Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1849-02-16
Me..are from tho President 81 the United
states. sent To the House OF Repre-
aentatfves ON the sth anst.

Tn reply to Inc resolutions OF the House OF
Representatives of the fifth instant, commu-
nicate herewith report from the Secretary of
State, accompanied with all the documents and
correspondence relating to the treaty of peace
concluded between the United States and Mex
'co at Guadalupe Hidalgo. on the I'd of Feb
ruary, 1848, and 10 the amendments of the
Senate thereto, as requested by the House In
the said resolutions.
Amongst the documents transmitted will be
found copy of the instructions given to the
commissioners of the United States who took
to Mexico the treaty as amended by the Sen
ate, and ratified by the President of the Unit
ed States. In my message TO the House oil
Representatives of The twenty ninth of Jnly.
1913, gave as my reason for declining 10
furnish these instructions, in compliance with
a resolution of the House, that in my opin
ion it would be inconsistent with the public
interests to give publicity TO them al the pre-
sent time" Although it may still be doubted,
whether giving them publicity in our own
country, and, as a necessary consequence. in
Mexico, may not have preludicial influence
on our public interests, yet, as they have been
again called for by the House, and called for
IN connection with other documents, to the cor
rect understanding of which they are indis-
nit them.
I still entertain the opinion, expressed in
the message referred to, "that. as a general
rule. applicable TO all our important negotia-
tons with foreign powers, it could not fail to
Iish the instructions to our ministers, until
some time had elapsed after the conclusion of
such negotiations''
Tn inrtrucfiopo If tho 10Th Of March
1913, it will be perceived THAT the task was
assigned to the commissioners of the United
States of concentrating the treaty of peace
which was signed at Guadalupe HidaIgo, on
the second day of February last, between the
United States and the Mexican republic; and
which. on the tenth of March last, was rati-
fed by the Sena'e with amendments"
They were informed "t that this brief state
ment will indicate TO you clearly the line of
your duty. You are not sent to Mexico for
the purpose of negotiating any new treaty, or
of changing in any particular the ratified trea
ty which you will bear with you. None OF
the amendments adopted by the Senate can be
rejected or modified, except by the authority of
that body Your whole duty will, then. con-
sist in using every honorable effort to obtain
from the Mexican government ratification of
the treaty in the form in which it has been
ratified by the Senate, and this with the least
practicable delay" ''For this purpose, it
may, and most probably will, become neces-
sary that you should explain to the Mexican
Minister for Foreign Affairs, or to the author
lied agents of the Mexican government, the
reasons which have Influenced the Senate in
adopting these several amendments to the trea-
try. This duty You will perform, as much as
possible, by personal conferences. Diplomat
ic notes are to be avoided. unless in case of
necessity These might lead to endless dis
cussions and indefinite delay. Besides, they
could not have any practical result, as your
mission IS confined 10 procuring ratification
from the Mexican government OF the treaty as
it came from the Senate, and does not extend
to the slightest modification in any of its pro-
visions"
The commissioners were sent to Mexico TO
procure the ratification of the treaty as amend
ed by the Senate. Their instructions confined
them to this point II was proper that the a.
mendments to the treaty adopted by the Unit
cd States should he explained to the Mexican
government, and explanations were made by
the Secretary of Stale, in his letter Of the 9Th
of March, 1913, to the Mexican Minister oil
| Foreign Affairs, under my direction. This
despatch was communicated 10 Congress with
my message of the 9th of July asst. communi.
eating the treaty of peace, and published by
their order. This despatch was transmitted
by our commissioners from the city of Mexico
| to the Mexican government, then at Quefeta-
70, on the 18th of April, 1913. and its receipt
acknowledged on the 10Th of the same month
During the whole time that the treaty. as a
mended, was before the Congress of Mexico
these explanations of the Secretary of State
and these alone, were before them.
The President of Mexico, on these eXpla-
nations, on the 9Th day OF May, 1918. sub
mitted the amended treaty to the Mexican
Congress, and on the 25th OF May that Con
gresS approved The treaty as amended without
modification or alteration. The final action oil
the Mexican Congress had taken place before
the commissioners of the United States had
been officially received by the Mexican au.
thorities, or held any conference with them
or had any other communication On the sub
Ject OF the treaty, except 10 transmit the letter
of the Secretary of State.
! In their despatch transmitted to Congress
with my message of the 9th of July last, com
municatlng the treaty of peace, dated Getty
OF Queretaro, May 25th, l848, 9 o'clock p
| m.," the commissioners say: g We have the
satisfaction to inform you that we reached
this city this afternoon at about 5 O'Clock, and
that the treaty, AS amended by the Senate u
the United States, passed the Mexican Senate
about the hour of our arrival by vote of SO
to 5: 1t having previously passed the House
of Deputies, nothing now remains but to ex
change the Publications of the treaty.
On the next day, (the 26th of May,) ths
commissioners were for the first time present
ed to the President of the republic and the
credentials placed in his hands. On this oc
casion the commissioners delivered an address.
to the President of Mexico. and he REPLIED
In their despatch of the 30th of May the com
missioners say "We enclose copy of on
address to the President. and also a copy O
his reply. Several conferences afterward
took place between Messrs. Rosa, CnevaS
Couto, and ourselves, which it is not though
necessary to recaptulate, az we enclose co
Ply Of the Protocol which contains the sub
stance of the conversations. We have nov
the satisfaction 10 announce that the exchang
Of Publications was effected to-day Thi
despatch was communicated with my messag
of the 9th July last, and published by order o
: Congress.
The treaty, as amended by the Senate O
, the United States. with the accompanying pa
pers, and the evidence that in that form it ha
been ratified by Mexico, was received a
WASHINGTON on tho 1th dow of TuIu 1S4S