Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1846-12-17


teen months from that time. Four of the egh-
teen months were consumed in preliminary dis
cussions on frivolous and dilatory points raised
by the Mexican Commissioners and it was not
until the month Of December, 1910, that they
commenced the examination of the claims of
our citizens upon Mexico. Fourteen months
only remained to examine and decide upon
these numerous and complicated cases. In the
month of Feb. 1884, the term of the commission
expired, leaving many claims undspOsed of for
want of time. The claims which were allowed
by The Board, and by the umpire authorized by
the Convention to decide in case of Disagree
States, independent of recent insults to this
Government and people by the late exra0rdin-
airy Mexican Minister, would justify in the eyes
of all nations immediate war" In a spirit of
kindness aud forbearance, however, he recon-
mended reprisas as a mder mode of redress
He declared that war should not be used as
remedy by just and generous nations, confd-
ing in their strength for injuries committed, if it
can be honoraby avoided" and added, " it has
occurred to me that, considering the present en-
harrassed condition Of that country, we should
act with both wisdom and moderation, by Civ
ing To Mexico one more opportunity to atone
for the past, before we take redress into our
own hands. To avoid all misconcrpton on the
part of Mexico, as well as to protect our own
national character from reproach, this opportun-
ity should be given with the avowed design and
full preparation to take immediate satisfaction,
II 1t should not be obtained ON repetition of
the demand for it, To this end | recommend
that an act be passed authorsing reprsaIs and
the use of the naval force of the United States,
| by the Executive against Mexico, to enforce
them in the event of a refusal by the Mexican
| Government to come to an amicabIe 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, to
which this message Of the President was refer
red, fully sustained bis views Of the character
Of the wrongs which we had suffered from Mex
leo, audrrrOmmcnded that another demand for
redress should be- made before authorizing war
or reprsas. The Committees on Foreign Re-
lation~ of the Seuate, in their report, say AZ
ter such demand, should prompt justice be re-
fused by the Mexican Government, we may APP
geal to all nations, not only for the equity and
moderation with which we shall have acted to-
ward sister republic, but for the necessity
which will then compel us to seek redress for
our wrongs, either by actual war or by rcpri-
sails. The subject will then he presented before
Congress, ut the commencement Of the next ses-
sion, in Il clear and distinct form: and the Com
mittec cannot doubt but that such measures will
be Immediately adopted MS may be necessary to
vindiratc the honor Of The country, aud ensure
ample reparatuu to our injured cltlZcus"
The Committee on Foreign Affairs of the
House of Representatives made similar re-
commentator. In their report, they say that
they " fully concur with the President that ann
pie cause exists for taking redress into our own
bands, and believe that we should be justified
in The opinion of other nations for taking such
step, Bur they are willing to try the expert
mcni Of another demand, made in The most sol
einn form, upon the justice of the Mexican Gov
eminent, before any farther proceedings are a
dopted."
No difference Of opinion upon the sub eject is
believed to have existed iu Congress ut that
time the Executive and Legislative depart
concnrred and yet sach has been our forbear-
encr, and desire TO preserve peace with MeXi-
GO, that the wrongs of which we then complain
ed, and which gave rise to these solemn pro-
rccdinas, not only remain unredrpssed To this
day, but additional causes Of complaint, ofa
aggravated character, have ever since been nc
cumuIang
Shortly after these proceedings, n special
messenger was dispatched in Mexico, To make
Il tind demand for redress aud on the .Weuti
eth Of July, 1887, the demand was made. The
reply oftbe Mexican Government bears date ON
the twenty ninth of the same month, and cou-
ItalnS assurances of the " anxious wish" Of the
Mexican Government " not to delay the mo-
which is to terminate the existing difficulties
between the two Governments !" that &c moth
ing should he left undoue which may contribute
to the most speedy and equitable determination
of the subjects which have so seriously engaged
the attention Of the Amercaa Government y
that the " Mexican Government would adopt,
as the only guides for its conduct, the plajnest
principles of public right, the sacred obligations
imposed by international law, and the re igious
faith of treaties y and that " whatever reason
and justice may dictate respecting each case
will be done" The assurance was farther Civ
en-, that the decision of the Mexican Govern
nent upon each cause of complaint, for which
redress had been demanded, should be com
municated to the Government of the United
States by the Mexican Minister at Washington.
These solmen assurances, in answer to our
demand for redress, were disregarded. BY
making them, however, Mexico obtained far
Their delay. President Van Buren,, in his annu-
al message to Congress of the fifth of Deem
Der, 1897 states, that although 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 nation
al complaint, and those of the most offensive
character, admitted of immediate, simple, aud
satisfactory replies, it is only within few days
past that any specllice communication in answer
to our last demand, made five monts ago, has
been received from the Mexican minister ); and
that C for not one of our public complaints has
satisfaction been given or offered that but one
of the cases of personal wrong has hcen fayora-
bly, considered, and that but four cases of both
descriptions, out of all those formally presented
and earnestly pressed, have as yet been decided
upon by The Mexican Government President
Van Buren,, believing that it would be vain to
make any farther. attempt to obtain redress by
the ordinary means within the power of the
Executive, communicated this opinion to Con-
gress, in the message referred to, in which he
said A." On a careful and deliberate examina-
ton of the contents," (of the CORES pondence
with the Mexican GovernmenD i" and consider
ing the spirit manifested by the Mexican Gov
eminent, it has become my painful duty to re-
turn the subject AS now stands, to Congress to
whom II belongs, to decide upon the tme the
mode, aud the measure of redress" Had the
United States at that time adopted compulsory
measures, and taken redress in their own hands
all our difficulty with Mexico would probably
have been long since adjusted, aud the existing
war have been avered. Maguauimty and
moderation on our part only had the effect to
complicRte these difficulties, and render an am
icabIe settlement Of them the more embarrass-
ing That such measures of redress, under