Washington telegraph., 1847-12-29

7
aud that, IN agreeing to 90 through the
iorms oi negotiation, the olieet was To gain
time 10 strengthen the drienees oil the cap.
iisl, and 10 prepare Tor fresh resislanee.-
The general IN command et tho army
dernrd Il ekpedimeni 10 suspend hoslllilies
by entering into an srmsliee
with u view To the opening ni negotiations.
and commissioners were appointed IN the
part III Mesien to meet the commissioners
an the parl oi the United States. The 10.
suit ol the conferences which took place
brlNecn The iunelionaries oi the Two gov.
ernmeals was failure Ia canelLir a Iicaly
oi peace. The commissioner ul The United
states took with him the praleel ailhe lrea'g
alfrady prepared, by The iefn- ul which
The indemnity required by the u. States,
was a cession ui territory.
II is well knnwn that the anly indemnity
which il is in the power OF Mexico 10 make,
in satisfaction oi the just aud long deferred
claims ui our citizens against her. ana the
only means lay which she can reimburse
the United States ior the expense. oi the
war, is cesson to the United States Of a
portion Of her territory. Mexico has nn
money To pas aud no other means ol max.
ing the requisite indemnity. II we relusr
II We can obtain nothing else. To reject
indemnity by refusing to acreP, territory
would he 10 abandon all our Just demands,
aud to wage the war;. bearing al It's et.
prnsrs ourselves, without purpose or DEF.
ints Object.
A state Of war abrogates treaties preyi.
ousiy existing between tho belligrrcn,s,
aud treat, al pracc puts an end Io all
claims lor indemnity, lorluous acts commit
ted under the authority Of one Government
against the citizens aud subjects Of another,
unless they are provided for in its slipula.
lions. A treaty o. peace which should ter.
inmate the existing war, without providing
ior indemnity would enable Mexico, an
Acknowledged debtor anl the asgressur ia
the war, to relieve herself from her Just la
biilics, aud by such treaty. our oilizens,
who hold JUS demands against her, would
have no remedy Tor them, either against
Mexico or their own Government.
Our duty In our citizen. must lore 'cr pre-.
vent such peaee, aud no lreaiy, which
dors not provide ample means oi discbarg.
ing those demands, can receive my sane.
/ ton.
A treaty Of peace should settle all diff
rulies. II an adequate crs.ion ofieTiloy
he such a treaty, the United States should
release Mexico from all her liabilities aud
assume their payment 10 our own citizens.
II, instead OF this, the United States were
to consent toa treaty by which Mexico
should again engage to pay the heavy
amount oi indebtedness. which a Just in
demn.iy 10 our Government and citizens
would impose an her, il is notorious that
sh does moi possess the means 10 meet
such an undertaking. From such treaty
M result could be anticipated hut the same
irritating disappuin'ment' which have here.
ioiorr attended the violations oi similar
treaty siipulalons on the part ol Mexico. -
Such a treaty would he bat u temporary
cessation Of hosliiies. without the reslora.
iion Of the friendship aud good understand
ing which should characterise the inter.
course between the two countries.
That Congress contemplated the accep.
tance Of territorial indemnity, when that
body made provision Tor the prosecution oi
the war. is obvious. Congress could moi
have meant, when in May. lsi6, they ap,
propriated ten million dollars. and author.
lied the President 10 employ the militia and
naval and military forces vi the United
States, and TO accep, the services Of 80, 00O
volunteers, 10 enable him to prosecute lhc
war, and when, at their last session, anJ
afer our army had invaded Mexico. they
made additional appropriations, and author,
ized the raising oi additional troops ior the
same purpose, that no indemnify was ID
be- obtained from Mexico at the conclusion
~ the war; aud yet it was certain that ifno
Mexican territory was acquired no injem.
nily would be Obtained,
II is further manies, that Congress con-
lemplated territorial indemnity from the
TACT that at their last session an act was
passed, upon the executive recommenda ion,
appropriaiing three millions of dollars, with
that express object.
The appropriation was made 10 enable
the President 10 conclude treaty of peace
Limits, and boundaries with the Republic
ol Mexico to be used by him in event that
said treaty, when signed by the authorized
agents of the two Governments and duly
ratified by Mexico, shall call for the expen,
/ dture OF the same or any par, thereof. The
/ object of asking this appropriation was dis.
tincly stated in the several messages which
communicated on the subject. Similar
appropriations, made in lsOs and 1906,
which were referred 10, were intended 10
he applied in part consideration for the ccs.
sion Of Louisiana and the Floridas. In
ike manner ii was anticipated that on set.
Ting the terms Of treaty Of limits and
boundaries Of Mexico, ccssion Of terrific.
ry, estimated 10 be oi greater value than
IL -. -. ....., II .,,. Ia,,.nJs auaipst bar