The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-01-26

HOUSE or REPaEaEN rArIvrs.
aArusDAr, January 24th, 1851.
Aftsr some conversation with reference 10 the
bounsy land bill, Mr. HARRtsoH, Of Tennessee,
moved to refer the bill at present before the House,
and that cent down from the Senate, on the same
subject, 70 the Committee the stnte OF the Union
Before action was taken the motion, Mr.
Housrow moved that the House 60 into commit
tee ON the state the Union and, having resolved
itself into such committee, the Mexican indemnity
Mr.. MEADE, Of Virginia, addressed the House
at much length, with reference to the bill. and the
amendments before The committee. Hitherto. he
said, the practice had been 70 max appropriations
leaving il 10 the Executive TO discharge the duty
of making tbs consequent payment; and in this il
had never been the practice Of the House to inter-
fere. whsthsr it were Of the same party or not A
departure from this course, a. ia proposed in the
present instance, he said, required that reference
should be made to the action of the Executive, as
TO the mode Of paying the indemnify to Mexico,
which had been already adopted. He exonorated
the Committee Of Ways and Means from all
charged its duty with reference to the bill which
they had reported, and which contains sppropria-
ton TO meet the payment of the indemnity that is
about falling due. ~
The question, however, to be determined, is A.
TO the manner in which the Executive has hitherto
discharged It's duty in this respect. He held that
an individual il bound by the principles of human
and he considered nations being bound by the
same rule and which are held responsible TO God
and man, for the performance of this duty Nov,
from information that had been obtained--not Of.
fciu il is true, but of character to be relied upon
"a proposition had been made by the Mexican
government, to - to the United States four and
a half per cent. for the privilege Of paying itself
at the same time, the Earrings offered to transact
the Misunderstanding three and a half for the per-
mission to do So Had the American government
consulted its own interest, it would have selected
that offer, by which one per cent. could have been
made; and if it regarded the feelings of Mexico,
it would have acceded to her proposition-she was
bleeding from wounds which we had inflicted, and
we were bound to confer on her the benefit she de-
sired. He did not complain of the Executive, for
employing an agent in Mexico; because we could
pay the money by any mode that was thought
proper; but he considered it as the duty of the
President, on the application Of the authorities OF
Mexico, 10 have acquiesced in their wish, espe
cially when they offered bonus of one per cent,
and understood that their desire would be complied
with, by paying the motley here.
1t was not his intention, he said, to charge Mr..
Webster with corruption, in failing to carry out
the arran cement enteIe ed into between the Mexican
minister and the cabinet Of General Taylor, nor
was it his purpose TO arragn the motives of that
gentleman, or attribute to him moral delinquency;
but he would say, it was political act as far as
respected the arrangement with the Earrings,
which called for an expression of the displeasure
of the House, rs to the exper diure of the money.
In consequence of the understanding referred to,
the Mexican Congress was called together,to give
its sanction to the contemplated arrangement with
the government of this country, which sanction it
gave and to which it was the solemn duty of the
executive to have responded; yet the Secretary of
State undertook to enter into an arrangement by
which it was defeated.
Mr.. BAYLY said, he differed with his col
league, a. to the action Of the Mexican Congress.
Mr. MEADE continued Suppose that
not the fact it afforded no excuse for the conduct
Of Mr.. w lobster. There was sufficient informa
ton to induce the belief that they would comply
with the requirements of our government. Or, if
another treaty were deemed necessary, the fact
should have been intimated, SO that the arrange
ment might have been completed, and Mexico
been enabled to receive her money, either in Wash
ington or New York. If any advantage accrued
from the nature Of the exchange, why not give to
Mexico the advantage, instead of securing it to
the Barings and il the choice lay between the
two, why not prefer making the arrang with
a sister republic; to do which, there was every
inducementi
The only point to be considered is the failure to
comply with the request of Mexico and not only
was this done, but there was the sacrifice of thou
sands Of dollars, by giving the preference to
others. The gentleman from New York had OBJ
iected to the course that had been pursued, be-
cause the contract had not been put up to be taken
by the highest bidder but he differed from that
gentleman in this respect--he was not willing thus
to Disclose to the world the difficulties in which
Mexico was involved. But even upon that prin-
ple it was the duty of the party in power to have
given it to Mexico, for she was the highest bid
der The House, he continued, failed in ~ duty,
that it did not, when it knew Mexico was out Of
- L ,l~s~ had
lying idle-so much so, that the Secretary was
authorized to 90 into the market and buy up stock
certificates which were not due for twenty years
to come. While they were doing this, there was
a creditor asking them to divert the money into
her treasury, by which not only would they have
secured the premium of fourteen per cent, but
the four and half per cent. which Mexico offered
to give, if they made payment directly to her.
Now here is eighteen or nineteen per cent. which
might have been saved, had Congress interfered
and given directions in this matter.
He commended further that it was the duty OF
the President, when he found Congress about to
appropriate the surplus funds in the Treasury to
the purchase OF stocks that had twenty years TO
run, to have given information to the House as to
the state of the affair, and to have recommended
the passage of any law that he might deem neces-
sary in favor of republic which was appealing
to our magnanimity--not much as an act Of
Justice, which we were always ready to perform,
as to do her a favors Oy winch not only WOuIG
considerable sum have been saved, but favorable
impression would have been produced on the pub
lie mind Of a neighboring State. Another induce
ment to propitate Mexico was to be found in the
position which we occupy on the Pacific. 1t is
Of importance to procure right of way through
her territory-hence it may become necessary to
call upon the government Of that country to grant
US favor in that respect, and mad we pursued the
course that was proposed, we should have had
right to do 80. But now the only way TO retrieve
the error was to pass the amendment, and thus
prove to Mexico that we are ready to do what
the House of Representatives was at all times pre-
pared to do if its attention had been called to the
subject.
lis commended, he said, that If we now pay
Mexico in the city of New York, we should ylo-
late a contract that had been entered into. But
that would not be the case-and it is so construed
by the Barings for there are letters from them,
disclaiming any obligation, on their part, to COM
My with the terms Of contract, by which they
say nothing III to be made, owing to the short time
that will elapse. before the next insalment becomes
due But as Mexico digs annually from forty to
fifty millions of dollars worth of the precious
metals, Mr.. M. went on to show how the command
of three millions carried into the country might