Daily American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1852, 1852-01-12

we lald these views before General Taylor's |
Cabinet by letters, which are or ought to be, on
file in the State and Treasury Departments, of
which the following are copies:
No. 1.-M. Green 10 Mr.. Clayton.
"WAsHINaToN, March II, 1850.
"Hoa. John M Clayton, Sec'y of State:
"DEAR SIR: Believing that the Gila route is
better than any other line for railroad connect
ing the Mississippi with the Pacific, have en-
gagged the services of a gentleman who has resi-
ded many years in Mexico, who has rendered
important services to the Mexican government,
and has the confidence and good will of the Mex
lean authorities. He has been to Mexico, and
met me in New Orleans, where he awaits further
instructions.
He tells me that the Mexican government is
in great want of money that the agents of Santa
Anna and other disatfected persons are plotting
a revolution; and that it is important that the
present government should be enabled to realize
in anticipation the remaining instalments yet to
be paid under the treaty with Mexico.
Herrera and his administration are our
| friends. Santa Anna is, and ever will be, our
enemy. If Herrera's government can be enabled
to negotiate the instalments yet to fall due, it
would give them the command of money, and thus
strengthen our friends in power, as well by giving
them money as by depriving Santa Anna and his
partisans of the fund, which they would other
wise receive, if they can subvert and seize the
government before those instalments are paid
"Under these circumstances, the Mexican gov
ernment desire to hypothecate the remaining in
stalments, and will be compelled to submit to
great loss, unless they can obtain from this gov
ernment acceptances on their bills, payable when
an appropriation for the payment of these install
ments shall be made by our Congress.
''The gentlemen who is charged with my ne
gotations is an American citizen well known in
Mexico. He is merchant in good credit, and
can raise the money to purchase the instalments
yet to be paid if you will accept the bills of the
Mexican government, payable as stated; and
believes that such arrangement will greatly pro-
mote his negotiations for a large grant of lands,
including the valley of the Gila, and extending
the whole length of the northern boundary of
Mexico, with the right of occupation and of max
ing railroad.
"If he can obtain such grant, the road will
| soon be made and the grant densely inhabited;
in which case the American population on that
| line will give to the Mexican ample protection
| from the American Indians, and thus relieve the
United States from large expenditure now re-
quired by the Mexican treaty By accepting the
bills as proposed, you serve our friends, do much
to prevent revolution in Mexico which will
| bring our enemies into power, and secure to
American citizens the profits of the negotiation,
which must otherwise go to the agents of foreign
bankers, who use their wealth to the prejudice
| az hope, my dear sir that these considerations
will induce you to authorize me to say to the per-
son who is charged with the negotiation, that
you will accept the bills of the Mexican govern
ment, as we desire, deducting from the payment
the amount of the export duty on bullion.
"Yours truly, DUFF GREEN"
No. 2.-M. Green 10 Mr.. Meredith.
! "WAsHINGToN, March 10, 1850
/" Hon. W. Meredith, Secretary of tie Treasury:
"DEAR SIR: Money in Mexico is power; and
| Herrera's government, threatened by Santa Anna
and his partisans, desire to anticipate the pay
ment of the two instalments to become due un-
| der the Mexican treaty. Mr.. l. d. Marks, an
American merchant, who resided many years in
Mexico, who has the respect and confidence of
| the Mexican authorities is now in New Orleans,
| awaiting an assurance that the drafts of the
| Mexican government, drawn in his favor, will be
accepted, payable at the pleasure of the govern
ment of the United States, when an appropriation
therefor shall have been made by Congress- to
proceed to the city of Mexico and close the contract
for the purchase of the two remaining iDstalments
| Supposing that the acceptance should be made by
the Secretary of State, l addressed him n letter,
which read to the President, who told me that
he would consult you and his Cabinet; and am
told by the Secretary of State that he prefers
that you should make the acceptance, as the pay
ment more properly deyolves on your depart
ment.
81 would therefore urge your immediate at
| tention to this matter, and beg to submit a few
reasons why you should make the acceptance
First. We will allow the United States q
| premium of y per cent which will save to the
United States two hundred and seventy thousand
dollars, and give you ninety thousand dollars
more than any previous offer.
"Second. 1t will enable you to anticipate the
payment, and thus save the interest, which on
the whole sum will be $780, ,000
| "Third. 1t will strengthen Herreras govern
ment, who are our friends, and tend to defeat the
revolution contemplated by Santa Anna, who is
our enemy.
| "Fourth As the money must be paid when due,
| the Mexican government can sell to the agents Of
the Barings or the Rothschilds; and therefore the
effect of your refusal to accept will be to defeat
| the pending negotiation, and force the Mexican
government to sell to foreign bankers at greater
discount, instead Of selling to Americans at a
reasonable rate.
"Fyth. If you accept, you serve our friends in
Mexico, and give to Americans, instead of for
eigners, the profits of the contract
| SiTth. As the acceptance is to pay at the plea
| sure of the government of the United States the
time of payment will be as much under your con-
troll as if you had not accepted. An early
answer will greatly oblige
"Yours, truly, DUFF GREEN"
General Taylor and Mr. Clayton Immediately
approved Of the arrangement we proposed; but
would enter into no contract, because they con-
sidered that the Executive had no authority to
make any contract on the subject previous to an
appropriation by Congress- They assured US,
however, that if Mr.. Marks would go to Mexico
and assist or act in concert with Mr.. Letcher, so
as to obtain the terms proposed, they would ask