The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1847-12-18
)ODSFIELD, OHIO, SATURDAY, DECEMBER IS, 1s47.

tions, and authorized the raising of additiona
troops for the same purpose, that no indemnit,
was to be obtained from Mexico at the conclusion
of the war; aud yet II was certain that if no Mexi
can territory was acquired, that no %indemnit!
could be obtained.
It is further manifest that Congress contempla,
ted territorial indemnity, from the fact that at thei
last session an act was passed upon the Executive
recommendation, appropriating three millions o
dollars with that express object. The appropria
tim was made to enable the President 10 con
cIude ia 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 agents of the two governments, and
duly ratified by Mexico, shall cal. for the expen.
diture OF the same. or any part thereaf. The OBJ
ject Of asking this appropriation was distinctly
stated in the several messages on that subject,
which ! communicated.
Similar appropriations, made in 1903, and 1906,
which were referred to, were intended to be .ap.
piled IN part consideration for the cession OF Lou.
isiana aud the Floridas. In like manner ii was an.
ticipated that in settling the terms Of a treaty oil
limits and boundaries with Mexico, a cession Of
territory, estimated to be of greater value than the
amount of our demands against her, might be OBJ
tained: and that the prompt payment of this sum,
in part consideration for the territory coded, on
the conclusion of a treaty, and its ratification on
her part, might be an inducement with her to
make such a cession Of territory as would be sat
factory to the United States. And although the
failure to conclude such a treaty has rendered it
unnecessary TO use any of the three millions ap.
propriated by that act, and the entire sum still re-
mains in the treasury, it is still applicable to that
object, should the contingency occur making such
appropi iation proper.
The doctrine Of emo territory,'i is the doctrine
of no indemnify; and, if sanctioned, would be a
public acknowledgment that our country was
wrong, and that the war declared by Congress
with extraordinary unanimity, was unjust, and
should be abandoned; an admission untounded in
fact, and degrading to the national Character
The terms of the treaty proposed by the United
ering the character and amount of our claims-the
unjustiiable and uhprovoked commencement of
hostilities, by her, the expenses OF the war to
which we have been subjected, and the success
which had attended our arms, were deemed to be
of the most liberal character.
The COMMISSIONS of the United States was
authorized to agree to the establishment Of the
Rio Grande as the boundary; from its entrance in
10 the Gulf to Its intersection with the southern
boundary Of New Mexico, in north latitude about
thirty-two degrees; aud to obtain a cession to the
United States Of the provinces of New Mexico
and the CALIFORNIA;, and the privilege OF the right
of way across the Isthmus Of Tehuantepec.
The boundary OF the Rio Grande and the cession
to the United States Of New Mexico and Upper
California constituted an uAimatum, which our
Commissioner was under no circumstances to
yield. That IL might be manifest, not only to
Mexico, but to all other nations, that the United
States were not disposed to take advantage of a
feeble power, by insisting upon Wrestling from her
her other provinces, including many OF her
towns and cities which we had conquer
ed, aud held in our military occupation. but were
willing TO conclude the treaty in the spirit of liber.
Atty, our Commissioner was authorized to stipu.
for the restoration to Mexico, of all our other
As the territory to be acquired by the boundary
proposed might be estimated to be of greater value
than a fair equivalent for our just demands, our
Commissioner vas authorized to s~tipulate for the
payment OF such additional pecuniary consideration
as was deemed reasonable.
The terms Of the treaty proposed by the Mexi.
can Governments Commissioner were wholly in
advisable. They negotiated as if Mexico were
The victorious and not the vanqnished party, or
hey must have known their uhtimatum could new
sr have been accepted. It required the United
States to dismember Texas, by surrendering to
Mexico that part Of the territory of that State ly-
ng between the Nueces and the Rio Grande, in.
;luded within her limits by her laws when she was
IN Independent Republic; and when she was ad-
nItted by Congress as one of the States Of our u
liDn.
1t contained no provision for the payment, by
Mexico, of the just claims of our citizens. 1t re.
uired indemnify to Mexican citizens for injuries
hey may have sustained by our troops in the pros
cution of the war. 1t demanded the right for
to levy and collect the Mexican duties le-
led en- goods imported into her ports, while in
ur military occupations; and the owners of which
ad paid to officers Of the United States, the con-
-ibutions which had been levied upon them.--
md it offered to cede to the United States, as a
consideration, that part of Upper Cali.
,rnia lying north of latitude thitty.seven degrees.
UGH were the unreasonable terms proposed by
ne Mexican Commissioners.
The ~cession 10 the United States by Mexico Of
le provinces of New Mexico and the Califonias,
by the Commissioner Of the United
tAtes, it was believed, would be more in accor-
ance with the convenience and interests Of both
atoms, than any other cession of territory which
was probable Mexico could be induced to make
1t is manifest to all who observed the actual
ondition Of the Mexican government for some
past, and at the present, that If those pro-
should be retained by her, she could not
ing continue 10 hold and govern them. Mexico
tho feeble a power to govern these provinces;
ing, as they do, at a distance Of more than a thou !
md miles from her capital;-and If attempted to
: letaihcu ny neTs uney Wouiu Cohsususo, uut
short time, even nominally, a part Of her do.
Unions.
This would be especially the case with Upper
The sagacity Of powerful European
atoms has long since directed them to the COM 7
Iercial importance OF these provinces; and there I
m be little doubt that the moment the United !
shall relinquish their present occupation of I
, as indemnify, an effort would be made by some I
reign power to possess, it, either by conquest or s
If no foreign government should ac- .
II by either Of these modes, an independent '
evolutionary government would probably be es- Z
blished By the inhabitants and such foreigners as 6
ay remain IN, or remove to, the country, as soon
Il shall be known that the United States have b
il. Such . government would be too n
eble long to retain its seperate independent exis- r
nee, and would finally become annexed to. or a q
colony Of, some more powerful State. s
Should any foreign government attempt to pos
IS il as a colony, or otherwise 10 incorporate II .
ith itself, the principle evolved BY President q
onroe in 1924. and re-affrmed in my first annual D
essage. that no foreign power shall, with our =
HA II - 500 n LII 1911 a