The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-02-21
For the Southern Press.

I
|
For the Ssuiher,. Press.
10 THE Hon. +. II. BAYLY,
Chairman cfhe Committee Of Hays and Means.
Sin: Permit me to remind you of the statement
mace by yourself IN the House of Representatives
10 the debate on the Mexican indemnity bill at the
!ast session. You said, that Mr.. Letcher ha wing
neeh directed to raise the money to pay part OF
tne second instalment by drawing on the treasury
| or the United States, the rich bankers in Mexic6
| combined to prevent his obtaining the money for
MS drafts, aud threatened him that thew would
compel The United States government to transport
the specie from the United States to Mexico at
an expense OF four per cent, unless he would
give them contract to make the payment 10
Mexico Tor one per cent. premium. Permit me
also TO remind you that such contract would
nave been worth to them from ten to twelve ner
cent. premium, and the Earrings e. Co were at
the head Of this +" combination"
The letter Of the Hon. John M. Clayton to the
Hon. MIR. Buard shows
4 LIST. That MIR. Clayton, while Secretary NJ State
invited the Mexican government to enter into the
contract which II made with Mr. Marks and gave
assurances, through Mr.. Marks, to that govern
meht, that such AN arrangement would be ap-
proved OF and perfected by the government of the
United States.
"a. That the object Of the invitation thus given
TO Mexico was to protect both governments from
the combinations and extortions OF these rich
bankers to secure TO the United States larger
premium OF exchange, aud "to protect Mexico
rom the enormous discounts to which she had
been, and would again be subjected !"
call your attention to the fact that LONG prior
10 me date or the contract given by Mr. Webster
TO the Barngs d Co, the Mexican government.
relying on the invitation and assurances thus given
ny MS predecessor in Office, had entered into a
written contract with Mr., Marks for the payment
OF the money on the basis proposed by MIR. Clay
ton. -
The Committee on Naval Affairs of the Senate
have recently decided, in reference to a contract
for dry dock in California, that a verbal under
standing with The Secretary of the Navy is bind
ing on inc government, and the Senate has sus-
tained the decision of the committee ON the prin.
cipie mat, as with every honest man, so with
every Just and falr-deang government, a verbal
assurance is as binding written contract
u inc Secretary of the Navy can bind the gov
eminent by verbal understanding, so can the
Secretary Of State; and if this principle Of good
faith is to be observed, where American citizens
alone are concerned, how much more strictly
Should 1t be regarded where a neghborne and
friendly republic has been invited and induced TO
act IN full reliance on the good faith or our gov
eminent thus pledged, and where the purpose is
! TO protect both governments from the combina-
tons and extortions of foreign bankers.
The earnest desire Of the Mexican government
that the United States should carry out in GOOD
faith the contract, which the late Secretary of State
invited that government to make with Mr. Marks
, is shown
LIST. By the fact of it's having sent the drafts 10
, It's minister here, IN duplicate, by the Mexican
secretary OF legation and by special commissioner
named for that purpose
"a. Besides instructing the Mexican minister
penipotentary officially to present the drafts and
urge their acceptance, the Mexican minister of Il.
nance addressed letter to the Secretary OF the
/. Treasury of the United States as follows
i by the secretary of the Mexican legation are
sent drafts for the sum of six millions of dollars,
and interest thereon, to be accepted by YOU
entreat you that you will be pleased to accede to
TINS, as IN this manner the multitude of usurers
who wish to speculate on both government will
not remain favored
Excuse the liberty have TAX, n in addressing
you this letter, being moved thereto by the oblign.
ton, under which find myself in the post occu-
py, to procure as far as possible the good of my
country"
81. On the 81 Of November, 1850, the Mexican
minister of Hacienda, having received through the
newspapers, the debate on the Mexican indemnity
bili at the last session, sent new instructions,
which have been officially communicated to the
Department of State, as follows:
| "lf 1t be possible that the drafts can be nc
cepted, without any inconvenience, and without
It's being most remotely understood that Mexico
purposed TO violate the stipulations Of the treaty
OF peace, this will certainly be very advantageous
to the (Mexican) government, especially under
|
4th. On the 23d Of December, 1850, the Mexi-
can minister of Haciendasent new Instructions
TO Mr. Suarez, the special commissioner, as fol-
lows:
| "1he affair is extremely delicate and there
| tore recommend to you the greatest prudence and
delIcacy, since do not wish that it sh oud in any
manner be interpreted that Tour purpose was) to
thwart the operations of MIR. Webster and much
less that there should be manifested directly or in
any manner mistrust, which does not exist.
charge you, therefore, that giving the affair the
aspect of good faith and frankness whic. it has
and ought 10 have, you proceed in everything
with the greatest discretion and circumspection
recommend you to use all ne
| cesshry clrcumspectIon not to wound Mr.. Web
| ser, using for your guidance the fact that have
been compelled 10 negotiate with the agents of the
Barngs here, some amounts on account of the in
| demnity"
| ask you to note the courtesy and frankness with
which the Mexican government, continues to urge
the ratification by the United States Of the con-
tract made with Mr.. Marks, at the instance ofthe
late secretary of State and that while Mr. Marks
and his attorneys here have, as suggested by the
| Mexican minister, studously Iaboured to relieve
| Mr.. Webster from all mpuarions in relation to
this transaction, the agents Of those, to whom he
has given the contract, during the last session,
while the question was pending before Congress,
urged the ratification of that contract upon the
ground, that Imputations had been made against
! Mr. Webster.
! Now, sir, IT seems TO me, that if their contract
was, as represented by you, one that will give
| them ttle or no profit, the Earrings d Co. would
! consent TO relieve Mr.. Webster, from any embar-
rassment on account of his contract with them and
not only consent, but urge you and his friends in
Congress, TO ratfy the previous arrangement made
with Mir. Marks, and thus remove all possible
| ground for lmputntions. In the statements made
by you to the House of Representatives at the last
session in regard to The value ofhat contract you
were doubtless mised by their representations and
| the exhibit made IN. late publication, to which
refer you, of the enormous profits, (over n mil
lion of dolars) which they expected to make by
that contract, rs sufficient explanation of the ex-
traordinary efforts they have made regardless of
the good faith of the United Suites pledged to
Mexico, to defeat the contract made with MIR.
i Marks.
call your attention to the fact that, in conse-
qnsnce OF the delay Of this government to fulfil
Mr.. Marks contract, the Mexican governn ent
has been compelled to borrow from the agent OF
the Earrings d Co. in Mexico, ut the usurious in
terest OF ID per cent. per annum $3.50 900, repay
able out of the Sd nstallment and that the agent,