replies, it is onl
within few days past, that any specific con
munication in answer to our last demand
made five months ago, has been received frol
the Mexican mnister;' and that &C for not or
of our public complaints has satisfaction bee
, given or offered; that but one of the cases
personal wrong has been faVorably consideret
and that but four cases of both description
out of all those formally presented, and ca
: nestly pressed, have as yet been decided upo
: bv the Mexican government" President Va
: Buren,, believing that 1t would be vain to max
aDy further attempt to obtain redress by II
: ordinary means within the power of the Elk
t cutiye, communicated this opinion to Congress
g in the message referred to, in which he saV
con a careful and deliberate examination
the contents,'' (of the correspondence with Il
Mexican government,) and considering II
: spirit manifested BIZ the Mexican governmer
/, it has become my painful duty to return Il
r subject as if now stands, to Congress, to who
: it belongs, to decide upon the time, the mod
: and the measure of redress" Had the Unit;
C States at that time adopted compulsory me
sures, and taken redressinto their own hands, {
d our difficulties with Mexico would probab
n have been long since adjusted. and the exis
t ing war have been ayerted. Magnanimi
: and moderation on our part only had the E
e feet to compicate these difficulties, and rend
: an amicable settlement of them the more Ell
n barrassing. That such measures of redres
: under similar provocations, committed by al
;. of the powerful nations of Europe, wou
Il have been promptly resorted to by the Unit
e States, cannot be doubted The national h
i nor, and the preservation OF the national cha
:. acter throughout the world, as we'll as O
n own sclf-respect and the protection due to O
II own citizens, would have rendered such
: sort indispensable. The history of no civi
zcd nation in modern times has present
d within so brief period so many wanton
d tacks upon the honor of its flag, and upon
II property and persons of its citizens, as had
h that time been borne by the United Stat
n from bo Moyicon authorities and nnoolo