Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1846-12-12


upon another demand thereof made from board Of
vessels OF war on the coast Of Mexico
Committees of both Houses Of Congress- to which this
sage Of this President referred fully sustained his views
the character of the wrongs which had suffered from
Mexico, and recommended that another demand for redress
should be made before authorizing reprsals. The
Committee Foreign Relations Of the Senate, in their
port say After such demand should prompt justice be
refused by the Mexican Government we may appeal to all
nations only for the equity and moderation with which
shall have acted towards siyer Republic but for the
necessity which will then compel s TO seek redress for
wrongs, either by actual by reprisas The subject
will then be presented before Congress, at the commence
ment Of the session. in clear and distinct form and
the committee cannot doubt but hat such will be
Immediately adopted may be necessary to vindicae the
honor Of the country and ensure ample reParaton to
injured citizens"
The COMMITTEES on Foreign Affairs Of the House Of Repre-
sentayes made similar recommendation In their report
they say that they fully concur with the President that
ample exists for taking redress into our own hands,
aud believe that should he justified in the opinion of other
nations for taking such STEP But they willing try
the experiments OF another demand made the solemn
form, upon the justice of the Mexican Government, before
any further proceedings adopted"
No difference of opinion upon the subject is believed
have existed in Congress at that time. The Executive and
Legislative departments concuned and yet such has been
forbeaance and desire to preserve peace with Mexico
that the wrongs of which then complained and which gave
Use to these solemn proceedings not only remain unredess
ed this day, but additional Of complaint Of agga
waited character have since been accommodating.
Shortly after these proceedings special messenger
dispatched to Mexico to make final demand for redress and
the 20h OF July 1887 the demand made The reply
Of the Mexican Government bears date the 29th of the
same month, and contains of the anxious wish
OF the Mexican Government not 10 delay the Of that
final and equitable adjustment whichs the exist
ing difficulties between the two Governments that nothing
should be left undone which contribute to the most speedy
and equitable determination of the subjects which have
riousy engaged the attention Of the American Government
that the " Mexican Government would adopt the only
QUIZ The of
the sacred obligations imposed by international law and the
religious faith of treaties = and that " whatever and
justice may dictate respecting each will be done The
further given that the decision of the Mexican
Government upon each complaint which redress
had been demanded should be the Govern
men Of the United States by the Mexican Minister at Wash
ington.
These solemn assurances in answer to our demand for
Dress dsregarded BY making them however, Mexi-
obtained further delay President Van Buren,, in his
nua message Congress ofthe fifth of December 1887 states
that although the larger number Of demands for
Dress many of them OF personal wrongs
have been for years before the Mexican Government and
of the of national complaint, and those OF the
most offensive character, admitted of Immediate SIMPLE and
satisfactory replies, il is only within few days past that any
specific communication TO our last demand, made
five months ago. has been received from the Mexican Minis
ter and that Tor not Of public complaints has sat
stacon been given offered; that but of the of
wrong has been avoraby considered and that
four Of both descriptions out Of all those formally pre-
scented and earnestly pressed have yetbeen decided
by the Mexican Government President Van Buren,, beey-
ing that it would be vain to make any further attempt OBJ
tain redress by the ordinary within the power of the
Executive communicated this opinion to Congress in the
sage referred to- which he said g On careful and de-
lbeate examination of the contents (of the correspondence
with the Mexican Government and considering The spirit
manifested by the Mexican Government il has become my
painful duty to return the subject, it stands, to Con-
gess whom il belongs decide upon the mc the mode
and the of redress Had the United States at that
time adopted compulsory measures redress their
hand .lI
have been long adjusted and the existing have been
averted. Magnanmy and moderation part only had
the effect TO compcate these difficulties and render ami
cable settlement of them the embarrassing That such
OF redress under similar provocaons committed by
any of The powerful nations of Europe, would have been
promptly resorcd by the United States cannot be doubted
The national honor and the preservation OF the national char
acer throughout the world well serespect
and the protection due to citizens would have
dered such resort Indispensable The history OF civilized
nation in modern times has presented, within brief PERIOD
many wanton attacks upon tho honor Of its flag and upon
the property and persons Of Its citizens had at that time
been borne by the United States from the Mexican autho
ties and people But Mexico sister republic, the
North American continent occupying territory contiguous
to own, and was in feeble and distracted condition and
these conscientious il is presumed induced Congress TO for
bear still longer.
Instead of taking redress into our own hands, nego
tiaton entered upon with fair promises the part Of
Mexico but with the real purpose as the event has Proved
of indefinitely posponng the reparaton which demanded
and which Justly due This negotiation, after than
years delay resulted in the convention of the lib Of April
$780, 90 for the dusmen of claims Of citizens of the United
States of America upon the Government of the Mexican Re-
public" The joint board Of commissioners created by this
convention 20 examine and decide upon these claims not
organized until the month Of August $780, and under the
terms Of the convention they their duties
within eighteen months from that time -Four Of the eighteen
months consumed in preliminary discussions frivolous
and daory points, raised by the Mexican commissioners
and until the month Of December $40, that they
commenced the examination Of the claims Of citizens upon
Mexico. Fourteen months only remained TO examine aud
decide upon these and complicated In the
month Of February Is42 the of the commission expr
ed leaving many claims undsposd Of for Of time The
claims which allowed by the boar and by the umpire
authorized by the convention to decide in of disagreement
between the Mexican and American commissioners
ed TO million wenty.sx thousand hundred and tr
tynine dollars and sixty-egh cents There pending
before the umpire when the commission expired additional
claims which had been examined and awarded by the Ame
commissioners and had been allowed by the Mexican
commissioners amounting nine hundred and twenty
thousand sir hundred and twenty seven dollars and eighty
eight cents upon which he did decide alleging that his
authority had ceased with the Of the joint commits
sion Besides these claims there others Of American
citizens amounting three million three hundred and thirty
six thousand eight hundred and hyseven dollars and FIVE
CENTS which had been submitted to the board and upon which
they had time decide before their final adjournment
The sum Of two million twenty SIX thousand hundred
and thirty nine dollars and sxyegh cents which had been
awarded TO the claimants, hquidatcd and asceained
debt due by Mexico about which there could be dispute
and which she bound pay according the terms Of the
convention Soon after the final awards for this amount had
been madc the Mexican Government asked for postpone
ment Of the time Of making payment alleging that would
oe announcement TO make the payment at the time stipulated
In the spirit Of orbearng Kindness towards sister Republic
which Mexico has long abused the United States promptly
her A