Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1848-05-30

vernment which does not put an immediate enu
10 their sufeIings. The people have az. u"I hail
tionable right TO demand security lhal tne. .ha;.
suffer no more than may be incidental 70 nj ~,
condition. II is not merely gross inlus'ice, usI
an act also of gross inhumanity, 10 t t',aadv
them 10 pass through all the horrors Oh ''0'
contest after long years Of civil wal ,b., bv
Thus tranquil and satisfied at time wne M, ~
its policy, The Government was coun''ns r."
an immense majority of the nation. imme1 rau'
" acceded 10 the desire of the American o, ,,a
missioner who proposed 10 resume INC hes
tions which had been suspended ~ con'e.ih
of the unhappy circumstances oil seP'.a au;e.
last, as Congress is well advised. ihsa
President who succeeded me after Inc nrs. .e,ni
of my administration, appointed coihu,' ,ha H.,
enjoying his confidence who discharge. ~. "a
ties Of their Offices with all the hue'''J ana
loyalty which might be supposed 10 acconpI =.
their well melits reputation. But DC nau We
,ermincd that no proceedings shoni" oc ~. ~. ~
ill early in January. Ills reason was, '"ar
loyal to the Government, and following -. -
TEN which had pursued, he was anxious y 10 -
certain the sentiments Of the people OF .l'e NJ
public and such notifications as they lh'sns
have undergone, guided not only ny 'es', ,ha
drawn from our present condition, OUT lion, NV
opinions of the press of both parties p'cso a;e
ing as it did the question under thous1Hu ~
ierent aspects. H.
No one, during all this time, could cnarse 'ne
Government with having attacked me lipe.v VI
thought. Neither could any one question y s,' n
cciiy n Obtaining the aid and cooperation =, a.,
good ''lizens in a matter Of sncn 'iahscc".e =.
importance. The duties deyol9lns upon u III
consequence OF the alternative OF war ho' oe!nS
adop,cI you yourselves, gentlemen, can we'sn
with fal caimness and GOODNESS which peeo.''c
the discussion Vi subject so nearly cohcein ~,
theGeae.t interest OF our unfortunate nation. ne
verdict OF impartial history will suisly h"' iih-
peach my motives, in consequence ol Tue great
and well known services which have been rem.
der,a since the fatal rupture with the United
States.
The instructions given Tor my guidance al mat
time, as Minister OF Relations, aud 10 The Com
missions oil The Republic, though much more Ia
vorable, as was natural than could be reasona-
bly, expected, never had any definite character r.
The Government also, reserying 10 sseif Inc
RICH, OF modifying hcm according 10 The nior-
nation il might receive, gave The Commissioners
full liberty 10 conclude the negotiations, with the
belief that neither in letter o! spirit anr offence
was intended 10 our honor, and that nc compro-
mise was effected OF which CIVILIZED people
need 10 be ashamed. Though very decided in
favor OF peace, and disposed TO make such sac
riices as circumstances might demant, The Co.
vernmenl never had any idea OF accedng 10 any
conditions either humiialing or such as should
give TO the negotiation character unworthy OF
our independence. In the opinion OF The Govern
| meni, war has lis limits anu so has peace. Even
| Inc extreme misfortune ci the nation could not
cause 10 be forgotten that mutual regard and con
sideralion which one nation and one government
owes 10 anniher-lhe more importan in The or
binary pacific relations Of the two, in proportion
10 the msiofunes which may visit either. And
here, gentlemen, | should inform y0u that The
propositions OF peace have projected directly
| from the Government OF the United States They
have sent Ministers Plenipolentiary 10 this Re
| public, who have commenced negotiations, anc
| there has been no single act Of the Mexican Go
vernment, in The course OF them, which can be
| characterized as either meanness or weakness.
| The Minister Of Relations will transmit 10 The
| TWO Chambers all the documents which may bt
necessary Tor The national Interests, as well as Inc
articles oil the treaty, signed al Guadalupe on lht
ID OF February last. You, yourselves, will be al
convinced as The Government is, that the terrific
| rial cessi0n is less than could be expected, OF
Than could have been agreed upon. Nener wa:
would in any respect, modify their pIe,ensUns
The limits OF Texas, OF Upper California ant
New Mexico, are Of such great interest and i'm
portance, that the Government of The American
Union has announced before lis Congress, tina
without the cession Of the sai territories, il vii
continue the war on the plan indicated by Ia,
Presidents message OF The 9th OF December Of lh'
last year. The negotiation, then, cannot be con
demned in consequence OF its not having dmin
ished Inc loss OF territory, taking into cOnsidera
lion The advantages OF peace. Perhaps il vii
deserve praise Tor having succeeded in oblainin;
that no additions have been made 10 the origina
claims The capital being lost, and the army o
The 18th OF September disbanded.
| Had the government been able TO indulge any
wel-founded hope that that of The United State
would recede from demand 10 which il had NJ
| legitimate Title, its conduct would have been an
| tercnt, or II would have reserved the treaty 0r
EB9Sgl a, 'rnrs sfea,eP ASSURANCES q til
! American Minister, leave no room whatever Il
doubt that any peace was utterly out oil The ques
ton which did not involve The ceSson OF the Ter
Iolies mentioned. The Governmcn, and it
| penipolsnliaIes have, nevertheless, enforced ant
defended The justice oil the nation, ana | can de
clare 10 you mat nothing which they ough! Il
have done has been omitted. Subsequent events
ner that the Government acted with Judgment ir
designating The time in which negotiations shoull
commence and be concluded.
The armistice which followed the negotiation
of the treaty and the immediate re establishment
of constitutional order in all its branches, the
ample guarantees secured to Mexican citizens
who either holding that character or that o.
American citizens, should reside in the terrific
| ries ceded-the suppression Of the Indian tribes
which should make incursions upon our frontier
the indemnity of fifteen millions of dollars
and the payment to be made By the Government
of the United States for claims liquda,ed and
pending against the Republic the solemn pro-
mise to assuage, if at any time there shall be oc-
casion, he caamties OF war, as we'll as to re
spcct the well known rights of humanity aud Of
society and, finally, the closing stipulation, that
the dividing line established by the fifth article
shall never be changed except by the full con.
sent Of both Republics, expressed through their
General Governments in conformity with their
give TO the negotiation all the dignity, as well
as all Inc security, that could be demanded in
this class Of transactions.
If the Government has found itself compelled
to respects acts thus consummatcd, without in
SlslinE upon compliance Win our taTlH rates,
- treasury laws, when The question Of The in
PRODUCTION Of goods into our custom houses in
the interior Of the Republic, was under discus
sioi. i, has resulted alone from well.establsh.
ed principle, that no treaty is TO be regarded as
possessing any force or value until II has been
duly ratified. Such stipulations as have been
made on these points of the treasury and COM
merce will be readily explained on the principle
mentioned, and by the practice generally adopt
cd in all countries under similar circumstances
The treaty, gentlemen, concluded by our
plenipotentiaries in the city Of Guadalupe, is
submitted to the judgment Of the national re
representatives. Of public opinion, and 10 the yer
dict Of foreign nations. The termination Of a
war such as we have suffered, the changes
which it has produced, are interesting TO the
whole world. They merit the examination OF
the philosopher, as we'll as the politician, and
from their very nature constitute new period
of vital Importance to the Republic. Justice,
humanity, convenience and honor present, un
der different aspects, treaties celebrated between
two nations, and according 10 the dominant