Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1848-01-20

enable the President to conclude treaty of peace,
limits 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 two govern
mens, and duly ratified by Mexico, shall call for the
expenditure of the same, any part thereof The
object of asking this appropriation distinctly sta
ted in the several messages on the subject which
communicated to Congress"
Vote him now the men and money he now asks, and
what will he tell you at the next session? What that
Congress intended to all Mexico He will say,
YOU meant that should carry destruction throughout
the whole of that country-that
81 should dip my sword in blood, and write my name
On desulatcd lands and cities"
And he would have right to say so. Vote him the
men and the money he wans--et him have ninety
thousand troops there, and he will enact scenes that
perhaps we little think of and at the next session he
will come and tell that that was what he meant, and
he will have right to do So bee actions speak
louder than words We certainly, in giving our votes,
must be supposed TO have some object TO attan-that
object the President can construe for himself
In regard to the amendment which hls been propos-
ed to this bill instead of making it better it leaves
tmore obnoxious still It leaves 1t to the Presidents
discretion whether embody these troops or not but
that is the very thing ought not to do. He has had
discretion enough. Was it not at his discretion that
our troops were marched to the Rio GNnde 1t seems
to me that the true course is to take the discretion into
specific objects. Then we shall know for what OBJ
iects they were made.
| But the President says now, he does not want the
conquest of the whole of Mexico but he wants in
demnty aud security Well, these are words easily
pronounced. But we had good old lesson in New
England, requiring the definition of words to be given
Indemnity for what? Security for what? | find the
indemnity he wanted, was not only indemnity for our
claims ana for all the expenses of the war; but in adj
| fO all 10 fO n
them he was not willing to make peace unless they
would sell him part of their country with its inhab-
itants for read in the 9th and 9th articles of the
treaty proposed by government TO Mexico, as fol-
lows, viz:
"Art. 5. In consideration of the extension of the
limits of the United States, they are defined by the
preceding Article, and by the stlpuations which
farther contained in Article B; the United States a
bandon forever against the United Mexican States all
reclamation on account Of the cost of this war; and,
beside, agree to pay to the United Mexcan States in
the City of Mexico, the sum Of.
"Art. g. In full consideration of the stpulations
contained in Articles A and of this treaty, the United
States agree to assume and pay all sums at present
due to claimants, and those which may be hereafter
established, according to the Convention concluded
between the two Republics, in the City Of Mexico,
on the Goth of January l643 to provide for the pay
mcn of what shall be decided in favor Of the claim
ants according to a Convention between the United
States and the Mexican Republic, on the 18th Of
April, 1889. And the United States equally agree to
assume aad pay all reclamatlons OF citizens OF the
United States against the Government of the United
Mexican States, not previously decided to an amount
not exceeding three millions of dollars which have
arisen prtor to the 18th of May 1916, and which shall
be adiudged to be due by commission established
by the Government of the United States, whose de-
cisons shall be defnitive and conclusive. Provided
a,oaye, That in deciding on the Validity Ut the sac
claims, the commission shall be guided and governed
by the principles and rules prescribed by the first and
fifth article of the unratided Convention, concluded in
the City of Mexico on the Goth of November, l843
and in no case shall they give Judgment in favor o.
any claim embraced by these principles and rules
And the United States for the present and the future
exonerate the United Mexican States from any Of the
said demands whatsoever, which may be admitted Oh
rejected by said board OF commissioners"
7 He requires payment of our unliqudated claims
he requires the expenses ofthe war and in addition tC
these he requires that they shall sell him just mucl
territory as he sees fit to buy at MS prcethis il
the indemnity and security he wants. Are Senators
prepared to sanction these views? Can they face the
indignation of the world after having insisted on them
: Here is a Government enfeebled-broken down.
people distracted-havng natural attachment to the
homes of their brth-to the soil beneath which moul
der the bones of their fathers-and because they de
not choose TO sell their country and themselves, thu
President says the war must be prosecuted and car
5 ried into the vital parts of Mexico. Well now the
course Of the President seems to be decidedly rep
rehensble. Perhaps | have commented upon it il
manner not quite becoming to this place. hopC
not
Icannot help remarkng in justice to him, that HI
5 has not shown disposition for war in all cases.
think in the management Of the Oregon treaty he eX
hibted Christian meekness to a surprising degree
But he did not inherit the blessing of the meek. H,
did not get the land. He would not submit to arbi
tration. Well how did he settle it?
Let Mr.. Packenham the British Minister, tell hi
own story
; WaShington June 18th, 1886
; My LoRD-In conformity with what had the homo
to state in my despatch NO. G8) of the 9TH inst, thu
President sent message on "Wednesday last to the
Senate, submitting for the opinion of that body, The
draft of Convention for the settlement of the Oregon
question, which was instructed by your Lordship1
despatch mo. l9 of the 18th May to propose for thu
= acceptance OF the United States.
After few hours deberaton on each of the three
DAYS "Wednesday, Thursday and Friday) the Senate
by a majority of 80 votes to H. adopted yesterday
evening resolution advising the President to accep
!; the terms proposed by her Majestys government
The President did not hesitate to act on this advice
and Mr. Buchanan accordingly sent for me this morn
ing and informed me that the condition offered by he
NIaiesty's government were accepted by the govern
ment of the United States, without the addition or al
teraon of a single word.
have the honor to be, &c.
R. PACKENIIAM.
, The Right Hon. the Earl of Aberdeen
lie takes it just exactly as was cooked up for him
very much as sick chdrel are directed to do wher
they have an unpalatable dose of medicine to take
shut your eyes and open your mouth and down witt