Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-12-11

JcSu ucSlScu W CuCUuidSO VIC SuSmy oou PAS
racl The war than to advocate and adhere to their
cause, and thus give them aaid and comfort"
Ii is source Of national pride and exultation
hat the great body Of our people have thrown no
such obstacles in the way OF the government in
the war successfully, but have shown
themselves to be eminenily patriotic, and ready 10
indicate their colnlry's honor and interests al
any sacrifice. The aacrily and promptness with
which our volunteer forces rushed 10 the field on
heir country's CALL prove not only their patriot
sm] bat their deep conviction that our cause IS
ust.
The wrongs which we have suffered from Mex
leo almost ever since she became an indepen-
ieni power and The patient endurance with which
we have borne them, are without parallel IN
The history OF modern civilized nations. There
is reason to believe that if these wrongs had been
resented and resisted in The first instance, The pre-
sent war might have been avoided. One outrage,
however, permitled 10 pass with impnniIy. almost
necessarily encouraged the preparation OF an
other, until al las, Mexico seemed 10 attribute 10
weakness and INDIGESTION on our part iorbear-
ance which was The offspring OF magnanlmily,
and Of a sincere desire 10 preserve friendly rela-
tions with a sister republic
Scarcely had Mexico achieved her indepen-
dence, which the United States were The hrsl
among the nations 10 acknowledge, when she
The system of insult and spOlialion,
which she has ever siRce pursued. Our clll2ens
engaged in lawful commerce were imprisoned,
their vessels seized, and our flag insulied IN her
porls. II money was wanted, The lawless SEIZURE
and con6scalion ofour merchant vessels and Their
cargoes was ready resource; and il 10 accom-
plish their purposes il became necessatyto i'm
prison The owners, captains and crews, u was
done. Rulers superseded rulers In Mexico IN
4 h,,. IL oh q
this system of depreciation. The Government OF
behalf OF its citizens, but these were answered by
the preparation OF new oulrages. Promises Of
redress made by Mexico in The most solemn
forms were postponed or evaded. The files and
records of the Department of Stale contain con-
elusive proofs of numerous laWlesS acts perpe-
trated upon the property and persons oil our c,ti-
zens by Mexico, and OF wanlon insults to our
national flag. The interposition Of our Govern
ment TO obtain redress was again and again in
voked, under circumstances which no nation
ought TO disregard.
II was hoped that these ourages would cease,
and that Mexico would be restrained by The laws
which regulate the conduct Of civilized nations
in their intercourse with each other after The
treaty Of amity, commerce, and navigation OF The
fifth of April, 1881, was concluded between The
Two republics; but this hope soon proved 10 be
vain. The course of seizure and confscation OF
the property oil our citizens; The violation OF their
persons and The insults 10 our flag pursued by
Mexico previous to that time, were scarcely sus-
pended for even brief period, although The lrea
ly SO clearly defines the rights and duties OF the
respective parties thai il is impossible to misun-
dersland or mistake them. In less than seven
years after the conclusion of that treaty, our
grievances had become 50 inlolerable, that, in
the opinion OF President Jackson, they should nc
longer be endured. In his message to Congress
iu February, 1887, he presented them 10 The con.
sideration OF that body, and declared that "The
length vi lime since some OF the injuries have
been com United, the repealed and unavailing ap
piications for redress, the wanton character Of
some OF The outraees upon the properly and per.
sons OF our citizens, upon The officers and flag o
the United States, independent of recent insults
10 This government and people BY the late extra
ordinary Mexican minister, would justify in the
eyes OF all nations immediate war" In spirit
OF kindness and forbearance, however, he recon-.
mended reprisals as mider 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, il
il can be honorably avoided" and added ait ha:
occurred 10 me that considering The present en-,
barrassed condition oil that country, we should ac
with both wisdom and moderation, by giving lo
Mexico one more opportunity TO atone for the
past before we take redress into our own hands
To avoid all misconcep.ion on the part oil Mexico
as we'll as 10 protect our own national character
from reproach, this opportunity should be given
with the ayowed design and foil preparation &c
take immediate satisfaction, il ii should not be
obtained on repetition otthe demand Tor it. TIC
this end, | recommend that an act be passed au-
bc of he vcl tor
OF the United States by the Executive against
Mexico 10 enforce them in The event OF refusa
by the Mexican Government to come 10 an ami
cable 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 Mexico"
Committees of both Houses of Congress, tc
which this message Of this President was referred
fully sustained bis views of the character OF the
wrongs which we had suffered from Mexico, anc
recommended that another demand Tor redres:
should be made before authorizing war reprisals
The committee on Foreign Relations OF the Sc
nate, in ;heir report, say: Alter such demand
should prompt justice be refused BY the Mexican
Government, We may appeal 10 all nations no
only Tor The equity and moderation with which W,
shall have acled towards sister republic, but 10
the necessity which will then compel us TO seel
by Teprisas The subject will then be presented
before Congress, at the commencement of the mex
session, in a clear and distinct form; and the com
mittee cannot donht but that such measures will
be Immediately adopted as may be necessary Il
vindicaie the h.Dor Of the country and insure
ample reparaiion Ia our injured citizens"
The commiuee on Foreign Affairs of he Hous'
of Representatives made similar recommends
ton. In their report they say that they "ully con
cur with the President that ample cause exists TO
taking redress into our own hands, and believe
that we should be justified in the opinion Of olhe
nations for taking such step. But they are viii
ling 10 try the experiment OF another demand
made in The most solemn form, upon The justice o
The Mexican Government before any further pro
ceedings are adopted"
No difference Of opinion upon the subject is
believed 10 have existed in Congress al that time
The Executive and Legislative departments con-
CURED; and yet, such has been our forbearance
ard desire 10 preserve peace with Mexico, tha
The wrongs Of which we then complained, and
which gave Use to these solemn proceedings, NO
only remain unredressed to This day, but addition
al causes of complaint, OF an aggravated char
ac,er have ever since been accumulatins.
Shortly alter these proceedings special mes
senger was despatched 10 Mexico to make tina
demand for redress; and on the twentieth OF Ju
IL. 1887. The demand was made The reply o.
the Mexican Government bears date on The TWEEN
ty-ninth of the same month, and contains assn
RANGES of the "anxious wish" Of the Mexican
Government "not TO delay the moment OF thai
final and equitable adjustment which is 10 termi
nate the existing difficulties between the TWO Go
vernmenls;" that "nohing should be lefi uuncone
which may contribute to the most speedy and
equitable determination of the subjects which
have SO seriously engaged The attention OF the
American Governments" that the "Mexican Go
vernment would adopt, as the only guides for lis
conduct, the painesI principles OF public right,
The sacred obligations imposed by international
law, and the religious faith OF treaties" and that
"~hatever reason and justice may dictate respect
ing each case will be DONE" The assurance
was further given, that the decision OF the Mexi-
can Government upon each cause OF complaint
for which redress had been dema nded, should be
communicated 10 The Government of the United
States by the Mexican Minister at Washington.
These solemn assurances, in answer 10 our de-
mand for redress, were disregarded BY making
them, however, Mexico obtained further delay
President Van Buren,, in his annual message 10
Congress of The 9Th of December, 1887, states,
that "alihough the larger number" OF our de.
mands for redress. and many OF them aggravated