Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1848-04-05
Inc Ercstdent's Message and tho
TriSt COrrcspOmdcmcc.


President, communicating to the Senate
the treaty Of peace, friendship, limits, and
settlement between the United States OF
America and the Mexican Republic, con.
clndcd at Guadalupe Hidalgo, on the I'd
Of February. in the year I848. Read in
the Senate. February Esd, ls48.
1bthe Senate Of the United States:
] lay before the Senate. for their consid
GRAFTON and advice, as to its ratification a
treaty Of peace. friendship, limits, and
settlement. signed at the city Of Guada
lupe Hidalyo, Oh the second day Of Feb
ruary, 1913. by n. =. Trist on the part Z, (
the United States, and by plenipotentia
sies appointed for that purpose OH the pari
OF the Mexican government.
deem Tiny duty to state. that the re
call Of Mr.. Trist. as commissioner of tn.
United States, Of which Congress was in
formed in my annual message, was dicta
ted by belief that his continued pres
ence with the army could be productive
ofno good. but might do harm, by cncour.
aging the false hopes and dclusivc impress
sions Of tho Nexicans, AID that his recall
would satisfy Mexico that the u. States
had no terms ofpcace more favorable to
offer. Directions were given that any 2ropo
sitions for peace which Mexico might make
should be received and transmitted by the
commanding general Of our forces, to the
United States
II was not expected that Mr.. Iris.
would remain in Mexico, or continue in
the exercise Of the functions Of the Office
of commissioner, after he received his let
ter Of recall. lie has, however, done so;
and the plenipotcntiaries Of the govern
iRent Of Mexico, with a knowledge Of the
fact. have concluded with him this treaty.
have examined it with full sense OF the
extraneOus circumstances attending its
conclusion and signature, which might be
objected to; but, conforming, as it does
substantially. ON the main questions Of
boundary and indemnity, to the terms
which our commissioner, when he left the
United States, in April last, was authori-
Zcd 70 offer, and animated, as am, by
the spirit which has governed AL my off.
cial conduct towards Mexico. have felt
il my duty to submit ii to the Senate for
their consideration, with a view to its rati-
fcation.
To the tenth article Of the treaty there
arc serious objections; and no instruc-
tons given to MIR. Trist, contemplated or
authorized its insertion. The public lands
within the limits Of Texas belong to that
State, and this government has no power
to dispose fthe.n. or to change the condi-
tons Of grants already made. All valid
titles to land within the other territories
coded t,the United States. will remain
unaffected by the change Of sovereignty;
and l therefore submit that this article
should not be ratified as 4 part Of the
treaty.
There may be reason to apprehend that
the rattle alton Of the Traditional and Sc
cret article might unreasonably delay
and embarrass the final action on the trea-
" by Mexico; | therefore submit whether
that article should not DO rejected by the
Senate.
1.-THE treaty shall be ratified, as propo-
scd to be amended, the ccssions Of terri
tory made by it to the United States, as in
dcmnity. the provision for the satisfaction
of the claims Of our injured citizens and
the permanent establishment Of the boun-
diary Of one Of the States ofthe Union, are
objects gained Of great national impor-
lance; while, the rnagnanimous forbear-
ancc exhibited towards Mexico, it is hoped
may ensure a lasting peace, and good
neighborhOOd between the two countries.
communicate herewith a copy of the
instructions given to Mr.. Slidell, in No
vembcr, 1916, as Envoy Extraordinary
aud Minister Plenipotentiary to Mexico;
copy ofthc instructions given to Mr.. Trist
in April last. and such of the corrcspon-
dcnce Of the latter with the Department of
State, not heretofore communicated 10
Congress, rs will enable the Senate to un-
dcrstand the action which has been had
with view TO the adjustment Of our diff
iicultics with Mexico.
JAMES X. POLK.
Washington, Feb. GO, 1913.
The documents acco mpanying the
above message consist principally Of the
correspondence between Mr.. Trist and
Mr. Buchanan, comprising about five col !,
umns of the Journal of Commerce.
The first letter is the instruction of Mr.. !
Buchanan to Mr.. Trist, accompanying the I
project Of treaty published some months
ago Mr.. Trist is authorized to offer as
high as thirty millions Of dollars for New |
Mexico, California, and the right of pass |
age across the Is,hmus Of Tehaunepec.
However, the most important part Of the |
correspondence is the offensive language !
IL Mr. T'rist to the President and Mr.. |
buchanan. In a letter from Mr.. Buchan-
an to Mr.. Trist. dated October s, We find |
the following sentence: |
II ought to observe, m justice to your.
self that we do not believe there is any |
truth in the assertion Of the Mexican COM
nissioncrs, that you had proposed (if the
other terms ofthe treaty were made salts
factory 10 refer TO your Government, with
some hope Of good result, the question Of
surrendering to Mexico that portion ofthe
sovereign state of Texas between the Nue. |
ces and the Rio Grande, or any part Of
Upper California.
.'Afier series Of brilliant victories when |
our troops were at the gates of the capital,
and it was completely in our power. the |