The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1849-02-14

under any other circumstances, and without
which the treaty never would have been rati.
fled by the Mexican President. And how was
il that these assurances were given by the
President of the United States, without any
correspondence or consultation with the Sen.
| ate a CO. ordinate branch of the treaty making
power oflhis government? What right had he
to say, that these amendments made by this CO.
ordinate branch. were nothing? Whether the
amendments were important or unimportant,
made no manner of difference, so lar as the
question of right was concerned.
But Mr.. S. contended that there were in the
amendments essential notifications in regard
to Mexican land titles, and particularly in regard
tot litrs to lands in Texas prior to 1886, TO prove
which he read at some length from Dir. Buch-
anan's letter in the same point, 10 show the reas.
ons which Influenced the Senate to make the
notifications. When he had concluded Mr..
Burt obtained the floor, and moved the previous
question, which was sustained The question
was first taken by yeas and nays, on Mr.. ll"rs
tons amendment. and it was negative 81 TO 96.
Mr.. Wentworth appealed to MIR. Stephens 10
embrace in his resolution, caIlfor the Insrtuc-
'ions to our commissioners, and the correspon.
dence with the Mexican government subsequent
to the ratification of the treaty by the Senate of
the United States. Mr.. Stephens consented to
the modification, and the yeas and nays were
then ordered on the resolution, as amended, and
it was adopted, lat to 81.
Mr.. Meade introduced resolution instruct
ing the committee on the contingent fund 10 in.
quire into the expedicucy of causing copy in
marble to he taken ofihc Statute ofWashington
in the State House at Richmond, TO be placed
in the Rolunda of the Capital, at the seat OF the
General Government. Adapted.
Mr.. Sb'ey, of Wisconsin Territory, intro.
duced resolutions in regard to the Indians and
to the establishment Of posi-. roads in that terrific.
", which were adopted. Adjourned.
FEBRUARY 7.
4 message was received from the President
If the u. States, by the hands of AR. John
Knox Walker, private Secretary, ordered TO be
rpaJ and was understood 10 be substantially as
fllows
1t is in reply to the resolutions Of Mr.. Ste.
phrns, (encosing report from the Secretary
fSlale,) communicating the information called
for in reference to the Protocol to the treaty
with Mexico.
The President says that he had declined,
when called upon by the House at the last ses
sion tn furnish copy the instructions to our
commissioners, because he then deemed it in.
compatible with the public interests. lie did
no, think it proper to make public such inslruc-
tinns until some time thereafter. But, as he
was now again called upon for them in connrx
ion with the correspondence and other matters
apprraning to the treaty, he had deemed it
proper to comply with the request
The instructions to our commissioners were,
that none ofthc amendments made by the Sen.
ate could be modifrd-lhey might be explained,
in conformity with the dispatch of The Secretary
OF Stale to the Mexican Minister OF Foreign
Affairs, but not modified. Their instructions
were confined to this; and on this letter of Mr.
Buchanan, the treaty, as amended. was sub.
mitIcd TO The Mexican Congress and approved
by both houses. Next day, (2Glh July), our
commissioners were introduced to The Mexican
President, and addresses were made on both
sides.
In subsequent dispatch from our C"mmis
sinners to the Secretary Of State, the conm;s'
sUncrs state that The amendments have been
agreed to, and ra,fcations exchanged, and en-
close n copy of the protocol. The procama.
ton Of the fact was made here on the 4th Of
July last. The protocol and correspondence
was not then communicated, because it was no.
deemed necessary. as the treriy had been ratl
fed as amended, and it was not competent on the
President and Senate to abrograte it, and res
tore war, except by declaration OF war by
Congress.
The commissioners did not regard the pro-
tocol as part ofth treaty. They knew they
had no authority to alter the treaty or modify
The amendments. Nor would the President OF
the Mexican Republic have regarded the pro
locol as modifying the treaty as amended by
the Senate of the United States, for no refer
ence is made to it by him on its final crnsun-
nation
The President then proceeds TO notice the
amendment ofthc Senate TO The original arI.
cles, and to argue that the changes do not
change any Of the guarantees OF rights, CIVIL
religious or POLITICAL.
Oflhat portion of the original treaty relating
to Texas titles, he had recommended the rcjec
ton, when it was submitted to the Senate, and
il had not received single vote therein. And
il had been further stated to the Mexican GOV.
crnmcnt that no treaty containing such pro.
vision could be ratified by the United States.
The meaning oflhe protocol was that It's re.
lection was not intended to invalidale any lc-
ultimate titles in existence, but it was not in.
tended to give validity to those which had been
declared TO be extinct. Without any 'reaty
sripualinns, such Legitimate titles would have
been secured, under the constitution and laws
Of the United States.
In regard to the amendment to the 18th ar
,iclr. thnngh the Senate had declined to create
government, stock, it would not prevent the
transfer for her own benefit, by Mexico, in such
manner as she might deem expedient, The
Sl2. 600 900 to be paid her under the treaty.