Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-02-13


their claim national honor. With view then, the
ainment whether the mode proposed for terminating this
in accordance with the proposition that the national
honor was involved in the contest whether such mode Of
terminating the would consist with national honor, he
asked them to consider what the purposes which led
them engage in the war When the recognition of the
took place. asserted that they had existing
for war. What those causes Was il the settlement
Of the claims of onrczens the question Of boundary
10 manifest just ndgn alton against Mexico for refusing
to receive minister If this the case il the national
honor involved the successful assertion Of rights
regard 10 these matters, he might be permitted TO inquire
relation to the FIRST how that object be secured If the
object to the claims Of their countymen,
surely it contemplated that they should pay the
Mexican rulers three millions Of dollars for the purpose of in
ducng them pay those claims Surely that
the object, much simpler process might be adopted They
might the claims of their citizens and thus
to them the receipt of the money, which would be
dered very questionable he apprehended if applied
secfctseryce mopey The first OF this could not
therefore, be attained by the appropriation contemplated by
this bill In relation to that matter, entitled to
receive payment from the Mexcans and pay them
In regard the boundary Of Texas he agreed that this
question that open to negotiation between the two
countries he agreed that the attainment of proper bounda
for the State Of Texas might impose upon them the obga
ton OF making pecuniay compensation to Mexico He
perfectly content that compensation should be made The
boundary claimed Texal and the that recogns-
ed by the Mexican Republic widely different. II, by
negotiation with Mexico possible to obtain her
the establishment Of the boundary contemplated by
the Legislature of Texas, he would be perfectly
that pay Mexico what be deemed fair equiv
for that which would to the benefit Of Texas but
amount of money be thus paid he appehended would
be paid under the spulatons of treaty, and
be distributed among Mexican rulers paid in advance to
| the Mexican Government.
And the remaining cause the ndgny offered to the
Minister Of the United States by refusing him reception
he could be disposed visit upon the then President of
Mexico, when that Government ottering to its fall if
he could be disposed to visit the Mexican nation punish
ment for the alleged ndgnes offered by the unctonary of
which entirely beyond his power least inconsistent
with his safety do if he could hold him responsible for
the misconduct of his military superior who succeeded him
did they to propose TO remedy that ndgny by the
of this three millions Of dollars But he learned from the
discussion this that this money not to be ap
piled in flment Of treaty to be entered into by Mexico
but that the object by dispose the Mexican rulers
enter into such treaty. He submitted to the Senate Of the
United States that this prnc pie in diplomacy In
the history of the various and multiplied negotiations with for
eign Powers, he apprehended there could be found in
in which the National Legislature had agreed appo
pirate amount of money to be applied to dispose foreign
Government to enter into treaty with which given
consideration stipulated for by the treaty ITSELF He did
understand that this money to be employed for the
purpose of paying Mexico for the cession of any territory
which desired to possess but he understood from the
chairman of the Committee Foreign Relations it pro-
that the money be placed the hands he President in
order enable him by its agency dispose the hearts of the
Mexican rulers to make peace
Mr. SEWER said with the permission of the honorable
Senator he would set him right in relation to this matsr.
4
the Senator from Georgia seemed to have DONE He had
pressy said that this three millions wanted for the purpose
making advance part of the purchase money for
sion of territory. They had got into against their
sent, and, having done for the purpose Of indemnng
ourselves in part for the expenses incurred in the war;
deemed proper that should obtain from the Mexican Gov
cession of the provinces of Upper California and
New Mexico s..
Mr. BERRIEN continued. The Senator had perfect
right and cheerfuy accorded to him. express his
understanding of the remarks he had made. He wasdis
which he chose employ, and apology for the mis-
apprehension which he had en he reminded the Senate
that expressly stated by the Senator from Arkansas that
he not authorized what extent the Government
would require cesson Of territory be made by Of in
demny hut he supposed that the ceson of New Mexico and
Upper California would he tho least which any would
believe they entitled to receive by way Of indemnity for
the expenses Of the
Mr.. SEWER. All right, except by way of indemnity.
Mr.. BERRIEN. Very well. If that the least which
they thought they entitled receive from Mexico how
could be otherwise than for indemnity Were they en
tied receive any thing from Mexico by way purchase
There two parties to all contracts. II Mexico chose to
sell any thing to and chose buys this would cons
tute contract but when they spoke Of right to receive
when they spoke Of contract founded pre-exstng state
Of things in which pre-exisng of things expenses had
been incurred that which they might receive in for
those expenses must be by way Of indemnity. He did not
understand the chairman Of the Committee Foreign Rela
tons withhold his from the statement that this
money be employed dispose the Mexican rulers to
enter into treaty for the cesson of New Mexico ~
fornia. -. |. o,u =. |
WI. OF IN no tie words used reported in the
~ said this money wanted for the purpose OF
making peace service money, the Senator
throughout his remarks seemed suppose but money
which a be made by the President publicly,
openly before the world said conceived that the honor
the interest Of the country required the part OF
things indemnity part for the expenses the war IN the
first place. and in the next the payment OF the claims OF our
citizens and effect this object that cession Of part of
territory would be necessary for not to be supposed
that she had got the money pay with and said that
supposed Senator would be willing to take less Tor this
purpose than New Mexico and Upper California. These
my remarks, in substance, and hope the Senator will
take them ms made them
Mr. BERREN said the opening remarks Of the Senator, to
which he had reference these Mr. b. here read part OF
Mr. SEWERS speech 1t seemed to him, without entering
into any discussion upon this pontor he always ready
TO receive from the honorable Senator his view OF
what he sadthat IL he had been under Misrepresentation,
there for such misrepresentation. But to
proceed: This principle in the diplomacy OF this
country negotiate with foreign Power giving TO her in
advance certain Of money be applied her exigences
and pay her army and other expenses for the purpose Of
dsposng make peace for the purpose Of payments
her army There he apprehended, the real key to this
operation. The Senator from Arkansas felt probably what
they oil felt that any act of the Mexican rulers not sustained
by army, would be inevitably unrelabe and there
fore prpae the army in favor Of any negotiation into
which they might enter, that this money be applied
lie did know whether il could properly be called secret
service money he did know that could he properly said
to be money given the Mexican rulers dispose them
make peace but this he did know that the history Of this
country, far he acquainted afforded instance