State journal & flag. [volume] (Tuscaloosa, Ala.) 1843-1846, 1846-12-18

to an amicaDe adjustment OF the matters
in controversy between us, upon another
demand thereof made from on board one
OF our vessels Of war on the coast of Mexi.
CO."
Committees Of both houses of Congress,
10 which this message OF this President was
referred, fully sustained his views of the
: character OF the wrongs which we had suf
fered from Mexico, and recommended that
another demand for redress should be made
before authorizing war or reprisas. The
Committee on Foreign Relations OF the Sen
ale, IN their report, says safer such
demand, should prompt justice be refused by
the Mexican government, we may appeal 10
all nations not only for the equity and mod
Grafton with which we shall have acted to.
wards sister republic, but for the necessity
which will then compel US to seek redress
for our wrongs. either by actual war or by
reprisas. The subject will then be present
ed before Congress, at the commencement
OF the next session, in q clear and distinct
form. and the committee cannot doubt but
that such measures will be Immediately adop.
ted as may be necessary to yindicate the
honor of the country. and insure ample re.
| Pot"hoh " Jul CiilLtuSs
The Committee on Foreign Affairs of the
House OF Representatives made similar re.
commentator. Ia their report, they say
that they "fulIy 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 olher
nations fer taking such a step. But they
are willing to try the experiment of another
demand made in the most solemn form, up
on the justice of the Mexican government,
before any other proceedings are adopted"
No difference of opinion upon the subject
is believed 10 have existed in Congress at
that time. The Executive and Legislative
departments concurred 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
remain unredressed to this day, but add,
tional causes of compliant, Of an aggrava-
ted character, have ever since been accumu.
ating.
Shortly after these proce d.ngs, special
messenger was despatched to Mexico to
make final demand for redress; and on
the twentieth Of July, 1887, the demand was
made. The reply of the Mexican govern
mcnt bears date on the twenty ninth of the
same month, and contains assurances of the
anxious wish" of the Mexican government
"not to delay the moment of that final and
'equilabe adjustment which is to terminate
the existing difficulties between the two gov
ernments !" that "nothing should be left un.
done which may contribute to the most spec.
dy and equitable determination Of the sub
jects which have so seriously engaged the
attention OF the American government" that
the "Mexican government would adopt, as
the only guides for its conduct, the painest
principles of public right, the sacred obga-
tons imposed by International law, and the
religious faith of treaties )" and that "what-
ever reason and justice may dictate respects
Jog each case will be done." The assurance
was further given, that the decision Of the
complaint for which redress had been de-
handed, should be communicated to the gov
eminent of the United States by the Mexi.
can minister at Washington.
These solemn assurances, in answer to
our demand for redress, were disregarded.
By making them, however. Mexico obtain.
ed further delay. President Van Buren,, in
his annual message to Congress of the fifth
of December, 1887, states, that '.allhough
the larger number" of our demands for re.
Dress and "many Of them aggravated cases
| ofpersonal wrongs. have been now for years
before the Mexican government, and some
OF the causes of national complaint, and
those of the most offensive character, ad.
mitted of immediate, simple, and satisfacto
ry replies, it is only within few days past
that any specific communication in answer
10 our last demand, made five months ago,
has been received from the Mexican minis
ter" and that "for not one of our public
complaints has satisfaction been given or Of
Tered that but one of the cases Of personal
wrong has been favorably considered, and
that but four cases of both descriptions, out
of all those formally presented, and ear
nesy pressed, have as we, been decided up
on by the Mexican government" Presi.
dent Van Buren,, believing that it would be
vain TO make any further attempt TO obtain
redress by the ordinary means within the
power Of the Executive, communicated this
opinion to Congress, in the message referred
| to, in which he said Ion a careful and de-
uuCfutc cAduiiudttOu Oh Tue COhteutS, tOI
the correspondence with the Mexican gov.
ernment,) "and considering the spirit mani
tested by the Mexican government, it has
become my painful duty TO return the sab.
ject, as it now stands. to Congress, to whom
it belongs, TO decide upon the time, the
mode, and the measures Of redress" Had
the United States, at that time, adopted
compulsory measures, and taken redress
into their own hands, all our difficulties with
Mexico would probably have been long since
adjusted, and the existing war have been
avered. Magnanimity and moderation on
our part oaly had the effect to compicate
these difficulties, and render an amicable
settlement Of them the more embarrassing.
That such measures Of redress under SINH.
lar provocations committed by any of the
powerful nations oil Europe, would have been
promptly resorted to by the United States,
cannot be doubted. The national honor,
and the preservation Of the national charac~
ter throughout the world, as well as our own
self-respect. and the protection due to our
own citizens, would have rendered such a
resort Indispensable. The history of no civ
ilizcd nation in modern times has presented,
within SO brief period, SO many wanton
| atfackc ,,nov, ho hnnor oc .ts a.. IL $500