Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1846-12-24
SUPPLEMENT
TO THE SPECTATOR.

Iof our citizens by Mexico, and of wan
ton insults to our national flag. The
,Interpos,,ion of our government TO- obtain
redress was again and again invoked, un-
der circumstances which no nation ouyh,
10 disregard.
II was hoped that these outrancs would
cease, and that Mexico would be RESTRAIN
ed by the laws which regulate the conduct
Iofcivilized nations in their intercourse with
each other alter the treaty Of amity, COM
mercc, and navigation of The 9Th of April,
1881, was concluded between the two re-
lpublics; but this h"prsoon proved To be
vain. The course of seizure and con6sca-
Ition of the property of our citizens; the vi
Iolation of their persons and the insults to
our flag pursued by Mexico previous 10
that time were scarcely suspended for c.
ven brief period, although the treaty so
lclcarly defines the rights and duties ofthc
Irrespective parties thatii is impossible to
misunderstood or mistake them. In less
than seven years after the conclusion of
that treaty our grievances had become so
Iintolerable that, in the opinion of President
Jackson, they should no longer be endured
In. his message to Congress in February,
1887, he presented them TO tho consilera-
IIon of thai body, and declared that ssThe
length oftime since some Of the iiiiu-
res have been committed the repeated and
uuavailing applications for redress, the
wauton character of some Of the outraycs
upon the property and persons of our Gill
zens, upon the officers and DAG ofthc Uni
ted States, independents al recent insults
to this government and people by the late
cXtraordihary Mexican minister, would ins-
Itify in the eyes of all nations immediate
war" Ina spirit of kindness and f,rbear.
tance, however, inc recommended rcprIsas
as miI,lcr mode ofredress. He declared
that war should not be used rs a remedy
"by Just and generous nations conlidinr
in their strength for injuries committed, il
III can be honorably avoided" and added
''lt has occurred To me that con si,lernu
the present embarrassed condition of that
country, we should act with both wisdom
and moderation, by giving TO Mexico one
more opporuniiyt0 atone for the past, be-
fore we take redress into our hands. To
avoid all msconccption on the part of Mex
leo, as well as to protect our own national
character from reproach, this opportunity
should he given with The avowed desiuu
and full preparation to take immediate sat-
isfaction, if il should not be obtained on a
repetition of the demand for il. To this
end recommend that an act be passed
authorizing reprisals, and the use of the
naval fnrcc of the United States, by the
Executive, against Mexico, To enforce
them III the event of d refusal by the Mex
lean government 10 come 10 an amicable
adjustment of the matters in controversy
between us, upon another demand thereof.
| m q m no If q
war on the coast of Mexico
Committees Of both Houses of Congress.
TO which this message ofthis President was
referred fully sustained his views of the
character OF the wrongs which we had suf-
l!efed from Mexico, and rec commended that
another demand for redress should be made
before authorizing war reprisals. The Com
lmittee on Foreign Relations of the Senate,
III their report say: "Aller such demand,
should prompt Justice be refused by the
Mexican government, VIC may appeal to
all nations not only for the equity aud mod
Grafton with which we shall have acted to-
wards sister tepub!ic. but FOR the mecessi-
ty which will then compel us to seek re-.
dress Tor our wrongs, either BY actual war
or by reprisalS. The subject will then be
presented before Congress, at the com
Emencement of the next session, i'm a clear
and distinct form ; and the committee can
not doubt but that such measures will be
immediately adopted as may be necessary
TO yndicate the honor Of the country, and
fsnst!re ample reparation 20 oar injured cit
iZens."
The Committee on Foreign Affairs of
the House of Representatives made a sim
liar recommendation. In their report, they
say thai they ''fmlly concur with The Presi-
dent that ample cause exists for taking re-
dress into our OWE 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
aholher dcmand, made in the most solems
FORM upon the justice of lie Mexican gov
crnmeni, before any further proceedings
are adopted
No difference of opinion upon the sub.
Ilect is believed TO have existed in Congress
] AT that time. The Executive and Lerisla-
the departments concurred s. yet such has
been our iorbearance, aid desire to pre-
serve peace with Mexico, that The wrongs
Ioi which we then complained, and which
gave rise TO these solemn proceedings, not
{oniy remain unredressed 60 this day, but
additional caUscs Of complaint, Of an sag-
gravated character, have ever smCe been
accommodating.
Shortly after these proceedings, spc-
cfal messenger was despatched to Mexico,
to make final demand for redress; aud
on the twentieth Of July, 1887, the demand
was made. The reply Of The Mexican gov
crn'nen' bears date on the 18th Of the same
mohth, and contains assurances nGlhe :'anX-
lous wish" Of Ike Mcx;can goscrnmcnl
! mot to delay the moment of that final and
Equitable adjustment which is TO terminate
The existing difficulties beiueen the two
gosernnienis - that "notbing should he