The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-01-25
In CONGRESS OF THE U. STATES.
Thirty-seoond cOngress-First session.
SATURDAY. JANUARY "a. 1852.
HOUSE or aEPnEsESTATIy


refer IT, with the report from the select committee the
same subject. 10 the Committee OF the Whole on the
state of the Union.
Pending the question on that motion,
Mr., HOUSTON moved 10 suspend the rules, 10 go into
Committee of the Whole on the state OF the Union /;
which being agreed TO-
THE INSTRUMENTS or THE MEXICAN INDEMNITY
The House went into Committee of the Whole on the
state OF the Union, (Mr JONES, oil Tennessee In the
char)
The committee having proceeded at once 10 the further
consideration OF The bill 10 provide the OF paying
the last nsalmenl Of the indemnity due Mexico under
the treaty OF Guadalupe Hidalgo--
MIR, MEADE (who was entitled to the floor addressed
the committee in favor Of the amendment 10 the amend
ment, which was pending He admitted that il proposed
something OF departure from The general rule governing
Congress in nustng to the President such duties the
arrangement oil the details OF such payments. lie was
by means disposed 10 the Committee OF Ways
and Means Tor failing 10 report instructions 10 the Pres
dent as to the manner OF making the payments OF these
nstalments The Executive was responsible 10 Congress
for the in which he discharged his duty II Con-
gress dsapproved OF his conduct in dschaging his duty
then was the duty OF the House 10 direct how il should
| be discharged in future. aFe
Nations like individuals. were hound to confer benefits
other nations when they could be conferred without
injury to themselves. and lMr M urged) were respon
sbe to God and humanity for their omission TO perform
that duty. Now when the last-paid instament became
due, there were three bidders Tor the privilege OF making
these payments Mexico The Barings and their
ciaes were one OF these parties Mexico Thy her agents
was another From the first, security was necessary
from Mexico this was not as she desired to undertake
privilege of paying herself and the Basngs had offered
for IT, Now il this government had consulted its
own interest only, we should have taken the offer OF
Mexico and, even if only desiring TO please her, the
administration should have taken her proposition. Ii
well known that Mexico, at the time of the negotia
lion OF the treaty and the payment Of the nsalmens due
under it, was lying PROSTATE and bleeding from wounds
given TO her by Every feeling Of good neighborhood
and Christian sympathy rendered it obligatory on our
part therefore it should prompt us 70 give to Mexico
payment she wished to have made. II was duty
to have reraned from throwing her into the hands OF
By Mr. We5ser Mr. Md NJ disagreed sa with Mr. EnaraToS
who had argued on the day before SO earnestly against
any employment OF bankers by this government under
necessary evils and that they must be employed by
the government al times, but required TO be watched
like individuals, in dischargng their obligations He
did not complain OF the employment OF bankers by this
government; but he insisted that the administration
should have acceded 10 the wish Of Mexico, espe
caly as she came TO our government with better offer
than that which Mr. Secretary Webster had accepted II
should have been accepted ALSO because the Taylor adj
mnisation had previously agreed TO conform to Mexi-
co.'s wishes He would not charge Mr. Webster. or any
other functionaIy OF this government, with having
been guilty of corruption because he had failed TO
carry out this promise OF Taylors administration.
Se e noI Se TO Be wo
ragn them for their political mlsakesnot for their de-
signs politically; He held that this bargain was one
that should call down the involved in the action
OF the House directing how this payment should be made
General Tayor's administration had been given TO under
stand from Mexico that she had great need OF an advance
on The credit of the future payments under the treaty Of
Guadalupe Hlago which we had obligated ourselves TO
make Our failure TO defend her from the ncuslons oil
frontier savages-a well known violation OF that treaty
on our parhad been fruitful cause OF the dhcutes,
making necessary Tor her 10 secure The advances TO
which he (r M )had alluded. Hence the greater obi
CATION 10 accede 10 her wishes IN the matter OF ma
king the payments of the instruments In consequence
OF General Tayors informal understanding with Mexi-
CO. the Mexican Congress was called together to
authorize their government 10 vary the treaty so far as
in W
accommodate her The Mexican Congress had assembled
under this CALL and had consented 10 the change, which
cessites of their government Now, in 50 doing, they
aimed 10 great financial benefits Tor Mexico, re-
ievng her from very heavy and pressing demands II
had been thought in Mexico that that action had given
their government great relief But regardless OF the ar
rangements consequently made between Mexico and her
creditors, by which the latter the faith OF her pre-
sumed previous arrangement with the Taylor admnslra
ton, had relieved her from heavy obgatlonsregardless
also OF the understanding made by the Taylor admins
ration laying IT'S successor under virtual obgaons-and
regardless further OF her better pecunlay offer than the
that bad been accepted the present administration
had closed the arrangement with the Barings His col
league [Mr. BAyLYl had argued that the arrangement,
with the Barngs had been made because otherwise
treaty must have been negotiated.
Mr.. BAYLY Gnterupng Mr.. Nd argued for few
moments thai there official other reliable in
formation showing that the Mexican Congress had au
horized its executive department 10 vary the arrange
ment called for under the strict letter OF the treaty and
that until the United States government had official In
formation OF the fact would have been highly improper
10 have venlured 10 disregard the obligation to pay the
money in the city OF Mexico.
Mr. MEADE (resumng the floor went on TO urge that
the administration relied on the plea that new treaty
was requisite This he held not satisfactory
cuse He maintained that she (Mexco) would have re-
ceved great advantages from the changes she proposed
how and why, he argued at some length TO prove. II
was our duty have grathed Mexico, not only ac
count OF our moral obligations and 10 further our own
pecunary interest but because II was clear that she would
have geen the great gamer by the change. tie would
not discuss tie question OF profits TO her. but insisted
had failed TO money ourselves when could have
been done in complying with her request.
Unlike Mr.. BRooKs, he (Mr. M was not for having
the necessities OF Mexico put up TO the highest bidder IN
the stock exchange The party in power had held
that this government had Improperly inflicted great in
ury on Mexico D the act making war on her. This he
conceived to be additional reason why the admins
raon should have strven 10 accommodate her IN this
transaction We had, at the time the contract made
with the Earrings. millions lying idle in the treasury
We had authorized the Secretary oil the Treasury TO go
into the market 10 purchase our own bonds, which had
twenty years to at six per cent Mexico, then our
creditor was here, ask ing TO make arrangement 80
as to give surplus fund different direcilon--on
which arrangement we would actually have made
4 10 per cent profit While the House somewhat TO
blame for failing attend 10 this matter at that tme
| IL should be recolected that il large and
weIdy body, with great difficulties lying in the way OF
/ its prompt and proper action on such subject.
II was the Presidents duty 10 have advised the House
in the matter He (he Presidency had urged the House
| 10 purchase up our own stock, when he should have
asted them 10 have satisfied Mexico in their OF the
the would have saved from 10 to 20 per cent
| on the six millions, and would have greatly frightened
the bonds of amy between the United States and Next
CO. There were various other reasons why we should