Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1846-12-18
WHOLE NUMBER GA.

srty Of our citizens, he violation Of their rel-ons
and the insults 10 our flag punued Ly Mexto pre-
vions 10 that tine, were scarcely suspended fJr
ievPn brief period, although the treaty 20 cl,arly
defines the rights and duties Of the respective psr.
lies that IL is impossible 10 nsundefstaud or ms
AXE ihem. In less than seven yean alier the con-
cluslOn Of that treaty our grievances had become so
inIolerable that. in tie opinion Of President Jack.
son, they should no ionger be endured. in his
message 70 Congress IN February, 1887, hp pressn-
ted them 70 the consideration OF that todv, and de.
cared that "The length Of time sil ce some of the
Injuries have been committed, the repeated and uD-
availing applications lo redress, The wanton char.
acier Of some OF The ouuages upon the property and
persons Of our citizens, upon the officers aud flag
Oft United States, independent Of recent insults
10 this government and people by the late rxraor.
binary Mexican minister, would justify in tie eyes
Of all nations immediate wa" In spirit Of kind
ness and iorbearance however, he recommended
reprisals as a milder mode ofredress, He declared
that war should not be used as a remedy ''ty jus,
and generous nations, Confdng in their strength
Tor injuries committed. if il e hon0atly ayoi!-
ed and added, "iI has occurred TO me that, con.
siderlng the present embarrassed condition Of that
county, we should act with both wisdom and nod
eraIion, By giving 10 Mexico one more oppoEuni-
y 10 atone for the past, before take III
10 our own hands. To avoid all nIisconceplon on
national character from repoach, this OPT oruui-
: ~ should be given with Ihe uvowed design and
iull preparation 10 take immediate satisfaction II
should not be obtained a repetition Of the de-
mand for it. To this end recommended that an
act he passed authorizing reprisas, and the use Of
naval To- &c OF the United States, ty Tie Executive
against Mexico, to enforce them 10 tie event OF .
refusal by the Mexican government 10 come 10 an
amicabIe juslmento Of the matters in controversy
fnt,1
from on toard one oil our vessels Of war on The
: coast OF Mex CO."
Committees ofboih houses OF Congress, 10 which
, this message Of the President was referred, fully
sustained his views OF the character OF the wrongs
which We hod suffered fIom Mexico, ard recon-.
mended lha; another demand Tor redie should be
made Jcore authorizing war or repri.a.s. The
Committee on Foreign Relations OF the Senate. in
their report, says: "Ailer such demand, should
prompt justice te refused by the Mexican govern.
men, may apTeal to all nations only for the
Y equity and moderation with which we shall have
acted towards sister republic, tut for the necessi.
|, ~ which will then compel MS 10 seek redrcss ol
our wrongs, either Ey gclGaI war or Irpr.as. The
subject wllI then lie presented to Congress, at The
commencement OF the next session, in clear aud
distinct form; and the ccmmitlee carnot doubt tut
that such measures will he Immediately adopted as
may lie necessary 10 vindjca,e the honor Of the
country, and insure ample repraiion 10 or irur.
| Ell citizens"
The Committee on Foreign Affairs Of the
House Of Representatives made similar recon-
; mendation. In their report, they say that they
"fullv concur with the President that ample cause
exists for taking redress into own hands, and
believe that we should be justified in the opinion
of other nations for taking such step. But they
. are willing TO try the experiment of another de-
mand, made in the most solemn form. upon the
justice of the Mexican government before any
further proceedings are adopted"
No difference of opinion upon the subject is
believed to have existed in Congress at that time;
the Executive and Legislative Departments con-
curred and yet such has been our forbearance,
and desire TO preserve peace with Mexico, that
: the wrongs of which we then complained, and
which gave rise 10 these solemn proceedings, not
only remains unredressed TO this day, but addi-
tional causes of complaint, of an aggravated char
acter, have ever since been accumuIating.
Shortly after these proceedings, a special mes
senger was despatched 10 Mexico, 10 make f.
nal demand for redress; and on the Goth Of July,
1887, the demand was made. The 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 moment of that final and equitable
adjustment which is TO terminate the existing diff.
fcutes between the two governments" that no.
thing should be left undone which may contribute
to the most speedy and equitable determination
of the subjects which have so seriously engaged
the attention of the American government" that
the "Mexican government would adopt as the on
ly guides for its conduct, the panest principles of
public right the sacred obligations imposed by
international law, and the religious faith Of trea-
ties;" and that "whatever reason and Justice may
dictate respecting each case will be done" The
assurance was further given that the decision of
the Mexican ngOvernmentupon each cause of COM
plant, for which redress had been demanded.
should be communicated 10 the government of
the United States by the Mexican minister at
Washington.
These solemn assurances, in answer TO our de-
mand 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,
"athough the larger number" of our demands for
redress, and "many Of them aggravated cases of
personal wrongs, have been now for years before
the Mexican government, and some of the causes
Of national complaint, and those Of the most OF.
fensive character admitted of Immediate, simple,
and satisfactory replies, it is only within a few
days past that any specific communication in an
swer 10 our last demand, made five months ago,
has been received from the Mexican minister"
and that "for not one of our public complains has
satisfaction been given or offered; that but one Ct
the cases of personal wrong has been tavorably
considered, and that but four cases of both des-
criptions out of all those formerly presented, and
earnestly pressed, have as yet been decided up
on by the Mexican government" President Van
Buren, believing that it would be vain to make
anv further attempt to obtain redress by the Or
dinary means within the power of the Executive,
communicated this opinion to Congress, in the
message referred G., in which he said: "On