The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-09-24
In SENATE, MARCH 20, 1915.


On the bill for asceraining and paying certain claims ia
California.
In SENATE, MARCH 30, 1915.
The bill reported by the Committee on Military Affairs
for ascertaning and paying certain claims in California,
beng under consideration, ..
Mr. DIX addressed the Senate follows:
Mr. PRESIDENT: The transactions out of which the
claims provided for by the bill under consideration arose
explained yesterday in the brief but very pertinent
and lucid remarks OF the honorable senator from Mch
gan, Mr.. CAss as chairman of the Committee on Mill
tar Affairs before which the testimony subsantiating
the claims taken. | hold in my hand the printed
document containing this testimony, and before | sit
down will read some portions OF 10 the Senate though
may perhaps but present what is familiar TO all.
do not know that any explanation further than that
which has already been given by the honorable senator
from Michigan is necessary to vndcate the proprety of
passing the bill The pecuniary obligations for the dis
charge of which it provides. were Contracted in good
faith for the purpose OF subduing the country and OF
pelling from it the military forces of Mexico In the
execution of these Objects the young and accomplished
officer at the head OF our troops, Colonel Fremont exhb
lied combination OF energy promputude, sagacty and
prudence, which indicates the highest capacity for civil
and military command and, IN conneXion with what he
has done for the of science it has given him rep
utaon at home and abroad, OF which men much older
and more experienced than himself might well be proud
That the country will do justice TO his valuable and dis
hnguished services, entertain not the slightest doubt
The objects accomplished by Colonel Fremont as sub
sequent Developments have shown, We're far more i'm
portan than those have referred to. There doubt
that his rapid and decisive movements kept California
out OF the hands Of British subjects and perhaps out Of
the hands of The British governments and it is in this
point OF view that desire TO present the subject to the
Senate II these transactions stood alone ii they const
tued an isolated case | might not deem it necessary to
call attention to them But part OF system 10 all
appearances deliberately entered upon and steadily pur
sued, il seems TO me that they may Justly claim
extensive consideration than would otherwise be due to
them. -..
While discussing the bill to raise an additional military
force in January last, stated facts in illustration
of the encroachments of Great Britain the southern po
ton OF the North American continent alluded particu-
larry TO her movements on the Mosquito coast. where
she is establishing herself under the preeDce of giving
protection to nsgncanttr OF Indians, but in reality
gain possession of territory not only ntrnscally val
liable on account OF It's natural products, but dOubly
TO her account of It's advantages of position. This
occupation does not rest upon the ground of original
establishment territory unrecalmed from It's prmeval
solitude on territory not reduced to actual posses
sion by its first dlscoveer 1t portion of the old Spanish
dominion IN North America constituting after thedlssol-
ton of the empire of Spain in the western hemisphere,
part of the confederation of Central America, and now ali
integral part of the States of Honduras and Nicaragua
and if the power of Spain had continued unbroken, this
unjustfable encroachment would have been heard Of
stated former occasion, that the territory occupied
in the of the Mosquito nation by Great Britain
as that of the State of New York. and that she had
recently sought to extend her possession by orcibe
means, to the river San Juan de Nicaragua. the
eleventh parallel of latitude one degree further south
than the territory actually claimed belonging to the
Mosquitoes according to her own geographical denea-
lions. '
tween Great Britain and the Mosquito Indians; but the
territory abandoned by her under stPuiatons
with Spain When the connection wasTenewed am
unable to say; but believe the hrsf open and avowed
attempt exercise rights of Sovereignty over the terri
toy through consular agents, was in ls43, when Mr.
Patrick Walker appointed consul at Bluefeds; and
this appointment Instantly the subject OF protest by
at least of the South American States.
Before proceed to give the details of this encroach-
ment wish to call the attention of the Senate to the po
siton taken by the Executive of the United States nearly
twenty-five years in respect to the future colonization
of this continent by European powers
December, 1929 he stated that in the discussion OF the
spectve rights of Great Britain Russia and the United
States, on the northwestern coast OF America the occa
sion had been Judged proper tor asserting as principle
in which the rights OF the United States are involved that
the American continents, by the free and independent
condition which they have assumed and maintained, are
henceorh not to be considered subjects for future col
onization by any European powers In the same mes
sage il was declared that should regard any attempt
the part of European powers to extend their political
system any portion OF this hemisphere dangerous
peace and safety" "Wth existing colonies or de-
Tendencies OF any European powers, says the
we have not intefered and shall not Interfere But
with the governments who have declared their ndepend
ence, and maintained it, and whose independence we
have, great consideration and just principles, &C
knowedged, could not view any inerposon Tor the
purpose of Expressing them controlling in any other
manner their destiny, by any European power, in any
other light than as the manifestation OF an unfrlendy
disposition towards the United States"
The two positions assumed by the Executive of the
United States were #fN
L. That there must be further colonization either
of the American continents by any European power; and
2 That there must be no interference by European
powers with the independent States in this hemisphere
And these declarations were accompanied By the dsa
vowa part of all intention to interfere with exist
ing colonies or dependencies OF any European power on
this continent
OF the wisdom or policy of these declarations, have
noting to say though must add, that have always con-
sdeed the publication of manifestoes which the govern
ment putting them forth not prepared TO maintain al all
hazards, as calculated to detract from its dignity and m
fuence.
Mr. Monroe's declarations have not been maintained
They applied to South well as North America and
during the last five years. the Banda Oriental and the Ar
genne confederation have been the theatre of armed
intervention, the part OF Great Britain at FIRST and u
maely of Great Britain and France, which is almost
precedented the history OF nations, violation OF the
right of every community to regulate its domestic con.
Germs in its own way without external interference
will detan the Senate by entering into the details of
sequence Of internal discussions in the Banda Oriental
or the Oriental Republic of Uruguay, fomened by for
eign officers and residents IN Montevideo General
Orbe the President resigned, and fled TO Buenos
Ayres his rival, General Reveira, succeeding to his
political post In 1872 Oribe entered the Banda Orl
entail drove Revera into Brazil and besieged his gen
era (Paez) in Montevideo which subsequently
invested by sea by the Argentine fleet The nterposiuon
of Admiral Purvis, commanding the British leet, when
the admiral OF the French fleet refused to interfere, on
the ground that such interference would Vloate We'll
established principles OF International aW mas nad the
effect OF polonging for five years war when would
otherwise been speedily decided, and led to VIOLA
lion of every rule of International duty, through further
intervention in the affairs of the Argentine confederation
by the combined fleets of France and Great Britain,
der the sanction OF their respective governments Those
who desire know more OF these transactions will find