Baton-Rouge gazette. [volume] (Baton-Rouge, La.) 1819-1856, 1847-12-11
The Three Million Bribery

copy verbatim:
Our readers will, no doubt recollrct the
holy indignation which the Union express
ed, ut the int'mation that any portion oftbc
three millions was intended to be used for
bribery, in order 10 procure or facilitate n
peace in Mexico, and the fierce dcnunci-
atoms that WIRE launched upon the heads
"fthosc, who vcu'ured even to ]insiuuatc
such an object.
The prrtiuacity with which Mr.. PoLK
pressed Iorthc appropriation Of the gum,
even after Congress had once refused to
giant it, caused many surmises, as to the
object for which it was to be applied. He
stated that it was required in connection
with the treaty, that might be negotiated,
and would, il used, be regularly accounted
for, as any other appropriation. This GER
tainty led to the belief that rs its use was
thus 10 be announced, it could not be for
a secret or ~di-rcputablc object.
The idea that was given out by the adj
ADMINISTRATION, Though the public press, was,
that the Mexican army had large arrears
Of pay due to it, and iftheso arrears could
be settled up, 1t would pacily the troops,
and do away with their opposition, to IA
peace with the United States. The sum
was, therefore, TO be applied in that mode,
so soon asa treaty was signed, and ratif-
cd by the Mexican Government, and was
to bee SO much ON account of the Indemnify
we were to pay Mexico, ms a compcnsa-
tion for Il cession Of territory, or rather for
acknowledging the boundary of the Rio
Grande.
The public mind, though not altogether
satisfied with this yctni-oniciaI cxplana-
ton, had to take it, os nothing better could
DO obtained. but it now appears that the
whole wasa deception practiscd upon the
people oftho United States, and that Nr.
I RIFT was sent to Mexico with Authority to !
buy a peace with Ibis fund, by direct and
disreputable bribery, to be practised upon
military chiefs and high civil officers
Of the Mexican Government.
Mr.. TRrsr, probably, feeling the high
responsibility attached to The application
the fund in that mode, and particularly
# the attempt should be made and fail,
Or for some other reason at present un.
had "A council called Of tie general
officers ofthe army, ut Puebla, on the 18th
July, to deliberate on the measure.
Though called n council Of war, it was
lot strictly so, bot rather u meeting for
consultation and advice. '".
The matter was fully discussed at his t
the officers present being Gems. !
QUITMAN, PILow, Tw,eGs, I
and CADwALLADER. We regret t
, say, Gen. Scorr was in favor ofthc /
'ea"ure, and was supported in that view c
y Gem PtLLow. Gen TwGcGs declined r
o''ng' on what we consider a very frivo- u
'"7 Pre'e"co' VIZ; mat he thought ia !
0it'lc"' question: VUrrMAN' SHIELDS y
i "No"AhhAOER opposed H. and the "
ncstion was thus lost by one vote. o
With all these facts, we have been ac- o
'a'h'eo''for some thnc' but had not in. -,
at ieaS' not Tor the present, to al u
10 tnefn' IN our columns, Prttcrring -
wait ana sec "hat' II any communIca- l..
III "onla De maze ny the President to :,
o"sreSS' on 'he SUBJECT Of mat fund, and i
"oo'u DC inc ac''oh OF Congress IN
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