The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1847-12-21

ernmcnts, was n failure to conclude iren.
~ Of pence. The Commissioner of the L
8. took with him the project Of tho treaty,
prepared by the terms Of which the indcu,-
nifty required by tho U. s. was a ccssion Of
territory.
II is well known, that the only indemni.
~ which il ia in the power Of Mexico Ia
make, in satisfaction of tho just md long
deferred claims OF our citizens against her,
and the only means BY which she can REIN.
hursc the L. s. for the expenses Of the
wnr, is a cession 10 the u. s. Of portion
OF her territory. Mexico has M money 10
pay, md no other means Of making the re-
qnircd indemnity. five refused il, We can
obtain nothing else. Torcject indemnity,
by refusing to accept cession Of territory,
would be TO abandon all our jus, dcmands--
and to wage the war, bearing all its expen.
scs, without a purpose or defining object.
A state oc war abrogatcs treaties prcyi-
ously existing between the beIligcrcnls,
md treaty Of peace puts an end to all
claims for indemnity for tortnous acts COM
mitted under the authority Of our govern
ment against the citizens and subjects Of
another, unless they arc provided for in its
stipulations. A treaty Of peace which
would terminate the existing wnr without
providing f,r indemnity. would enable Mcx-
leo, an acknowledged debtor, and herself
the nggrcssor in the war, 10 relieve herself
from her just liabilities.
Bv such treaty, our citizens. who hold
just demands against her. would have no
remedy for them, either against Mexico or
ihrir own government. Oar duty 10 these
citizens must ever prevent such n peace,
and no treaty which docs not provide am
pic means Of discharging those demands,
can receive my sanction.
A treaty Of peace should settle all exist
ing differences between the two countries.
II mn adequate ccssinn Of territory hc such
a treaty, the Il. s. should rclcnsc Mexico
from all her liabilities, and assume their
payments 10 our citizens. Ii, instead Of
this. tho United Slntcs now consent TO a
treaty by which Mexico should ngain en-.
gage to pay the heavy amount Of indebted
ness which n Just indemnity to our govern.
ment mud citizens impose upon her. it is
notorious that she does not possess the
means In meet such an undertaking. From
such treaty, no result could he nniicipa :
ted but the same irritating disappointmcn,s
which have heretofore attended the viola
tons Of similar treaty s,ipnlaions on the
part Of Mexico. Such n treaty would be
hut temporary cessation of hos,li,ics,
without the restoration Of the ificnashp
and good understanding which should char
aeterze the intercourse letween The two
countries.
Tia, Congress contemplated the nccop.
tancc Of territorial indemnity, when thai,
body made provision for the prosecution Of
the war, is oasions. Congress could mo-,
have mean, when, in Nav. 1876, ,hey nr-
propriaied ten millions Of ,iollars, md au-
lhorzed the President TO employ the militia
~ forces If the L.. s., md 10 ncccpi The
services Of ten thousand volunteers, 10 cna-
bic him IN prosecute the war: aud when III
their last session. md after our army had
invaded Mexico, they made additional np.
preparations, and authorized the raising al
additional troops fnr the same purpose that
no indemnity was 10 be obtained from Mex
leo, at the conclusion of the war; and sc,
il WINS certain, that if no Mexican territory
wns acquired, that no indemnity could lie
obtained.
Il is further maniIe1, TINT Congress con.
templaied territorial indemnity, from tho
fact, that, ut their last session, nm net was
passed, upon &c Elective recommendation.
appropriaiing three millions OF dollars, with
thu, express object. The appropriation was
made 10 enable tho Prcsidcn, 10 conclude
n treaty Of peace, limits, and boundaries,
with the Republic of Mexico, TO be used BY
him in the event that said treaty, when
signed hy the authorized agents Of tho gov
ernmcnis, mud duly ratified hy Mexico,
shall call for the expenditure Of the same,
or any part thereof. The object &c nsking
this appropriation was distinctly stated, in
the several messages on the subject which
] communicated. Similar appropriations,
made in 1903 and 1906, which were refer
red 10, were applied in part consideration
for the cession Of Louisiana md the Flnri-
das. In like mnnner, il was anticipated
TINT, in settling the terms Of treaty Of
limits and boundaries with Mexico, ccs.
sion Of territory, estimated 10 be Of greater
value than the amount Of our demands a.
gainst her, might be obtained, md that the
prompt payment of this sum, in part con-
sidcrntion for the territory ceded, on the
conclusion Of a treaty, md its ratification
OF her, TO make such n cessinn of territory
rs would be satisfactory to the u. States
and although tho failure TO conclude such
a treaty has rendered il unnecessary to use
any of the three millions appropriated BY
that net, md the entire sum still remains
in tho Treasury, il is still applicable 10 that
object, should the contingency occur INN.
4 !. 4.