Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1847-12-23
THURSDAY, DECEMBER %, ls47.

erS terminated, according TO the convention, IN
February, l842 The total amount of the Amer
lean claims, presented to the commission, amoun-
ted to 6,29l,605 dollars. OF these 2,026, 140
dollars we're allowed by the commission; fur
Their sum of 92S, 628 dollars was allowed by the
commissioners of the U. States, rejected by the
Mexican commissioners, and left undecided by
the umpire, and claims amounting to 3,336,S37
dollars had not been examined.
A new convention, dated January 30, 1S43,
, granted to the Mexicans a further delay Cor the
payment Of the claims which had been admitted,
by virtue of which the interest due 10 the claim
ants was made payable on the 30lh April, l843
and the principal of the awards, and the interest
accruing thereon, was stipulated TO be paid in
five years in twenty equal instruments every three
months. The claimants received the interest
due on the Both April, 1S43 and the three install
ments. The agent of the United States having,
under peculiar circumstances, given receipt for
the instalments due in April and July, 1874, be-
fore they had been actually paid by Mexico the
payment has been assumed by the United States
and discharged TO the claimants.
A third convention was concluded at Mexico
on the goth November, l843, by the Plenipoten-
tiares of the two Governments, by which pro-
vision was made for ascertaining and paying the
claims, on which no final decision had been
made. In January, 1874, this convention was
ratified by the Senate of the United States, with
two amendments, which were referred to the
Government Of Mexico, but respecting which
no answer has ever yet been made. On the 18th
of April, 1874, a treaty was concluded by the
President with Texas for the annexation Of that
republic to the United States. This treaty. though
no; ratified by the Senate, placed the two coun-
tries in new position, and arrested for while
all negotiations. 1t was only on the LIST of March,
lo45, that Congress passed joint resolution for
the annexation,
1t appears most clearly, that the United States
are justly entitled to full indemnity for the in
juries done 10 their citizens that, before the
nexalion, there was every prospect of securing
that indemnity and that these injuries, even if
they had been Just cause for war, were in no
shape whatever the cause of that in which we
are now involved.
3.--ANNExATIoN OF TEXAS.
AT the time when the annexation of Texas
took place, Texas had been recognized as an in
dependent power, both by the United States and
by several of the principal European powers
but its independence had not been recognized by
Mexico. Nothing can be more clear and unde-
niable than that, whenever two nations are at
war, if third Power shall enter into treaty of
q lance, offensive and defensive, with either of
the belligerents and if such treaty is no! contin-
gent, and is to take effect Immediately and pen
ding the war, such treaty is u declaration of
war between the two belhgerents do not alter the
fact Surprising that the third party, the inter-
fering Power, should have concluded the treaty
Of alliance with that belligerent who was clearly
engaged in most Just war; the treaty would not
be the less declaration of war against the 9TH
er telligerent
If Great Britain and France were at war, and
) the United States we're to enter into such trea-
ty with either, can there be the slightest doubt
that fhis you'd be actual var against the, other
party that 1t would he Considered sueh and
that 4 must have been intended for that purpose
If, at this moment, either France or England were
J to make such treaty with Mexico, thereby bind
ing themselves to defend and protect it with all
, their forces against any other Power whatever
! would lot the United States instananeousy view
such treaty as declaration of war, and act &C.
4 cordingly?
But the annexation of Texas by the United
States was even more than treaty of offensive
and defensive alliance. 1t embraced all the con
dltions and all the duties growing out Of the al
q lance and it imposed them forever. From the
D moment when Texas had been annexed, the u
5 nited States became bound to protect and defeDC
i her, so far as her legitimate boundaries extend
ed against any invasion, or attack on the part o
s Mexlco and they have uniformly acted accord
ingly.
. There is no impartial publicist who will no
tlons: 1t appears to me impossible, that the,
: should be seriously denied by single person.
h 1t appears that Mexico vas at that time dis
posed to acknowledge the independence OF Tex
. as, but on the express condition, that 1t shoult
/ not be annexed to the United States; and it ha4
: been suggested, that this was done under the in
: fluence of some European Powers. Whethe
this last assertion be true or not, is not known Il
me. But the condition was remarkable and OF
!, fensive.
T. Under an apprehension that Texas might b.
tempted to accept the terms proposed, the Gov
!. eminent of the United States may have deeme
it expedient to defeat the plan, by Offering tina
: annexation, which had been formerly declined
when the Government of Texas was anxious 10
it.
It. may be admitted that whether Independent
or annexed to the United States, Texas must b
}, slave holding state, so long as slavery sh1l
y continue to exist in North America. Its who'll
q population, with hardly any exception, consis,e
IS of citizens of the United States. Both for tia
G reason, and on account of its geographical posi-
Is ton, was much more natural, that Texas shoul
: be member Of the United States, than oil tn
e Mexican Confederation. Viewed purely as
r, question Of expo diency, the annexation might b
e considered as beneficial to both parties. But ex
'. pediency is not Justice Mexico and Texas ha
ID perfect right to adjust their differences an
l. make peace, on any terms they might deem prop
/. or. The anxiety TO prevent this result indicate
Or previous disposition ultimately to occupy Tex
&c as: and when the annexation was accomplished
.e when it was seen, that the United States had AZ
Of proprlated TO themselves all the advantages re
sultlng from the American settlements in lexa
r, and from their subsequent instruction; the pu
ID rity of the motives Of our Government becam
Is open to suspicion.
n Setting aside the justice of the proceeding,
e ls true that 1t had been anticipated by those wb
lr took an active part in the annexation, that tn
it weakness Of Mexico would compel it to yield, G
e at least induce her not to resort to an actual wa
This was verified by the fact: and had Govern
e. ment remained in the hands with whom the pla
is originated, war might probably have been avoid
H. ed. But when no longer in power, they cou
st neither regulate the impulse they had given, no
A. control the reckless spirits they had evoked.
10 Mexico, sensible Of her weakness, decline
of war, and only resorted to suspension OF dlplc
ne matte intercourse; but a profound sense OF tn
re injury inflicted by the United States has eve
At since ranked in their minds 1t will be founG
Or through all their diplomatic correspondence
d. through all their manitestoes, ttat the Mexican'
" even 10 the-day, perpetually recur to this neye
IN forgotten offensive measure. And, on the othe
4 hand, the subsequent administration of our Gov
A. eminent seems to have altogether forgotten thi
:. nrima rv arf nf iniuatina ana in their nep0liB