The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1846-12-17

permitted to pass with impunity, almost n
cessarily encouraged the preparation OF al
: other, until at last Mexico seemed to attribut
: to weakness and indecision Oh our part a TO
: bearance which was the offspring OF magu
nimity, and of Il sincere desire to prescrV
friendly relations with sister republic.
Scarcely had Mexico achieved her indeper
dence, which the United States were the fir
among the nations to acknowledge, when sh
commenced the system Of insult and spoil;
ton, which she has ever since pursued. Ou
citizens engaged in lawful commerce wer
imprisoned, their vessels seized, and our fla
insulted in her ports. If money was wanted
the lawless seizure and conGscation OF GU
merchant vessels and their cargoes was
ready resource; and if, to accomplish thei
purposes, it became necessary to imprison til
owners, captains and crews,it was done. Ru
lcrs superseded rulers in Mexico in rapid sue
cession, but still there was no change in thi
system of depreciation. The government Q
the United States made repeated reclama
tons on behalf of its citizens, but these wer,
answered by the preparation Of new outrages
! Promises of redress made by Mexico in the
most solemn forms were postponed or evaded
L
State contain conclusive proofs of numerou:
lawless acts pcrpetrated upon the property
and persons Of our citizens by Mexico, and Of
wanton insults to our national flag. The in
terpositon Of cur government to obtain re-
dress WITS again and again invoked, under cir
cumstances which no nation ought to disre-
gard.
1t was hoped that these outrages would
cease, and that Mexico would be restrained
by the laws which regulate the conduct OF
civilized nations in their intercourse with
each other after the treaty Of alpity, commerce
and navigation of the 9Th Of April, 1881, was
concluded between the two republics but
this hope soon proved TO be vain. The course
of seizure and confscation of the property of
our citizens, the violation of their persons and
the insults to our flag pursued by Mexico pre-
vious to that time, were scarcely suspended
for even a brief period, although the treaty
so clearly defines the rights and duties OF the
parties that it is impossible to mis-
or mistake them. In less than
seven years after the conclusion of thattreaty
our grievances had become so intollerable, that
in the opinion of President jackson, they
should no longer be endured. In his Message
10 Coz greSs in February, 1887, he presented
hem to the consideration of that body, and
that The length of time since some
N the injuries had been committed, the ie-
oeated and unavailing applications for redress,
he wanton character OF some OF the outrages
lpon the property and persons of our citi-
,enS, upon the officers and flag of the United
states, independent of recent insults to this
government and people by the late eXtraor-
lnary Mexican Minister, would justify i'll the
yes Of all nations immediate war" In II
pirit of kindness and torbearance, however,
e recommended rcprisals as T. milder mode
f redress. lie declared that war should not
e used as remedy "by just and generous
ations, conii'ling in their strength Cor inju- !
les committed, if it can be honorably avoid |
d." and added, L" it has occurred to me that,
the present embarrassed condition
that country, we should act with both wis
ON and moderation, by giving to Mexico
ne more opportunity to atone for the past,
efore we take redress into our own hands,
% avoid all msconception on the part of
leXico, as well as to protect our own nation !
character from reproach, this opportunity ,
hould be given with the avowed design and
Ill preparation to take immediate satisfac-
on, if it should not be obtained on repeti-
that an set be passed authorizing
eprisals and the use of the naval force of the
United States, by the Executive against Mex
%, to enforce them in the event Of refusal
y the MeXlt an government to come to an
micable adjustment of the matters in con-
'oversy between us, upon another demand
hereof, made from on board one of our YES
lis OF war On the coast of Mexico"
Committees Of both Houses of Congress, to
'hich this message of this President was re-
,rred, fully sustained his views of the char
cter of the wrongs which we had suffered
ON Mexico, and recommended that another
emand for redress should be made before au-
lorizing war or rcpiisals. The Committee
n Foreign Relations Of the Senate, in their
,port say: d" After such demand. should
rompt justice be refused by the Mexican
overnnent, we may appeal to all nations,not
My for the equity and moderation with which
e shall have acted toward sister republic,
ut for the necessity which will then compel
5 to seek redress for our wrongs, either by
,tual war or by reprisals. The subject will
len be presented before Congress, at the
of the next session, in a clear
nd distinct form; and the Committee cannot
oubt but that such measures will be immcdi-
tcly adopted as may be necessary to vindi-
ate the honor of the country, and ensure am
lie reparation to our injured citizens"
Shortly after these proceedings, a special
lessenger was dispatched to Mexico, to make
final demand for redress; and ON the TWEEN
eth OF July, 1887, the demand was made
The reply of the Mexican government bears
ate on the twenty-ninth of the same month,
nd contains assurances of the "anxious wish"
t that government mot to delay the mo-
,ent of that final and equitable adjustment
'hich is TO terminate the existing difficulties
etween the two governments; :" that no
hing should be left undonc which may con-
ribute to the most speedy and equitable de-
ermnation of the subjects which have so Sc
iously engaged the attention of the Ameri.
an governments" that the Mexican gov
rnment would adopt, as the only guides for
IS conduct, the plainest principles of public
light, the sacred obligations imposed by in