Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1846-12-16

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Senate, in their report, say: "After such
a demand, should prompt justice be refused
BY the Mexican government, we may aps
peal to all nations not only for the equity
and moderation with which we shall have
acted towards a sister republic, but for the
necessity which will then compel us 10
seek redress for our wrongs, either by ac-
tual war or by rep risals. The subject will
then be presented 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 adopted as may be necessa.
ry to vindicate the honor of tho country,
and insure ample reparation to our injured
citizens"
The Committee on Foreign Affairs of the
House of Representatives made similar
recommendation. In their report, they
say that they ''fully concur with the Presi-
dent that ample cause exists for taking re-
dress into our own hands, and believe that
we should be ejusti6ed in the opinion of other
nations for taking such step. But they
are willing to try the experiment of another
demand, made in the most solemn form,
upon the justice ofthe 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 Legisla-
tive 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 to these solemn proceed
ings, not only remain unredressed to this
day, but additional causes of complaint of
an aggravated character, have ever since
been accumulating.
Shortly after these proceedings 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 y-oft the Mexican govern
ment bears date on the twenty ninth ofthe
same month, and contains assurances Of the
"anxious wish" of the Mexican govern
ment 'snot to delay the moment of that final
and equitable adjustment which is to ter
inmate the existing difficulties between the
two governments, that "nothing should
be left undone which may contribute
to the most speedy and equitable deter
mination of the subjects which have so
seriously engaged the attention Of the A.
merican governments" tina: the "Mexican
government would adopt as the only guides
for its conduct, the plainest principles Of
public right, the sacred obligations imposed
by international law, and the religious
faith of treaties;" and that 'whatevor rea-
son and Justice may dictate respecting
each case will be DONE" The assurance
was further given, that the decision of the
Mexican government upon each cause Of
complaint, for which redress had been de-
manded, should be communicated to the
government ofthe U. s. by the Mexican
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 on the
fifth Of December 1887, states, that, cal
though the larger number" Of our demands
for redress, and "many Of them aggravated
cases of personal wrongs, have been now
for years before tho Mexican government,
and some of the causes of national COM
plant, and those of the most offensive char
acler, admitted of immediate, simple and
satisfactory replies, it is only within a few
: days past that any specific communication
in answer to our last demand, made five
months ago, has been received from the
Mexican minister;" and that 'Hor not one Of
our public complaints has satisfaction been
given or offered; that but onasDf the cases
Of personal wrong has been favorably con
sidered, and that but four cases of both de-
scriptions, out of all those formally present
ed, and earnestly pressed, have yet been
:. decided upon by the Mexican government. :"
President Van Buren,, believing that it
would be vain to make any further attempt
t to obtain redress by the ordinary means
:, within,the power of the Executive, commu-
!, nicated this opinion to Congress, in the
message referred to. in which he said, "On
a careful and deliberate examination of the
contents" (ofthe correspondence with the
} Mexican government,) "and considering
f the spirit manifested by the Mexican gov
!, ernment, it has become my painful duty to
!, return the subject as it now stands, to Con-
l gress, to whom it belongs, to decide upon
; the time, the mode and the means Of re-
A dress.'' Had tho United States at that time
8 adopted compulsory measures, and taker
n redress into their own hands, all our diff
culties with Mexico would probably have
J, been long since adjusted, and the existing
5 war have been averted. Magnanimity
9 and moderation on our part only had thu
+ effect to complicate these difficulties, ant
It render an amicable settlement Of them tn
o more embarrassing. That such measure
. Of redress under similar provocations, com