Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1847-12-11


power to possess it, either by conquest or
purchase. Ifno foreign government should
acquire it by either of these modes. an
independent revolutionary government
would probably be established by the in
habitants and such foreigners as NAV re-
main in, or remove to the country. as soon
as it shall be known that the United States
have abandoned it. Such a government
would be too feeble long to retain its sepa-
rate independent existence and would f.
nally become annexed to, or dependent
colony of some more powerful State.
Should any foreign government attempt
to posses it, or as q colony or otherwise
to incorporate it with itself the principle
announced by President Munroe, in 1918,
! and reaffirmed in my last annual message
that no foreign power shall, with our con-
sent, be permitted to plant or establish
any new colony OF dominion on the North
American continent must be maintained,
In maintaining this position and in resisting
its invasion by any foreign power, we
might be involved in other wars more ey
pensive and more difficult than that in
which we are now engaged. The provin-
ces of New Mexico and the California ara
contiguous in the territories of the United
States, and if brought under the Govern.
ment of our laws, their resources. mineral.
agricultural manufacturing and CONNER.
cial, would soon be developed.
Upper California is bounded on the north
by our Oregon possessions, and ifheld bv
the United States, would soon be settled
by an enteTplising and intelligent portion
OF our population on the Bay Of San Fran
cisco, and other harbors upon the Califor-
MIA coast, would afford shelter in our navy.
Our numerous whale ships, and other
merchant vessels employed on the Pacific
ocean, VIII IN short period, become marts
OF an extensive and profitable commerce
with China and other countries of tbe
East.
The commissioner was also directed on
reaching the army, to deliver to the Cen
eral in command, the dispatches which
ne bore from the Secretary of State TO the
Minister OF Foreign Affairs of Mexico. and
on receiving 1t, the General was instruct
ed; by the Secretary Of War, to cause it to
DC transmitted to the Commander of the
Mexican ierces, with request that il
might be communicated to his govern
ment.
The Commissioner did not reach the
head quarters ofthe army until another
brilliant victory had crowned our arm. AZ
Cerro Gordo.
The despatch which he bore from tho
Secretary of War TO the General in com
mand, was received by that officer. ths,
at Jalapa, on the 7th day of Nav, 1877. to-
gether with the dispatches ofthe Secreta-
ry State 10 the Minister of FOREIGN A {fairs
} in Mexico, having been transmitted 10 b;r,
from Vera Cruz. The Commissioners az
rived at the head quarters of the army !.
, few days afterwards. His presence WITH
the army and his diplomatic character
: were made known to the Mexican Gov
Z eminent from Puebla, on the 18th dav ~
: jane, l947, by the transmission of the das.
, patch from the Secretary State 70 the Mir.
lister of Foreign Affairs of Mexico. Man,
weeks elapsed after its receipt, and no O..
} ventures were made, nor was apy desire
expr essed by the Government of Mexico
to enter into. negotiations for peace.
Our army pursued its march upon The
capital, and, as 1t appeared, 1T was met bv
) formidable resistance. Our forces frs,
encountered the enemy, and achieved sio
mol victories In theconteSted battles Of Con
; treras, and Churubusco. It was not until
after these actions resulted in decisive vic
tories, and the capital Of the enemy was in
onr power, that the Mexican Government
manifested any disposition 10 enter into anv
negotiations for peace, and even then. e.
vents have proved, there is too much rea-
son to believe, they were insincere. and
their agreeing to go through the forms of
negotiation, the object was to gain time to
strengthen the defences of the capital and
) prepare forfresh resistance. -
The Genl in command ofthe army deem
ed it expedient to suspend hostilities. tenn
porarily entering into an armist;ce. with
view to the opening Of egotiations-and
Commissioners were appointed on the part
OF Mexico to meet the Commissioners on
the part OF the United States. The result
of the conference which took place be-
tween these functonaries of the two oov-
, ernments, was failure to conclude trea-
ty OF peace. The Commissioner of the TT
; S took with him the PROJECT of the treaty
prepared, by the terms of which. the in :.
demnity required by the United States was
cession of territory.
II is well known, that the only ipdemni !.
ty which it was in the power of Mexico 10
make, in satisfaction of the lust and lonc
deferred CLAIMS OF our citizens against her
r and the only means by which she can va.
imburse the United States for the exnen.
5 ces of the war, is session TO the United
States of a portion of her territory. Mexico
has no money to pay, and no other means
of making the required indemnity. If
refused it, we could get nothing else. To
reject indemnity, be refusing to accent a
cession ofterrisory, would be to abandon
: all our just demands-and to wage the
: war, bearing all its expenses, without a
purpose or difnitive object.
A state of war abrogates treaties preyi-
J ously existing between the billigerents,
and treaty ofpeaee puts an end to all
claims for indemnity for toRturous acts COM
Initted under the authority of our govern
ment against the citizens and subjects of
another, unless they are provided for in its
siipulations. A treaty Of peace which
{ would terminate the existing war withou.
: providing for indemnity, would enable
MEXICO, an acknowledged debtor, and her
, self the aggressor in the war, to relieve
herself from her just liabilities.
: BY such a treaty, our citizens who had
just demands against her, would have no
remedy for them, either against Mexico
: oS their Own government. Our duty to
these citizens must ever prevent such q
peace, and no treaty which does not
provide ample means for discharging those
r demands, can receive my sanction.
: A treaty of Deace shonld Settle oll ax;st