Democratic banner., 1847-12-20
LOUISIANA PIKE COUNTY, MISSOURI, MONDAY, DECEMBER, 20, 1s47.
mo- 81


TIthe part Ct tie United States. Tie resul
Of the conferences which took place be.
tween these functionaries of the two CIV.
ernrneHtc, was a faii;irc to conclude a trea-
tty Of peace. Tie Commissioner Of Tie
United States took with him the projet OF
the treaty, prepared, by the terms of which
the indemnity required by the United States
was accession Of territory.
1t is we'll known, that tic only indemnity
which it is in the power of Mexico 10 make
in satisfaction Of the just and long deferred
claims Of our citizens against her, and the
only means by which she can reimburse
the United States for the expenses of the
war, is i c~ession to the United States of a
portion Of her territory. Mexico has no
money to pay, and no other means of ma
king tie required indemnity. If we refuse
it, we can obtain nothing else. To re-
jet indemnity, By refusing to accept a ces-
sion of territory, would be to abandon all
our just de;nadns-and to wage the war,
bearing all its expenses, without apurpose
or definite object.
A state Of war abrogates treaties previ.
ously existing between the belligerents, and
a treaty Of peace puts all end to all claims
Tor indemnity for tortuous acts committed
under the authority of our government a.
'sainst the citizens and subjects Of another,
%nnlcss they are provided FOR in its ~stipuIa-
tons. Il treaty Of peace which would ter
miua:c the existing war without providing
for indemnity, wou!d enable Mexico, an &C.
knowledged debtor, and herself The ageres.
.sor in the war, 10 relieve herself from her
Just liabilities.
b such a treaty, our citizens, who hold
just demands against her, would have no
remedy for them, either against Mexico or
their own government. Our duty to these
citizens must ever prevent such a peace,
and no treaty which does not provide am
pie means of discharging those demands,
can receive my sanction.
A treaty Of peace should settle all exis-
ting differences between the two countries.
If and adequate %cession IF territory be such
a treaty, the u. S. should release Mexico
from all her liabilities, and assume their
payment to orr own citizens. If, instead
Of this, the United States now to consent
to a treaty by which Mexico should again
engage to pay the heavy amount Of indebt-
.cGncsS which 4 Just indemnify to our gov
.crnmrnt and citizens would impose upon
her, it is notorious that she does not pos
SrsS the means to meet such. an umderta-
king. From such u treaty, no result could
be anticipated but Ike same irritating dis
appointments winch have heretofore atten-
.ded the violations Of similar treaty ~stipula-
tons on tie part Of Mexico. Such a treaty
would be but Temporary cessation of hos
.%tiiitics, witlouttIle restoration of the friend
ship and good understanding which should
characterize the intercourse between the
two counties.
That Congress contemplated the accep-
tance of territorial indemnity, when that
body made provision for the prosecution of
the war, is obvious. Congress could not
have meant when, in May, 1916, they ap-
Fropriatci ten millions of dollars, and au-
tIGrizcd tie President 20 employ the ma-
litia naval and military forces of the
United States, and to accept the services
OF ten thousand volunteers, to enable him
to prosecute the war;. and when at their
last session, and after our army had inva-I
drd MrXiro, they made additional arpro-
prrations, and authorized tie raising If ad-
hitional troops for the same purpose, that
no Indemnity was to be obtainrdfrop Mex
leo, at the conclusion OF tie wa.; and yeti
il WAS certain, that if no Mexican territory
was acquired, thai no indemnity could be
obtained.
1t is further manifest, that Congress con-
templatcd territorial indemnity, from the
fact, that. at their last session, an act was
passed, upon the Executives rccommcnIa-
ton, aprropriaIing three millions Of dollars
with that express object. The aprropri-
alton was made to enable the President to-
conclude a treaty of peace, limits, and
boundaries, with the Republic OF Mexico,
to be used by him in the event that said
treaty, when signed By the authorized a.
gents Of tie two governments, and duly
ratified by Mexicp, shall call for tho tx-
pendi,ure Of the same, or any part thereof.
III. hs,t ,r.,Sl-rnx tI,Ic n,r,ort;. ,r,.!