The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-02-11
rEHUANrEpEc GRANT.

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they read accordingly.
MIR s addressed The Senate at length His remarks,
withheld for reylsion will be published hereafter
Mr. HALE | have given some attention 10 this sub
ect, and propose TO address the Senate upon IT, sup
pose the attention OF the Senate is somewhat exhausted
now The usual hour OF adjournment has arrived. and
will take such lime will suit the convenience OF the
Senate to speak upon this subject would be ready TO
proceed 10 morrow,
Mr. WELLER Tomorrow we count the votes for
President and Vice President, which, understand. will
take about three hours
Mr. HALE move that the further consideration OF
the resolutions be postponed till Tuesday next, and made
the special order of the day for one O'Clock
Mr.. UNDERWOOD. want 10 make one two
marks before that question is put 10 vote. My friend
from New York MIR. SEWARD has exhibited more OF =
begeTen propensity to-day than supposed he possess
ed do not rise Tor the purpose OF defending the chair
Tending my friend from Louisiana, [Ar DowNsl They
are both OF them very capable OF vindcang their
from any assault which be made upon it, But,
sir, there is gentleman not here gentleman my
own State who the range OF the senator's remarks re-
ceved several pretty hard blows. For him, then,
late minister TO Mexico, beg leave 10 make very short
response.
Sir, the gentleman from New York. the course OF his
remarks represented Mr.. Lecher using language dis
courteous the Mexican government and thought he
pretty plainly intmaed that he used such language
could not be tolerated on the part OF tins government
had been applied to us by any diplomatic representative
Of foreign country resident here Now, we all know
that whether language calculated be offensive or not
depends upon the in which is uttered and the
circumstances existing at the time is used. Allow
10 say sir that there IS not to be found anywhere
broad country or In any country, more courteous,
more polite, respectful gentleman, in all his in
tercourse official private, with his felow-men than
the late representative OF this country al the government
OF Mexico
What language did he use, which the honorable
tor from New York seems to imagine intended TO be
offensive 10 The government Of Mexico! He said-l re-
the language which the senator from New York has
given us-hat the facts and reasons of the Mexican
authorizes were not satisfactory 10 him.. Ii Is plain Ian
guage, admit; but the country from which that gene
went is in the habit OF using plain and direct Ian
guage. And where there is nothing offensive in manner,
1t seems to to be the language which gentleman
always should use towards another, and that excep-
ton can be taken TO it; What was the sequell The
President OF Mexico and the cabinet Of Mexico received
our minister, and had long personal interview with
him. is shown conclusively by that fact that no Of
fence was intended by him, and none was received BY
them. But the senator from New York seems to think
that the conclusion of the whole matter, the part
OF minister Mr. Lecher, very offensive The
senator represents Mr.. Lecher saying in substance
" My government must take the whole matter into its
own hands, provided cannot accomplish satisfactory
negotiation" The same thing may be said OF this
language which | have already said OF the other II
not threat, insult manner and circumstances
considered The thing declared was necessary result
The treaty which ne had made was rejected by the Mex
lean Congress He endeavoring BY every means that
lay n his power to adjust the difficulty which he had been
charged with, by instructions from the State Department
here and with irankness and candor he informed them
what must be the necessary result in the controversy
could not be settled. "If cannot accomplish any
thing by negotiation, it follows that my government must
take the matter inte lis own hands and apply whatever
remedy ii shall think proper" Such is the purport and
meaning OF Mr. Letchers language, and nothing more.
have made these remarks because felt called upon to
vindlcaie our late minister to Mexico IRON what con-
ceived to be mputaton upon his character cour
teous gentleman. His language does not necessarily
carry with il insult TO the government OF Mexico; and
from my knowledge OF the man, Mr. Letcher was inca
pable OF degrading his high station and his country by
exhibiting towards Mexico domIneerng, threatening
spirit and applying TO her conduct the language OF inmi-
daton and insult. U
Sir, one word more The principal resolution report
ed by the Committee on Foreign Reations and from
which the gentleman from New York says the other res
outions deduced proper coroary is one, IN my
opinon-wheher you treat IL as exception to the gen.
eral rule the general rule tself-is one which
ought TO be established by this government in It's inter-
course with all the nations OF the earth And what is
that rule IL is simply this that will insist upon the
doing OF justice 10 all citizens That the whole OF
t-smply require that injuries be redressed whether
they result from contract or tort Now, suppose the
property of any OF citizens to be upon the or
the land, and that foreign nation should cause that
property TO be seized con6scated and appropriated 10 its
Every body knows that in a of that sort
the national authorities would be instantly called upon
10 vindlcate the right OF the citizen against spoisons OF
such description. This is an everyday occurrence
among nations. What is the difference between an in
jury inflicted upon citizen by tort OF that sort and an
injury inflicted upon HIM by contract, IN virtue OIL
which foreign government gets the money or property
OF our ctzens appTopTates H. and then refuses to pay
according 10 the contract she has made What is the
difference The effect s the upon the citizen. 1t
The agency OF the government which incts the injury
in both In principle, in the very nature OF things
in point OF moral justice and equity, there cannot be
particle OF difference in the Ii Is the same thing TO
me in point OF suffering and injury, if lose and am de.
prved of my property, whether be taken by foce or
whether IL be taken with my consent, induced by prom
ises OF compensation which complied with.
Getting money property upon false pretences IS the
worst and meaDest swlnding
Now sir, know that all these injuries, whether pro.
ceedng from tort CONTRACT when the citizen asks
his government to nterpoSe and that his grievance
rsdressed. always submitted to the sound dscre
tion of the government of which he is citizen know
very WE'LL too, and should be so, that government can
only be called upon 10 inepose upon It's own terms, and
after due consideration of all the consequences.
That all right and proper. But as TO the principle
il cannot make particle OF difference whether the inIu-
ry be the result OF fraudulent conscatons violent
spoliatons, whether be the result of violated con
tracts any ether wrongful act OF the government 70
be made responsible The injury the same TO ine SUI
ferer His loss is the same, whether supernduced IN the
one way the other We had the other day. in the de-
bates here, declaration that Great Britain was aDout 70
levy distress warrant upon Cuba And Tor what 10
secure debts which Spain owed the citizens OF Great
Britain merely advert TO this 10 show that other ma
tons have contemplated the redress OF wrongs TO their
citizens growing out OF contracts long before The Com
mi,ee on Foreign Relations considered the liabilities OF
Mexico growing out of the charter granted ior the con-
sruoton of the Tehuantepec railroad.
not prepared 10 into the facts which the gentle
man from New York has collected with much assl-
dutv nd for which he Ia