The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-12-07
were made nor was any desire expressed by the Mexican
Government to enter into negotiations for peace :.

in he
Churubusco 1t was until after these actions had re-
in decisive victories and the capital of the enemy was
within our power that the Mexican government manifested
any disposition to enter into negotiations Tor peace ana even
believe they insncere and that IN agreeing TO go
through the forms of negotiation, the object was 70 gam
time strengthen the deences OF their capital anu 10 pre-
pare for fresh resistance.
The General in command Of the army deemed it expe-
dent TO suspend hostltes temporarily by entering INTO
an armisiice with view TO me opening r 81 Of Heaeo to
meat the commissioner on the part Of the United States
The rcsal of the conferences which took place between
these functonaxies Of the two governments was auc 70
The commissioner Of the United States took with him
the proet of treaty already prepared, by the terms OF
which the indemnity required ny the United States was
cesson of territory. ~
Il is well known that the only indemnity which it is IN
the power of Mexico make satisfaction OF the just anu
long deferred claims Of our citizens against her and the
only by which she cen reimburse the United States
for the expenses Of the is ceSslon to e United states
of portion Of her territory Mexico has no money to
pay and other of making the required indemn
w. Ii wo refuse this obtain nothing else To re-
iec indemnity by refusing to accept cesson OF territory
would be abandon all just demands, and to wage the
war; bearing oil its expenses without purpose or definite
object
state OF abrogates treaties previously existing be-
tween begerens and treaty of puts end to
all claims for ndemnityfor torous acts cOmmtted under
the authority of against the citizens sub
iecs of another unless they provided for in its spaa-
TONS treaty of peace which would terminate the exist
i
Mexico-the acknowledged debtor and herself the agrees
sor in the relieve herself from her just liabilities
BY such treaty, our citizens, who hold just demands
agaast her would have remedy either against Mexico
or their gopeynen Our duty to these citizens must
prevent such peace and treaty which does not
provide ample of dischargng these demands
ceive my sanction.
treaty peace should settle all existing differences be-
this countries If adequate cession Of terri
tory should be made BY such treaty the United States
should release Mexico from all her liabilities, and
their payment citizens. IT, instead of this, the
United States to consent TO treaty by which Mexico
should again engage to pay the heavy amount Of indebted
ness which just indemnity to government and cit
would Impose her. is notorious that she does not
possess the means 10 meet Huch an undertaking. From
such treaty no result could be anticipated but the same
irritating disappontmens which have heretofore attended
the violations Of similar treaty spuatons the part
Mexico. Such treaty would be but temporary
ton of bestties without the restoration of the friendship
and good understanding which should characterize the -
lure Intercourse between tho tYo countries.
That Congress contemplated the acquisition of territorial
ton Of the war; obvious. Congress could not haye
meant-when, in May, 1896 they appropriated millions
of dollars and authorized the President employ the mill
tia and naval ngd military forces of the United Sates and
to accept the services Of fifty thousand volunteers enable
him prosecute the war; and wLeD their last session,
and after army had invaded Mexico they made addi-
tona appropriations and authorized the raising of additional
troops for the same purposehat indemnity be
obtained from Mexico at the conclusion of the and
yet certain that, if Mexican territory acquired
l no indemnity could be obtained.
Ii further manifest that Congress contemplated terrific
rial indemnity from the fact that their last session.
was passed upon the Executive recommendation, appro
priang three millions of dollars with that express object
This appropriation made to enable the President to
conclude treaty of peace limits and boundaries with the
said treaty, when signed by the authorized agents Of the
two governments and duly ratified by Mexico shall call
for the expenditure of the same any part thereof" The
object Of asking this appropriation distinctly stated in
the several messages the subject which communicated
to Congress. Similar appropriations made in 1903 and
1906 which referred TO- intended be applied in
49, Al,
Foridas In like manner anticipated that settling the
terms of treaty Of "lmts and boundaries with Mexico
cession of territory estimated to be of greater vaae
than the amount of demands against her might be
obtained; and that the prompt payment Of this
in part consideration for the territory ccdedon the
conclusion of treaty. and its ratification her part might
be nducement with her to make such cesson of
rtory would be satisfactory the United States And
although the failure conclude such treaty has rendered
it unnecessary to any part Of the three millions of dol
lars appropriated by that act and the entire remains
the treasury is still applicable that object should the
contingency occur making such application proper
The doctrine Of no territory 70 the doctrine ono ndem.
nity and if SANCTIONED, would be public acknowledge
ment that country wrong, and that the declared
by Congress with extraordinary unanimty, unjust
and should be abandoned; admission unounded in fact
and degrading to the national character.
The teas Of the treaty proposed by the United Sntes
not only just to Mexo but considering the character
and amount of our claims, the uniagtfable and unpro
voked commencement of hoaties by her. the expenses
the to which have been subjected and the
which bad attended deemed to be of most
liberal character,
The commissioner OF the United States was authorized
agree the establishment of the Rio Grande the bounda
ry from its into the Gulf intersection with the
southern boundary Of New Mexico, in north latitude ABOUT
thry-two degrees and to obtain ccsson to the United
States of tho provinces Of New Mexico and the CALIFORNIA;
and the privilege Of the right of way the ishmus
Tchuantepec The boundary Of the Rio Grande and the
cesson to the United States New MEXICO ard Upper Cali
fornia constituted utimatum which commissioners
was, under no circumstances, to yield
That it might be manifest only to Mexico, but all
other nations that the United States not disposed
take advantage Of feeble power, by insisting upon Wrestling
from her all the other Provinces including many of her
held in military occupation, but willing to con-
clude treaty spirit Of liberality commissioner
authorized spuate for the restoration Mexico of all
our other conquests.
As the territory be acquired by the boundary proposed
might be estimated to be of greater value than fair equva
lent for just demands commissioned authorized
spuIae for the payment of such additional pecuniary
consideration deemed reasonable.
The terms of treaty proposed by the Mexican com
mssioners were wholly inadmissble. They negotiated
as il Mexico the victorious, and the vanqushed
paFy They must have known that their ultmaum could
be accepted. IL required the United States dis
member Texas by surrenderng Mexico That part of the
territory Of that State lying between the Nueees and the
Rio drardc, included within her limits by her laws when
she an independent republic and when she an
nexed tho United States end admitted by Congress as
for the payment by Mexico of the just claims OF our c
zens Il required indemnify Mexican citizens inu-
mes they may havs SUSTAINED by troops the prose-
cuton Of the war II demasaed the right for Mexico
levy and collect the Mexican tariff of duties goods
ported into her ports while in our military occupation u-
ring the war; and the Of which had paid to officers
of the United States the military contributions which had