The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1847-01-12

provided for in that treaty, that Santa Anna
levied forced loan. appOrtioned among sew
eral Oi the provinces or departments of that
| Government, for the express purpose Of
meeting tins indemnity. The first three in
stalments were paid promptly at The time
| When the fourth fell due, Mexico was en-
| barrassed in her circumstances, and unable to
meet the demands of our citizens. This
state OF things continued until another three
months expired, when another instalrnent
fell due. She was unable, at that time, TO
meet this demand in money she. however
contends that she has paid the fourth and
fifth instruments, and shows the receipt of an
agent appointed by our Government. to that
effect. That agent, however, contends that
he received certain orders or drafts on mer-
camille houses, having lien upon the Mexi-
can Ire lsury, and that thesedraits have been
dishOnored. But let us hear his own words
upon this subject. Mr.. Voss, our agent,
says, IN letter TO Mr.. Slidell:
For the avowed purpose of liquidafing the
recognized American claims, General Santa
Anna, the head of the Mexican Government,
Il May, lS43, decreed the collection of a
forced loan, to be distributed, in certain pro-
portions, through the departments of this re
public, and paid at periods corresponding to
those stipulated in too convention 10 that eff
feet with the Government Of the United
States. This measure. essentially unpopular,
could only have emanated from a govern
ment as absolute as that Of Santa Anna then
was, and, even with the aid of his unlimited
powers, vas very imperfecily enforced. while
the temptation 10 misapplcarion Of the
funds, collected amidst The difficulties BY
which Santa Anna was surrounded, is suf
6centIy obvious. From these coDcurring
circumstances, the Mexican government was
absolutely unable 10 pay Inc instalInenl
which became due in April. 1874; and in
July of the same year. when another install
ment should have been paid, the incapacity OF
the Government TO fulfil its engagements had
become still greater. The arrears due AT
that period on the American claims, amount
ed TO S274.664 e..
About this time. public attention was d.
rected 10 the Teridn question, ,rith rene'red
force and amidst the dngryercitement ,rhich
IL occnSioned, The press found Il popular theme
for complaint in the payment ofhie american
claims and freely advocated lis discontinu-
dRce.'
Here we have The declaration of our agent
on The spot, that the failure OF Mexico is i'll
some gree at least chargeablc upon ourselves
We all know that prior to April 30. 1874, the
period at which Mexico became delinquent,
a treaty was gotten up handsomely by the
President Of the United States for the annex
alton of Texas to this country. 1t is true
that that treaty was rejected by the Senate.
But it was Immediately made question be-
fore the people, and the candidate of one Of
the parties-he who is now the President o.
The United States-was nominated almost
solely because he was pledged 10 annexation.
All this was known in Mex co. She saw a
direct attempt making by our people TO des-
poll her Of what she regarded as one OF her
own departments, portion of her republic.
This woul1 naturally produce an obstacle in
The way Of obtaining the r:eahs TO meet these
instruments. The Mexican Government ap-
pear to have acted in good faith, as will be
seen by their having recourse TO a forced loan;
and it was not until our folly and madness. in
relation to Texas. excited her people. that
the Government failed to comply with lis trea-
" siipularions She was in fault. and lear
an impartial world will not pronounce is
families in this matter.
But. for the sake of the case, Will admit
that Mexico was altogether in the wrong.
she ldlle1 10 ulfcl ilcf lu>N uS''S. pu' .
maintain that this, under all the circumstance
of the case, was no just cause Of war. My
friend from Ohio (Mr. Giddincs) alluded to
the repudiatins States of this Union. aud just
" remarked that many of the gentlemen on
this floor who we're So clomorous Tor war
gaiust Mexico, represented States which had
failed to pay their debts, and have gwen Great
Britain the same right TO invade their territory
and lombard their cities that we bad 10 attack
Mexico SO far as the non payment oil debts Is
CO cerncd.
will allude TO another instance oil repudia-
lion. Mexico is not the only nation winch
has committed depredations upon our com
merce. France, towards the close oil the
last century. had been guilty OF the same acts
Of violence. We demanded PREPARATION at her
hand. She admitted the justice oiour clam;
but fora valuable consideration, we released
her, and became ourselves obligated to our
citizens. who had been despoiled Of iheirprop-
erty by France. And what has been our
treatment towards those citizens we nave
turned deaf ear 10 their petitions Tor han !"
century. But during the last session oil me
present Congress a bill was passed, granting
partial relief TO oEr injured cItiZens: hnu
what was the fa:e of that bill alter II iei' the
capiroll We all know that II was vetoed oy
the President Ii was returned win once
lions of the most extraordinary character Inc
principal ofwhich were. that the amount due
was too large and had been due too long and
that probably Congress had not properly con
sdered the subject. Here we see the Pres,-
Dent ofthe United States persuing towards
our own citizens the very course OF conduct
for which he arraisns Mexico and. according
to his own doctrine, they have as just a cause
of war against him, as we have against Mex
CO, on account of her Indebtedness.
Another cause ofwar set forth by the rIeS'
ident is The refusal of Mexico TO receive Mr..
SlidelI. Mr. Chairman. do not purpose 10
go into detailed examination oil The cores
pondence on this subject
But the gravest charge brought forward
by the President, and one which deserves
more consideration than any other IS TINS ;
Merico passed the boundary Of the United
States. inraded our territory. and shed Amer
;con blood upon American SOIL lf,his charge
was sustained. I admi, that it would furnish a
lust cause of war. But this statement OF tne
r-..t Main and inteiltOl-