Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1849-03-08
poLK,s puPLICITY.-TlIE PROToCoL.

POLK,S DUPLICITY.-TIIE PROTOCOL.
II every leaf IN the history Of the late war with
Mexico could be cu,so to be open tothe perusa OF
the public, we are inclined TO think that Ex-
dent POLK would stand forth more prominently as
trickster and dcmagogue than as statesman and
patriot. His deception in the commencement and
his duplicity at the close oft war are enough to
consisn him to infamy and disgrace.
The Washington city correspondence, which we
published last week, informed our readers Of the
existence of newly discovered Presidential fraud
in the consummation Of peace with Mexico. We
aude to the accidental discovery Of the Protocol,
or rough draft of the minutes or proceedings of the
conference between Mcssrs Clifford, Sewer and Gen.
Rosas. Through the information Of Gen. Rosas and
The moral courage OF the Hon. A. H. Stephens OF
Georgia, the subject brought before Congress in
season to call upon the late President for informa
ton. This resolution calling for an Investigation
into the matter was most strenuously opposed by
Mr. Houston of Alabama. 1t passed, however, by a
vote Of l47 ayes to 81 nays.
The Conference which produced this Protocol was
held at the City of Qncreturo, May 20, is4s. Mes
Clifford and Sevier under instructions from Mr.
Polk, made certain explanations and gave certain
surances to Gen. Rosas, the Mexican Minister OF
Foreign Affairs, to secure speedy peace. These
explanations and assurances, Gen. kosas insisted
should be appended to the Treaty. These the Pro-
tocol. The Treaty, with this Protocol attached, is
what was ratified BY the Mexican government, and
not the Treaty. per sc, of the U. S. Senate. Every
one must see the danger Of allowing such an as
Mt nn NJ t1,sp ~,
dent. The President and Senate are the only Trea-
ty making power recognizedin the Constitution, and
if the President attempts to act without the advice
of the Senate, he did in this instance he violates
the Constitution.
The Treaty which was ratified by our Senate, was
what's known as the Trist treaty. While in the
favor Of President Polk, N. p. Trist was sent as
Commissioner to accompany the army of Gen.
Scott, and make offers Of reconciliation. All re-
attempted to assume supreme control Of our Next
can affairs. Mr. Polk saw that he had even assumed
to be his rival, and ordered his arrest. After the
date OF his recall, but while yet in Mexico, he made
= Treaty with the Mexican government. He, of
course had no more authority to make treaty than
had Gen. Quitman's negro servant. But Mr. Polk
as well as the people, were heartily sick of the war,
and with this feeling uppefmost Mr. Polk laid this
Trist treaty before the Senate and earnestly be-
sought them to ratfyit. The Senate, with the uni.
versa desire for peace pressing upon them on all
sides. to patch up this Trst treaty, sand
after making three important amendments, pro-
nounced it to be in such shape that the American
Government would ratify it, The Commissioners,
Messrs Clifford and Sewer, were then dispatched to
Mexico to procure the ratification Of this Treaty as
thus amended. But these amendments were not
satisfactory to the Mexican governments and in or
der to pacify that government our commissioners
consented to nuly the action of the U. s. Senate,
by attaching to the treaty the Protocol which is as
follows:
PROTOCOL
or the conference previous TO the rati-
fcation and exchange ofthe treaty of peace
between Ambrose II. Sewer and Nathan
Clifford, commissioned as Ministers plen-
ipotentiary on the part Of the United States
Of America, and Don Luis de la Rosa,
Minister Of Foreign and Internal Affairs
OF the Mexican Republic.
'sln the city Of Queretaro, on the 26,h
Of the month Of May, lS48, at confer
ence between their Excellencies Nathan
Clifford and Ambrose H. Sewer Commits
sioners Of the United States Of America,
with fun powers from their Government to
make to the Mexican republic suitable ex-
plantations in regard to the amendments
which the Senate and Government Of the
said United States have made in the treaty
Of peace, friendship, limits, and definite set
Element between the two republics, signed
in the city Of Guadalupe Hidalgo, on the I'd
day of February Of the present year and his
Exceliency Don Luis de la Rosa, Minis.
ter Of Foreign Affairs of the republic Of
Mexico, it was agreed, after adequate con-
versation respecting the changes alluded
TO, 10 record in tile present protocol, the
following explanations, which their afore-
said Excellencies the Commits sioners, gave
in the name Of their Government, and in
fnlfilmcnt Of the commission conferred
upon them near the Mexican republic:
"lst. The American Government, By
suppressing the ninth article Of the treaty
Of Guadalupe and substituting the third
article Of the treaty Of Louisiana, did not
intend 10 diminish in any way what was
agreed upon BY the aforesaid article ninth
in favor Of the inhabitants of the terrific
ries coded by Mexico. Its understanding
Is, that all of that agreement is contained
in the third article OF the treaty of Louis
lana. In consequence, all the privileges,
guarantees, civil, political and religious.
which would have been possessed by the
inhabitants Of !he ceded territories, If the
ninth article Of the treaty had been retain
ed, will be enjoyed by them, without any
difference, under the article which has
been substituted.
ED. The American Government, bv
snppressing the tenth article Of the treaty
Of Guadalupe, did not, in any way, intend
to annul thegrants Of lands made by Mex
leo in the coded territories. These grants,
notwithstanding the suppression Of this
article OF the treaty, preserve the legal
value which they may possess, and the
grantees may cause their legitimate titles
10 be acknowledged before the American
tribunals.
"Conformably TO the law of the United
States, legitimate titles TO every descrip-
ton Of property, personal and real, exist
ing III The ccdcd territories ARE those which
are Legitimate titles under the Mexican
Law ny C.l;i,,rn:, ,,,J NJ. A.: -