Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1847-12-15


Our army pursued its march upon the capital and, a.
IT approached it, was met by formidable resistance--
Our forces first encountered the enemy and achieved
signal victories IN the severely battles
trcras and Churubusco. until after these ac
tions had resulted in decisive victories and the capital
oil the enemy within power, that the Mexican
Government manifested any disposition to enter into
negotiations for peace and then, events have
proved, there is too much believe they were
insncer and that in agreeing through forms
oil negotiation, the to gain time strength
cn the dcfcnccs Of their capi and prepare for fresh
resistance.
The General in command of .hc army deemed il cx.
into an arnscc with view to the opening of cgotia
tons Commissioners appointed the part OF
Mexico TO meet the Commissioner the;part oithc u
ntcd States The result OF the conferences which took
place between these unctionares Of the two Govern
mcnts was failure TO conclude treaty Of peace
him the prole Of treaty already prepared, by tho
terms of which the indemnity required by the United
States was ccsson of territory.
1t is well known that the only indemnity which il 10
IN the power of Mexico to make in satisfaction Of tho
Just and long deferred claims Of citizens against her.
and the only means by which she reimburse the u
nitcd States for the of the ccssion
the United States of portion of her territory. Mexi-
co has no money TO pay, and no other of making
| the required indemnity. II we refuse this we can OBJ
tain nothing else. 10 reject indemnity by refusing to
accept ccssion of territory, would be abandon all
our just demands, and TO wage the war, bearing all its
expenses, without purpose or definite object.
"A state OF war abrogacs treaties previously existing
between the bclligcrcns, and treaty of peace puts
end 10 all claims for indcmny-or tortous acts com,
mttcd under the authority Of one government against
the citizens subcc,so another unless they pro-
vidcd for in its Stipulaons. treaty Of peace which
would terminate the existing war without providing for
indemnity, would enable Mcxco-thc acknowledged
debtor and herself aggrcssor in the RELIEVES
herself by her just Liabilities. BY such a treaty. our
citizens who hold just demands against her. would havp
no remedy either against Mexico or their Govern
mcnt Our duty to these citizens must forever prevent
such peace, and no treaty which does provide
pie means OF dischargng these demands receive my
sanction
treaty ofpcace should settle all existing differences
between the two countries. If adequate ccsson of
territory should be made by such a treaty, the United
States should release Mexico from all her liabilities
and assume their payment TO citizens. II, in
stead of this, the United States were 10 consent to n
treaty by which Mexico should engage to pay the hca-
Wy amount of indebtedness wi ch n Just indemnity to
our Government and citizens would impose her,
IT is notorious that she does not possess the
meet such an undertaking. From such a treaty
suit could be anticipated but the irritating disap
pointmcnts which have heretofore attended the viola
tions OF similar treaty stipulaons the part of Next
co. Such treaty would be but temporary cessation
of hosiltcs without the restoration of the friendship
and good understanding which should characterize tho
future intercourse between the two countries.
That Congress contemplate the acquisition of terri
toral indemnity when that body made provision the
prosecution OF the war; obvious. Congress could
nave mcant-when, in May, 1876 they appropriated
ten millions of dollars and authorized the President
employ the militia and naval and military forces of the
united States and TO accept the services OF fifty hous
and volunteers 10 enable him prosecute the and
when, at their last session, and after army had in
vaded Mexico, they made additional appropriations and
authorized the raising of additional troops for the
pnrposc-that no indemnity was to be obtained from
Mexico at the conclusion OF the war and yet twas
tain that fno Mexican territory acquired, no in
dcmnity could be obtained
1t is further manifest that Congress contemplated ter
ritoria indemnity, from the fact that their last scs-
SION, an act was passed, upon the Executive
dalton, appropriating three millions of dollars with
that express Object This appropriation made ''to
enable the President TO conclude treaty of peace lin
its, 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 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 ON the subject which communicated 10 Con-
gress Similar appropriations made in 1908 and 1906,
which referred to, int ndcd to be applied in
part consideration for the cesson Of Louisiana tho
Floridas. In like manner it anticipated that, i'm
settling the terms OF treaty of limits and boundaries
with Mexico, ccSsion of territory estimated be of
greater value than the amount OF our demands against
her might be obtained and that the prompt pay of
this sumiD part consideration for the territory coded
ON the conclusion of treaty, and its ratification
her part, might be an indictment with her to make such
accsson of territory would be satisfactory the
nitcd States. And although the failure conclude such
treaty has rendered unnecessary to any part
the three millions of dollars appropriated by that act
and the entire sum remains in the treasury it is still
applicable TO that object should the contingency occur
making such application proper
The doctrine of no territory is the doctrine of in
edgment that country wrong, and that war
declared by Congress, with extraordinary unanimty
unjust, and should be abandoned an admission mn
founded in fact and degrading TO the national character
Inc terms OF the treaty proposed by the United States
were not only just to Mexico but considering the cha
raccr and amount of claims, the unjust and
unproyoked commencement of hostilties by her.
Pcnse of the TO which we have been subjected and
the success which had attended arms, were doomed
to be of a most liberal character.
The Commissioner of the United States autbori-
zcd to 10 the establishment of the Rio Grandc as
The boundary from its entrance into the Gulf its in
tcrSecton with the southern boundary of New Mexico
IN north latitude about thirty degree S, and to OBJ
tain to the United States the provinces of
New Mexico and the Caifornas, and the privilege Of
the right OF way across the stmus of Tchuantepcc.
The boundary the Rio Grande and the cesson to tho
United States of New Mexico and Upper California
shtuted an ultimatum which Commissioner was I'M
der no circumstances TO yield.
nat II might be manifest not only 70 Mexico, but to
all other nations that the United States dis
posed to take advantage of feeble Power, by insisting
upon wrestling from her all the other Provinces nclu,
ding many OF her principal towns and Cities which wc
had conquered and held in military occupation but
were willing to conclude treaty in spirit of liberali-
~, our Commissioner authorized to stpuatc for tho
restoration to Mexico of all our other conqucsts.
As the territory TO be acquired by The boundary pro.
posed might estimated to be of greater value Than
faIr equivalent for demands, Commissioner
was authorized to stpulatc for the payment of
able.
The terms of treaty proposed by the Mexican Com
mlssoners were wholly nadmissib!c. They negotia-
ted as If Mexico the victorious and the van
pushed party. They must have known that their u-
tmaum could never be accepted. 1t required the Uni
ted States to dsmember Texas by surrenderng TO Mex
leo that part OF the territory of that State lying between
the NucceS and the Rio Grandc, included within her
limits by her laws when she independent Rcpub
lie, and when she was annexed to the United States
and admitted by Congress of the States of our u
mon 1T contained provision for the payment bv
Mexico oil the just claims Of citizens, II required
,huenlty to Mexican citizens for injuries they may
nave sustained by our troops in the prosecution Of tho
war II demanded the right for Mexico to levy and
collect the Mexican tariff of duties goods imported
INTO her ports while in military occupation during
t9c war, and the Of which had paid to officers
OF inc United States the military contributions which
had been levied upon them and il offered TO ccdc 10
tne united States Tor pccunary consideration that part
OF Upper California lying north of latitude thirty seven
degrees such were the unreasonable terms proposed
Oy inc Mexican Commissioners.
Inc ccssion to the United States by Mexico of the
provinces OF New Mexico and the CALIFORNIA;, propo