The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-02-26

betrayed people. SENEX.
For Ne Sosthsrn Press
10 the Hon. r. H. Bsyly. Chairman of
the Committss of Ways and Means:
Sir; ! have at last been able to obtain copies
Of two publications made by Messrs Barring Il
Co., on the subject Of the Mexican Indemnity,
which require some notice.
They say that 'they have actually paid to the
Mexican government large portion of the third
instalment, and the receipts for the same, duly
authenticated, are now in this country"
What and where are those receipts! Are
they not the certificates appended to the report
OF Mr.. Webster in answer to tho resolution OF
inquiry of the Senate of the 10th instant, By
reference to that document, you will see that
instead of being receipts to be credited to the
United States for part payment Of the indcm-
nifty due to Mexico, they arc certificates of 80
much money ($65O,Oo0) loaned to Mexico by
Mr.. Forstall agent Of the Barings, 10 be refunded
10 him Uhen the indemnify shall haze been paid
BY the United States. Our adyiccs from Mexico
notify us that the usurious interest of fifteen DER
cent. per annum, was charged on this loan and
but for his desire to obtain some document
which might be used in this country to make il
appear that Mexico had abrogaicd the contract
made with Mr.. Marks, Mr.. Forstall would have
charged the Mexican government "a per cent
interest, instead of fifteen.
- ~
publications say, that they received no Interest
from Mexico on the payment of the fret install
menfs. To this, answer that am informed
upon the most reliable authority, that they did
receive from Mexico interest at the rate Of "a
Por cent. per annum on those instalments.
In the same paper, they admit that thew are
now making loans To Mexico on account of the
third instalment of the indemnity at the usual
usurious rates OF interest in that country, to
w.t. from IL to "a per cent. per annum. But
they add that these loans are made out of their
own money. Now, this is not true. They do
not advance dollar of their own. Their mode
OF operation is this: They draw in Mexico bill
on the United States, for which they get from
10 to IL per cent premium Of exchange. For
this bill, or its proceeds they get from the ext
can government a certificate, such as those an
pended to Mr.. Wcbster's report, to the effect
that they, or their agent, Mr. Forstall has loaned
80 much money to Mexico, to be refunded when
the third instalment shall have been paid by the
United States. On presenting this certificate to
Mr. Webster, they get from the United States
under their contract with him, the amount in
money to pay the bill they had drawn in Mexic o.
Thus they make from st to 81 per cent. on the
exchange, and from ID to "a per cent. interest
without using one dollar of their own, except 90
far AZ they call that their own which they make
out OF their contract.
They say that they are making advances on
terms acceptable to Mexico, and would persuade
you and Congress to believe that the Mexican
government prefer the arrangement made with
them to that made with Mr.. Marks. Can any
one believe that If this were true, they would
induce MIR. Webster to suppress the information
given to him by the Mexican minister, or that
Mr.. Webster would withhold from Congress
the official written communication of the Mex
lean minister to him, correcting his oficia
report to the Senate, which again aver, on the
most direct and unquestionable authority he has
done. If this be 30, would Mr.. Webster remain
silent when this charge IL 90 directly made
against him in my official letter to you, and
which you have doubtless communicated to
him, if by a note to the Mexican minister he
could convict me Of error in this particular
confess myself greatly surprised at letter
from the Hon. Reverdy Johnson, given by Mr..
Corcoran. He says that he never gave any as
surance that the arrangement, If made by Mex
leo with MIR. Marks, would be carried out by
the government Of the United States.
1t il true that neither nor Mr. Marks saw Mr..
Johnson on the subject. Mr.. Marks was in New
Orleans, and being compelled to 20 to Geor-
gia, Mr.. Latham, my banker and correspondent
in Washington, wrote to me that he had received
positive assurance that the drafts If drawn would
be accepted, and | so wrote to Mr.. Marks. Upon
my return to Washington understood that the
assurance had been given by Mr. johnson, and
upon application to his friend through whom the
assurance was given, to obtain written state
ment from Mr.. Johnson, to be submitted to the
President, he wrote as follows: "Mr. Johnson
declines giving any certificates upon any matter
in reference to the affairs of the late executive
Whenever the President wishes information
from him, and will write to him on the subject,
have no doubt he will answer. You will at once
see how entirely undignifed it would be for an
executive officer to be hawking about certif-
Gates"
| can only add that, in the press of profess
sional duties, M. Johnson may have forgotten
the conversation with his friend, or it may be
InaC ne utO not KNOW tnat The assurance given
related to the arrangement TO be made by Mr..
Marks. But that his friend is incapable Of mis-
representing him, all who know them both,
and the relations they have ever borne towards
each other, mnst believe; and that his friend un-
dcrstood the assurance to relate to Mr. Marks's
contract, is fully proved by the extract which
we have given from his note.
But passing by this, the fact that Mr.. Marks
went to Mexico under an assurance from Mr..
Clayton, that if he made the arrangement
with the Mexican government Mr.. Clayton
would advise the President to ask the lcgis!a-
ton requisite to carry it into effect, is proved
by Mr.. Ciaytons letter, and you cannot doubt,
that the assurances and invitation given by him,
were such as fully authorized the arrangement
made by Mexico with Mr. Marks, and under
which that government has drawn the drafts,
As to the wishes of Mexico, they can he bost
made known by calling for the letters of the
Mexican minister, correcting Mr. Webstcrs re-
port, and supplying the information so improperly
Withheld under the call of the Senate. again
request you to call upon the State Department
for that information.
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