Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1847-12-21
1T be communicated to his govern.

ment. - .t,.-. -.,,,a.,.pl..- III, =.
b The Commissioner did not reach the
headquarters of the army until another
brilliant victory had crowned our arms at
Cerro Gordo. i.#3 .ao
The despatch which he bore from the
Secretary of War to the General in com.
mand Of the army was received by that
officer, then at Jalapa, on the Sd day of
May, ls47, together with the despatch of
the Secretary of State to the Minister of
Foreign affairs of Mexico; having been
Transmitted to him from Vera Cruz. The
Commissioner arrived at the headquarters
of the. army few days afterwards. His
presence with the army, and his diplomat.
Ic character were made known to the
Mexican government from Puebla, on the
18th of June, l647, by the transmission
of the despatch from the Secretary of
State to the Minister OF Foreign Affairs
Of Mexico. Many weeks elapsed after it's
receipt, and no Overiures were made, nor
was any desire expressed by the govern.
ment of Mexico to enter into negotiations
for peace.
Our army pursued its march upon the
capitol, and as it approached, it was met
by formidable resistance. Our forces first
encountered the enemy and achieved sig.
nal victories, in the severely contested
battles OF Contreras and Churubusco. 1t
was not until after these actions had re-
! suited in decisive victories and the capi-
tai OF the enemy was within our power,
that the Mexican government ma Infested
any disposition 10 enter into negotiations
tor peace; and even then events have
proved, there is toy much reason to be.
lieve. they were insincere ond that in
agreeing to go through the forms of ne.
gotiation, the object was to gain time to
strengthen the defences ofthe capital, and
prepare for fresh resistance. The Gen.
eral in command of the army deemed it
expedient to suspend hostiities tempora.
rily, 10y entering into an armistice, with a
view to the opening of negotiations
Commissioners Were appointed on the
part OF Mexico to meet the Commissioner
on the part of the United States. The
result of the conferences which took place
between these funciionaries of the two
governments, was e failure TO conclude a
treaty of peace. The Commissioner Of
the United States took with him the pro-
ject of the treaty already prepared, by the
terms of which the indemnity required by
the United States was cession of terri
tory.
1t is we'll known that the only indemni.
ty which it is in the power of Mexico to
make, in satisfaction for the just and long
claims of our citizens, against her, and
| the only means she can reimburse the u.
States for the expenses of the war, is a
cession to the United States of portion
Of her territory. Mexico has no money
to pay, and no other means of making the
required indemnity. If we refuse it we
can obtain nothing else. To reject in
demnity by refusing to accept cession
of territory, would be to abandon all OR
just demands, and wage the war, bearing
all its expenses, without a purpose or de-
finite object.
A state Of war abrogates treaties ex.
isting previously between the beliger.
ents and treaty ofpeace puts an end
TO all claims for indemnity for tortuous
acts committed under the authority of one
government against the citizens and SUBJ
lects Of another. unless they are provided
for in its stipulatiOns. A treaty of peace
| which would terminate the existing war.
without providing for indemnity, would
enable Mexico, an acknowledged debtor,
and herself the aggressor in the war, to
relieve herself from her just liabilities
BY such treaty our citizens who hold
just demands against her, would have no
remedy for them, either against Mexico
or their own government. Our duty to
these citizens must for ever prevent such
a peace; and no treaty which does not
provide ample means of discharging the
demands, can receivs my sanction.
A treaty OF peace should settle all exis.
ting differences between the two countries.
1t all adequate cession of territory be made
by such a treaty, the United States should
release Mexico from all her liabi!itie s, and
assume their payment to our own citizens.
lfinstead of this, the United States were
to consent TO a treaty by which they
should again engage to pay the heavy
amount of such Indebtedness which Just
indemnify to our government and citizens
would impose on her,it is notorious that
she does not possess the means to meet
such an undertaking. For such treaty
noresult could be anticipated, but the
same irritating disappOintments which
have heretofore attended the violations of
similar treaty stipulation on the part of
Mexico. Such treay would be but a
temporary cession of hostilities, without
the restoration ofthe friendship and good
understanding whichishou characterize
1.-the intercourse between the two countries.
/ That Congress contemplated the ac-