The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1848-03-22

are provisions. -
Correspondence of the Baltimore Sum-
WASHINGTON, MARCH II, 1S4S.
The news ollhe ratification, and, i'll mistake
not, the ratified treaty, has gone down by
special messenger sent to General Butler; but
the final adjustment will be through one or more
commissioners, by and with the advice and con.
sent of the Senate. That will not he attended
to before Tuesday, as the Senate does not sit
tomorrow.
On Friday evening, one oflhe most distin.
guished Senators submitted to that body pro-.
position to this effect, tha; the Mexican claim.
ants have now against the United States the
some claims that they previously held against
Mexico, and that the United States, in assuming
these claims, cannot, in justice to The claimants
fix upon sum to be paid them as maximum
without having appointed a commission TO ex-
anime and determine upon them according to
equity and justice. This proposition, | learn,
met with an almost un iversal appreciation.
1t would indeed he strange. fthe United
States had alleged as cause Of war, the fail.
urc Of Mexico to indemnify our citizens ior the
depreciation committed on their commerce and
enterprise, in assuming these claims, treat them
in the same unccrcmonous way us Mexico
herself has done, to wit: disregard their amount
and fix beforehand, and without examining them
the sum 10 which they are entitled by way ofin.
demnity. doubt much whether such course
was ever contemplated by The administration;
but whatever its views may be on the subject,
and whatever it may determine to do. it is
bound in Justice to examine the claims for which
it went to war, and the want Of satisfaction OF
which was alleged in The declaration of war as
one of great Importance, invol wing one Of the
brightest principles of international laws, and
was ably expounded and argued in secret ses'
sion.
The vote on the treaty is stated by the Un.
ion TO have been Is to 3s, but ! am inclined to
believe that this is a mistake. Ibelievc it stood
as Is to 81, four Senators being absent at the
time the vote was taken, viz: Mr.. Houston,
who had left for New. Hampshire, Mr.. rearce,
who, believe, was absent in Baltimore, and
Mr.. Clayton and Judge Phelps, who, think,
were ndisposcd. The vote against the treaty
stood seven democrats to eight Wings; the
democrats being Allen, Atchison, Benton, Brees
Douglass, Lewis and Westcolt; The whgs, if
make no mistake as regards Mr.. Miller, ofNew
Jersey, were Badger, Baldwin, Berren, Cor.
win. Clark, Miller, Upham and Webster.
| am bound to say that Mr.. Webster and
Mr.. Benton. from the commencement, have op.
posed the treaty throughout, olIecting to the
treaty as much on account Of the form as the
substance. The opposition was, indeed, as
wrote you the day after the treaty went in
quite formidable at the commencement, though
some persons pretending 10 we we'll informed
stated that there never were more than half a
dozen Senators opposed to it nut and out; anl
can assure You that nothing but the delay occa.
stoned BIZ tho death and funeral of the lamented
John Quincy Adams saved The treaty. This
gave the Senate nearly weeks time, and
brought public opinion 10 bear upon it with
such irresistible force, that The Senate had to
yield to it, and agree quite substantially with
the President.
The President has, throughout the whole
matter, acted with great Judgment and forecast.
He knew that notw lhslandng all the glory
won in the Mexican war, the nation was for
peace, and he as The chief executive Of the ma
,ional will, seized upon the first opportunity TO
make peace, notwithstanding the charge ofthe
opposition now rut 10 the blush, that he wish.
ed to continue this war for the purpose of being
made the war candidate for the Presidency.
Mr. Polk will now appoint an agent or com.
missioner, or perhaps several of them TO pro.
ceed down to Qncrctaro, to have the treaty in
proper forms laid before the Mexican Congress
the probability is, that notwithstanding the
many alterations and amendments it has under.
gone by the Scnale, it will be ratified. y.