The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1846-12-25

which we have borne them, are with
out Il parallel in the history Of mod
ern civilized nations. There is rea
son to believe that if these wrong,
had been resented and resisted il
the first instance, tie present wa
might have been avoided. One out.
rage, however, permitted to pass
with impunity, almost necessarily
encouraged the preparation of an.
other, until at last Mexico seemed tC
attribute to weakness and indecisior
on orr part forbearance which wa.
the offspring of magnanimity, and o
a sincere desire to preserve friendly
relations with a sister republic.
Scarcely had Mexico achieved
her independence, which the United
States were first among the nations
to acknowledge, when she common
ced. the system of insult and SpoIia-
ton, which she has ever since pur-
sued. Our citizens engaged in law
ful commerce were imprisoned, their
vessels seized, and our flag insulted
IN her ports. If money was wanted,
the lawless seizure and confscation
of our merchant vessels and their
cargoes was ready resource; and
if to accomplish their purposes it be-
came necessary to imprison the own
ers, captains, and crews, it was done.
Rulers superseded rulers in Mexico
in rapid succession, but still there
was no change in this system of dep
relation. The government Of the
u. States made repeated reclama-
tons on behalf of its citizens, but
these were answered by the perpe-
tration of new outragcS. Promises
of redress made by Mexico in the
most solemn forms were postponed
or evaded. The files and records
of the Department of State contain
conclusive proofs Of numerous law
less acts perpetrated upon the prop
erty and persons of our citizens by
Mexico, and of wanton insults to
our national flag. The intcrposition
OF our government to obtain redress
was again and again invoked, under
circumstances which no nation ought
to disregard.
1t was hoped that these outragec
would cease, and that Mexico would
be restrained by the laws which reg
uIate the conduct of the civilized
nations in their intercourse with
each other after the treaty of amitv,
commerce, and navigation Of the 9th
April, 1881, was concluded between
the two republics; but this hope soon
proved to be vain. The course of
seizure and confscotion of the prop
erty of our citizens, the violations of
their persons and the insults TO our
flag pursued by Mexico previous to
that time, were scarcely suspended
for even a brief period, although the
treaty so clearly defines the rights
and duties Of the respective parties
that tits impossible to misunderstood
or mistake them. In less than seven
years after the conclusion of that
treaty our grievances had become so
intolerablc that, in tie opinion Of
President Jackson, they should no
longer be endured. In his message
to Congress in 1887, he presented
them to the consideration Of that
body, and declared that "Thc length
OF time since some Of the injuries
have been committed, the repeated
and unavailing applications for re-
dress, the wanton character of some
OF the outrages upon the property
and persons of some of our citizens,
upon the officers and flag Of the U.
States, independent ofrccent insults
to this government and people by
the late extraordinary Mexican min
lister, would justify, in the eyes of all
nations, immediate war" In spirit
of kindness and forbcarancc, howcv-
er, he recommended reprisals as q
milder mode of redress. He declar-
ed that war should not DO used as &
remedy '.by just and generous ma.
tons coniiding in their strength, lol
injuries committed, if it can be hon.
orab!y avoided" and added, "it ha,
occurred to me that, considering the
present embarrassed condition o,
that country, we should act will
both wisdom and moderation, by
giving Mexico one more opportuni.
ty to atone for the past, before W,
take redress into our own hands,
To avoid all misconception on tn,
part of Mexico, as well as to protcc
our national character from reproacl
this opportunity should be givcl
with the avowcd design and full pre-
paration to take immediate satiSlac
ton. To this end recommend tina
an act be passed authorizing rcpri
sails, and the use of the nava, fore,
of the U. States, by the Executive
against Moxico, to enforce them, i
the event of refusal by the Mexi
can government to come to an ami
cable adjustment of the matters i
controversy between us. upon an