The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-02-24

INFORMED, because you had conversod frankly
with Mr.. Webster; but you would not perni
mo to give you an explanation Of Mr.. Marks
contract, and you could not have received i
from Mr.. Webster, for. when called on him, i'm
mediately after he came into the department,
found that he would not receive the information
necessary to enable him to understand the case
and therefore he could not tell you what no die
not himself know.
But, by permitting you to speak for him, Mr.
Webster has made himself and the country re-
sponsible for what you said and as the reason
given by you, why Mr. Webster would not en-.
terrain the proposition made by Mr.. Marks foi
the Mexican government was, that no prudent
man would accept the drafts drawn by the Mexi-
can government, because, from what we know
Of that government, there il little reason to
doubt that in case Of revolution, they would
take advantage of it, and demand payment over
again, upon the ground that the acceptance would
be payment before it became due--itis proper
that we should examine the force Of the obec-
| ton thus raised.
| In the same debate, speaking for the Barings
d. Co, you said that their contract was condi-
tional, binding upon no one, unless an appropria-
ton was made them and you urged the appro-
priation then upon the ground that, unless time
was given to enable them to put their bills gradu-
~~"y 4" WSs a'oeC"u W iliCC
and half per cent. for premium Of exchange,
would be compelled to pay premium for trans
porting the specie to Mexico. You said, further,
that under the contract made by Mr.. Webster,
the money was to be advanced to them from
time to time, as the contractors may desire, and
subsequently, added: " We do mol pap dollar
under ttis contract, until hare the receipt Of
the Merican government" Now, sir, | beg you
to pause, and look on the picture you have here
presented. You will not agree to accept the
drafts Of the Mexican government itself, because
| you assert there is great cause to fear that If
you pay before it becomes due, they will de-
mand a second payment, and yet you advance
from time to time, and as they may require it,
to the Earrings, If they bring the receipt of
Mexico Now, sir, desire to see this contract.
wish to know whether the Secretary Of State,
in his abundant caution, has required these ''rich
bankers" to become responsible for the good
faith and honesty of this government, which
you represent to be so faithess and dishonest
If we cannot ourselves advance the money to
Mexico on her receipt, why do we require the
Barngs to furnish her receipt before we pay it
to them! Do we require the Barings to guar
antee that Mexico will not demand second pay
ment! and if we can safely advance the money
to the Barngs before it becomes due, upon the
receipt of Mexico, without such guarantee, why
may we not accept the better terms offered by
Mexico, and accept her drafts, without the
agency of the Earrings!
You cannot, you will not say, that we require
the Barings to guarantee the good faith of
Mexico, and yet you insist that we shall place
this large sum due to Mexico, in their hands, as
they may desire it, long before it becomes due
to Mexico and the sole condition you make is,
that they shall furnish the receipts of the Mexi-
can governments Will you do me the favor to
tell me how they are to get these receipts Do
you hesitate ? will tell you. They expect to
get them in the same manner that they have OBJ
taned the certificates for the S650,00O, which
Mr.. Webster has reported to the Senate, and
which certificate Mr.. Webster, and the agents of
the Barings represent to be an abrogation, on
the part OF the Mexican government, Of Mr..
Marks contract. They expect to get these re-
ceipts by lending our money to Mexico at from
| fifteen to twenty-four per cent per annum, as
am prepared to prove they have done, and are
now doing, under the net of the last session If,
by passing the bill reported by your committee,
you enable them to lend $3,5O00o0 of our
money to the Mexican government, for twelve
months, at twenty-four per cent, you will vote
into the pockets Of these " rich bankers" egl-
teen per cent. profit, which, on the last install
ment, will be $63000O. Why should you do
this! Last year, you and Congress acted in the
dark. Your personal regard for these rich
bankers" and your official respect for Mr. Web
ster, enabled them to mislead your judgment;
aud you, acting under this misplaced confidence,
mised the judgment of the House. lchaenge
an investigation. defy them to controvert
what say, and aver that the purpose of their
contract was to lend the money of the United
States to the Mex can government, at usurious
rate of interest; and that they look to this usu-
rious use Of our money rs the chief source of
their profit-and admonish you that if, with
the lights now before you, you place the funds
of the United States in their hands, you cannot
escape the disgrace which must attach to the
United States as party to such transaction.
have said that the conduct of Mr. Webster
towards the Mexican government has been ar
rogant, supercilious, dictatoria, and unkind, and
calculated TO strengthen and perpetuate the
British supremacy in Mexico, at the expense
of the rights and interests of the government
and people of the United States. In proof of
this, refer you to the unkind, discourteous and
offensive remarks, which you as the organ of
Mr.. Webster, and in vindication of his contract
made last session in the House, and aver upon
un9uestionable authority, that Mr.. Webster's
department towards the Mexican government
and her minister, has been precisely in character
and consistent with the remarks which you as
his organ submitted to the House.
Permit me to ask, why has such been the con-
duct of Mr. Webster, and wherefore We're you
induced to assail, in manner 50 offensive, the
character of the government and people of
Mexico! There can be but one answer. The
purpose was to place the money which we
owe to Mexico in the hands of the Barings
to enable them to extort large profits in usuri-
Gus loans from the Mexican government. IL
you doubt this, | refer you to the attempt now
making here, and in Mexico to induce the Next
can government to abrogate their contract with
Mr.. Marks, by representing that to urge the
acceptance of the drafts drawn under that con
tract in the face of your offensive remarks, and
of the action of Congress at the last session,
would evince, on the part Of that government, a
want of self respect, derogatory to them and
to the people of Mexico.
In part confirmation of this, ! refer you to
the late message of the President, as given in
my last letter.
II a