The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1847-12-14

and assume their payment 10 their own citi-
zens, II, instead Of ihi'j the United Siatces
were TO consent to treaty by which Mex
leo should engage 10 pay the heavy amount
of adebtedness which just indemnityto our
government and our citizens would impose
on her il is notorious that she does not po-
ssess the means 10 meet such an undertaking.
From such a treaty no result could be antici-
pated Thu, the same irritating disappoutments
which have heretofore attended The violation
of similar treaty siipulations on the part oil
Mexico, Such treaty would be but tenn
porary cessation OF hostilities, without the
restoration Of the friendship and good under
ture Intercourse between the two countries.
That Congress contemplated the acquisi-
ton of territorial indemnify when that
body made provision for the prose-
cution Of the war, is obvious. Con
gress could not have meant-wher in May,
1876, they appropriated ten millions oil dol
lars and authorized the President 10 employ
The militia and naval and military forces Of
the United States, aud TO accep: the services
of fifty thousand volunteers. 10 enable him 10
prosecute the war; and when al their last
session, and after our army had inyaced
NlcAlCO. ulr1 luduc
and authorized the raising oil additional troops
for the same purpnse-ihat no idemnlty was
10 be obtained from Mexico al the close OF the
war; and yet il " as certain that, il no Mexi-
can territory was acquired, no indemnify
could be obtained.
Ii is further manifest that Congress con-
templated territorial indemnify, frvrn the fact
that, at their last session. an act was passed,
a..
priating three millioa OF dollars with that ex-
presr object. This appropriation was made
10 enable the President 10 conclude freely
OF peace, limits, and boundaries with the re-
public of Mexico, 10 be used by him in the
event that said treaty, when signed by lie
authorized agents Of tbs two governments.
and duly ratified by Mexico. shall for the ex-
pendnure ofthe same, or any part thereof.
The object of asking this appropriation was
distinctly stated in the several messages on
The subject which communicated 10 Con-
gress. Similar appropriations made in 1903
and 1906, which were referred TO, were in
tended 10 be applied in part consideration for
the cossion of Louisiana and the Floridas.
in like manner il was anticipated that, in set
Ting the terms ola treaty oil limits and boun-
daries' with Mexico, cession olferritory es-
timated TO be OF greater value than The a.
mount of our demands against her might be
obtained; and that The prompt payment OF
this sum-in part consideration for the terri
tory ceeded-on the conclusion of treaty,
and IFS ratification on her part, might be an
inducement with her TO make such a cesson
sfterrIory as would be satisfactory to inc
United States. And although The failure to
concede such treaty has rendered il unnec-
essary to use any part of three millions Of
dollars appropriated by that act, and the en-
tire sum remains in the treasury, it is still ap-
pllcable 10 that object, should the contingency
occur making suchapplication pr oper.
The doctrine Of no territory is the doctrine
Of no idemnity; and. ifsanctioned, would be
public acknowledgment that our country
was wrong. and that the war declared by
Congress with extraordinary unanimity, was
unjust, and should be abandoned; an admis-
sion unfounded in fact, and degrading 10 The
national character.
The commissioner Of The United States
was authorized 10 agree 10 the establishment
of the Rio Grande as the boundary, from The
entrance into the Gulf to its intersection with
the southern boundary of New Mexico. in
north latitude about thiriy-two degrees. and
to obtain. a cession 10 the United States of
the provinces OF New Mexico and the Cali
iornians, and the privilege of the right way
across The isthmus OF Tehuantepec. The
boundary Of the r 10 Grande, and the ces-
sion to the United States OF New Mexico and
Upper California, constituted an ultimatum
which our commissioner was, under no cir
cumstances. 10 yield.
That it might have been manifest not only
to Mexico, but 10 all other nations. that The
United States were not disposed 10 take adj
vantage of feeble power, by insisting upon
wrestling from her all the other provinces in
Guiding many other principle towns and cit
les, which we had conquered and held 10 our
military occupation. but were willing TO con-
clude treaty in spirit OF liberaIi,y. our
commissioner was authorized TO stipuiate for
the restoration 10 Mexico of all our other con.
qnests.
As the territory to be required by the boun-
dares proposed might be estimated to be of
greater value than a fair equivalent for our
Just demands, our commissioner was authori-
zed to stipulate for the payment of such addi-
tonal pecuniary consideration as was deemed
reasonable.
The terms OF treaty proposed by the Mex
lcan commissioners were wholly inadmissible.
They negotiated as if Mexico were the victo-
rIous, and not the vanquished party, They
must have known that their ultimatum could
never be accepted. 1t required the United
States TO dismemb9r Texas, by surrendering
to Mexico that part Of the territory of that
State laying between the Nueces and the Rio
Grande, including within her limits BY her
laws when she was an independent republic.
and when she was annexed to the United
States and admitted by Congress as one of the
States ofour Union. 1t contained no provis-
ion for the payment Of Mexico of the just claim
of our citizens. 1t required indemnity to
Mexican citizens for injuries they might have
sustained by our troops in the prosecution Of
the war. 1t demanded the right for Mexico to
levy and collect the Mexican tariff of duties
on goods imported into her ports while on her
military occupation during the war, and the o.
wners of which had paid to officers of the Uni
ted States the military contributions which had
been levied upon them; and it offered to cede
to the United States, for pecuniary consider
alton, that part of Upper California wing north
of latitude thirty seven degrees. Such were