Daily American telegraph., 1852-01-12

correct which, as far as he could, he gave us
letter for publication retracting the charge. HI
also accompanied the delivery Of that letter to vi
with the declaration that he wished the world Il
know that it was his own free and spontaneoul
act suggested by his own sense of honor anC
justice.
Further to explain to your Excellency why thu
Mexican government was so anxious to carry
through this arrangement, we should add that
relying ON the assurances given by Mr.. Clayton
it had, in connexion with and as part of this ar
rangement, made very advantageous settlement
with its domestic creditors for the, reduction Of
the interior debt and of the rate of interest there
on. Nor is il out of place here to remark that,
though that government has been so much abused
for its failure to meet its engagements, that fan
ure has been less from want Of will than OF aoii-
ity. A large portion of her indebtedness was
contracted during her revolutionary struggle,
and is similar in character TO our own con-
tinental tissues Though unable to pay, she
does not refuse to recognise her issues and,
notwithstanding that she never received any
thing like an equivalent for them, she does
not attempt, or manifest any disposition, to
repudiate or cut down the amount, without the
free consent of the holders
These terms being agreed upon, as above
stated, it was deemed important that they should
be approved and ratified by the Mexican Con-
gress. A special session was called for the pur-
pose. Owing to the breaking out Of the cholera
in the capital with alarming virulence, consid-
cradle delay occurred Meanwhile Gen. Taylor
died, and was succeeded by you, as Mr.. Clayton
was by Mr. Webster On Mr.. Webster's adj
vent to the State Department, we called his
attention to the proposals made by us, set forth
in our letters Of the 18th and 10Th of March,
1850, above quoted We did not ask him to enter
into any written contract with us on the subject,
because, adopting the views of General Taylor's
Cabinet we considered that he had no authority
that he gave us no pledge that he would fulfil the
assurances given to the Mexican government,
through u.s. by your predecessor and his Secre-
tary of State.
We deemed it unnecessary to ask any such
pledge, and that to do so would be an impeach-
ment, not only of his integrity, but of the good
faith of the government.
Some time afterwards, we were told by gen.
tleman of this city that Mr.. Webster had given a
contract to the Earrings, Brothers & Co. We could
not believe it, and treated it as an idle rumor a
weak suggestion of his enemies. On the follow
ing day, or few days later, the gentleman al
luded to assured us that he knew it to be q fact
~ callad lon Mr. Wahctar ho
refused to hold any further verbal communica-
tons with us on the subject, and told US to ad-
dress him in writing. We accordingly addressed
him the following letter:
Mr.. Green to Mr.. Webster.
..WAsHINGToN, August 81, 1850
"Hon. Daniel We5ster, .Sec'y Of State:
ssSIR: My friend Mr.. T. D. Marks, wrote to
me from Mexico, last winter, saying that, want
ing funds the Mexican government wished
to negotiate drafts on the government of the
United States for the two remaining install
ments under the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo,
and asked my aid to obtain acceptance, so
as to make the drafts negotiable. My father,
who, in my absence, received his letter, applied
to the late administration, and it was understood
that the drafts would be accepted, payable at the
pleasure of the government, when al appropria-
a half per cent. would be allowed to the United
States for accepting, and the payment in advance
would save some ten per cent. more, the Secre-
tary of the Treasury would, during the present
session, ask an appropriation to enable the gov
eminent to make the payment now, and thus save
the United States near or quite (half) mil
lion of dollars.
with this understanding, Mr.. Marks has closed
q contract with the Mexican government, and
have just received letter from him, saying that
as soon as he can be advised that the death Of
Gen. Taylor and the change in the Cabinet has
interposed no obstacle to the negotiation he will
come to Washington and bring the drafts of the
Mexican government
isWill you do us the favor to say whether you
are willing that the present administration should
carry into effect the understanding between your
predecessors and Mr.. Marks and oblige your
obedient servant, very respectfully,
"BEN. L. GREEN"