The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-10-14
CITY OF. WASHINGTON.
THURSDAY NIGHT, OCT. IA, Is47
MIR. Webstcr's Mexican speech.-His ssPretexts" and
n "Anter-thoughts."

In our article on Tuesday evening, we showed by ex
tracts oa the speech of Mr. Webster, at Springfield that
that orator and mouth piece of Mexican federalism in this
country assumed that the of the with Mexico
was "the annexation of Texas" That was cause
which the orator assigned but he added another cause,
or "precise object" (Which is the thing cause,)
as proved by facts and circumstances !" and that
10 establish government MEXICO, by the restoration
Of Santa Anna," with whom the Texan difficulty could
be more easily settled
These, them according to this Jealous and ingenious
Mexican advocate, the true and real of the
war
The shedding of american blood upon American
sol' the refusal of Mexico to pay the just debts and
claims due citizens and her refusal to receive min
lister from our government, mere "preterts" and
after thoughts" put forth by the President in usica-
ton of the war In other words, the true causes and
objects of the those assigned by Mr. Webster
above men,ioned while the preexts were afterwards
falsely and fraudulenty conjured up by the President
and put forth TO deceive and misead Congress and the
country in regard 10 the true causes of the war Mr.
Webster uses the words no sooner was the war de-
clared," than these pretexts and after thoughts were
put forth; thus implying that none OF them had been
thought of, or mentioned before the war began.
Now, if it shall appear that the matters which Mr.
Webster denomnates pretert" were stated by the Pres
dent causes of complaint against Mexico, jusying
resort to war; in any OF his messages TO Congress
prior to the he acar, they not "after
thoughts !" and Mr.. Webster has been guilty of msrepre
sentng and eliminating the President
Again; if it shall appear that those matters which Mr.
Webster alleges the President puts forward pretert
of the war; urged by the President grounds
for the declaration of against Mexco-n other
words that the President neuer recommended declara
ton of against Mexico for refusing pay the debts
due our citizens for refusing receive minister
and that Mexico did herself actually the
by shedding ''Amercan blood upon American soil" and
that the President instead of recommending declaration
OF for that act, recommended recognition of the
war thus begun and waged by the act of Mexico. then
in respect to all these alleged "preexts," Mr. Web
ster has been guilty of misrepesenng and eliminating
the President, and merits the odium which attaches 10
those individuals, very estmabe in society, who will
fully and knowingly misrepresent and calumniae others
without cause.
We will now proceed to show that Mr.. Webser's
pretexts" not after thoughts with the Presi-
dent, and that Mr.. Webser's statement is not true in
point of fact. Reversing the order of arrangement
adopted by Mr. Webster, we begin with the "pretext
growing out of the claims of citizens against
Mexico.
On the Sd day of December, 1915, more than one
month before the army ordered to the Rio Grande-
which on January 10, lsi6-more than five months
before the battles OF Pao Alto and Resaca de la Palma
fought and before the message OF the 18th of
May the President communicated his annual message to
Congress. Referring TO the causes of complaint which
we had against Mexico, the President says:
But though Mexico complain of the United States
of the annexation OF Texas be regretted
that serious of misunderstanding between the two
countries continue to exist growing of unredressed in
juries inflicted by the Mexican authorities and people
on the persons and property of citizens of the United
States, through long series OF Mexico has admit
ted these INJURIES but has neglected and refused repair
them Such the character of the wrongs and such the
insults repeatedly offered American citizens and the
American flag by Mexico, in palpabIe violation of the
laws of nations and the treaty between the countries
of the 9th of April 1881 that they have been repeatedly
brought the notice of Congress by my predecessors As
early the sh of February, 1887 the President of the Uni
ted States declared in message Congress- that the
length of time of the injuries have been
mited the repeated and unavaiIng applications for
Dress the character of of the outrages upon
the persons and property OF citizens, the officers
and flag of the United Sates Independent insults
to this government and people by the late Extraordinary
Mexican minister, rcotd Justify the eyes of all nations
immediate ,car. lie did not, however, an inn
mediate this mea sure which he declared
should not be used by just and generous nations con-
fdng in their strength for injuries committed, if it be
honoraby avoided " but, in spirit of forbearance pro-
posed that another demand be made Mexico for that re-
dress which had been long and unusily withheld In
these views committees of the houses Congress- in
reports made their respective bodies Since
these proceedings than eight years have lapsed
during which, in addition to the wrongs then COM
planned OF, others oil aggravated character have been
committed on the persons and property of citizens
A special agent Mexico in the summer
oil 1888, with full authority make another and final
demand for redress. The demand made the Mex
lean government promised to repair the wrongs of which
we complained; and after much delay, treaty of in
emnity with that view concluded between the two
powers on the eleventh of April 1882 and was duly tilted
by both governments. BY this treaty Joint commission
was created to adudicate and decide on the claims of
American citizens on the government of Mexico The
commission was organized at Washington the twenty
hth day oil August, 1910 Their time limited to egl-
teen monts at The expiration of which, they had adud
Gated and decided claims amounting million TWEEN
y-sx thousand one hundred and hrtyninc dollars and
iixyeigh cents in favor of citizens of the United States
against the Mexican government, leaving large
Of clans undecided OF the latter American commits
sioner had decided in favor of citizens claims amount
ing TO nine hundred and twentycig thousand six hun.
bred and dollars and Lightweight cents which
left Enacted by the umpire authorized by rea-
y. Still further claims, amounting between three and
four millions OF dollars submitted the board late
be considered and were left undisposed of The sum of
million wenty-sx thousand hundred and thirty
nine dollars and sixyegh cents decided by the board
liquidated and ascerained debt due by Mexico TO
claimants, and son for