The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-07-08
CON NGRESSI0N AL.
REMARKS OF HON. J. G. JONES,
OF PENNSYLVANIA,


Gle Of the treaty between the United States and the
ican republic; delivered in the House Of Representatives
June ~, 1854.
Mr. JONES, of Pennsy, ania said:
Mn. CHAIRMAN: The President of the United States and
the Senate under their constitutional power present
cd 10 this House treaty. and the President calls upon this
House. by message under its constitutional authority to
give that treaty effect by of legislation The pro-
visions OF the treaty being printed and before us
numerous and are so explicit and clear that every
Der easily comprehend them. The provisions of the
constitution relative to the treay-making power
follows ~
Asr. H--sec 2.-The President shall power, by
and with tho advice and consent OF the Senate to make
treaties provided twothrds Of the senators shall
Ofhs United States which shall bs made there
o. snd an trestiss made which shall be made, under the
the and the judges in every State shall be bound there
BY anything in the ocnstution laws of State to the
contrary notwithstanding"
Under this constitutional power the treaty now before
presented for deliberaon and action. The first
provision Of this treaty b that to receive twenty
millions of of land. This twenty million of
land Ia not of SO much importance of its ntrn
sic vaue but it to what had supposed
had gained by the former treaty-that is,
right OF way for southern railroad to Pacific pos
sessions.
Another provision is that which releases us from the
eleventh article of the old teayan article which gave
rise long, protracted and able debate in the Senate
when that body approved it, and that has been prolific of
nothing but mischief agitation and uncertainty since
The United States after having conquered Mexico and W
ken very liberal slice Of her territory by way of ndeni
ty, was magnanimous enough to undertake perform
more than she was able carry out The eleventh article
of that treaty spuates that the United States of America
shall restrain the Indians from all incursons upon the
Mexican territory. 1t further spulates in the of
the United States being unable to comply with this condi
ton that then this government will punish the Indians
and satisfaction, In the the injury
had been done to tho United States.
There have been constructions that article
from the day of its ratification down to this day. Accord
ing to my view Of the subject, spuate nothing
than this If the Indians should make ncusons UPON the
fhA pf An,ar rco hy
force should punish the Indians and from the In
dians precisely the same amount Of satisfaction
which would exact for ourselves in the of incur
sons upon SOIL That is not the construction put
upon by the Mexican government The Mexican
mcnt consraes 1t that wherever damage is done by the In
dians be held responsible for the damage and
make compensation from the national treasury to that
tent It is within the knowledge of every gentleman Of
eams Ss p @
under the eleventh article of the treaty Of Guadalupe Hi
dalgo and that Mr. Fillmore the head of the last admin
tnent Of $600OO00at least am reliably informed soto
settle this question: and obtain release of the
ditions Of this identical eleventh article.
4 Mr.. HAVEN. II the gentleman will allow me, desire
Mr.. JONES. i do not like to bo interrupted now The
Mr.. HAVEN. do not wish to interrupt the gentleman
any further than to correct q misstatement
Mr. JONES ! merely state the fact from information
more while President of the United States made up his
mind officially that he would pay the of six millions
am mistaken, then am misinormed; and the gentleman
from New York Mr. HAvEs] may correct after finish
my remarks These of the obligations inquired
by under the eleventh article of the old treaty with
Mexico of 848 In the treaty presented for
sdeaton entirely released from these obligations
Butit Is not simply question Of $l6oooooo for II
port speaks trulyand only speak from rcporhe Mex
lean government under President Arsa claimed $4,000
OO0caimed it do not say anything about the validity
of the claim According to my construction of the treaty.
Mexico has claim Mt all this government Neverte-
less there Is fact which cannot be dispuedand that
h that there is double construction rut upon this treaty
And II the Mexican government has put the construction
upon that responsible for these claims and If
put different construction upon it, denying such obga-
tion what is be the consequence? Why the dispute
must end at last in war; amicabc adjustment in which
will have to pay literally. There is difference Of
opinion between the two nations in the construction Of the
ARTICLES Of treaty The Mexican government claims from
ours large amount of money, and deny obligation
topay any The consequence must be either that ad
just the difference amcably, else it must end in
Now, by this treaty we get rid of the whole Of this diff
Guilty Tif
Another provision of the treaty Mr. Chairman is that
settle foevera least so it is to ba hopedthe que
ton of boundary Every gentleman In this House Is f-
miar with the history of this boundary question: and
complicated enbarssmcnts under the Mexican treaties
l846 The commissioners hardly appointed until
they differed as to the parallel of latitude at which the in
itia point of the line commenced although Disturnells
map had been made part of the treaty. and although the
line was laid down SO plainly that cannot comprehend
now any man could misunderstood it. Yet notwithstand
ing that fact the commissioners differed The administra-
ton under Mr. Fillmore took one side the two houses Of
Congress the other, ana resred their appropriation
hnd they have thus left open question to this day
The coordinate branches Of government decided
upon 1T and this treaty settles that question ut home and
abroad II also settles another point, which, presume
will make acceptable Tor at least ought toy to gentle
men in this House
There number of gentlemen here Mr. Chairman
who are always opposed to least in their profess
sions and have doubt of their sincerity Men arc
always for peace Now 1t strikes that these gentlemen
who are In favor of peace and OF the peace policy this
country WILL by their readiness and zeal evncc the sim
ery OF their professions by voting for the appropriation
In TINS treaty for the compensation Of SlO000000
which approprates aside from other evils of war would
not keep army in active operation for three months
Ihey have now an opportunity of proving the sincerity of
Their professions by voting for this treaty and thereby
closing all those open and debatabe questions which might
otherwise result in war.
Another of the provisions of the Gadsden treaty TO
spenre right Of way over the Mexican soil by what is
called the Tehuaptcpec route.
ms Is route about which there has been great deal
VI uscussion in the country Every gentleman here il
aware OF the Importance TO of securing speedy
mueauon with the Pacific coast, and especially
nce tne acquisition of California do not propose TO de-
ae tns point at length; the country is familiar with it
ana VIII content myself with referring to an authority
upon tat SUBJECT to show the value attached to it by the
ndmrnsuauon OF President Polk Mr.. Trst was sent by
ns President to negotiate treaty with Mexico You will
nnd referring to Senate documents OF the first session
mqe 1nrtieth Congress page 3d. among other things the
INSTRUCTIONS OF Mr.. buchanan then Secretary of Slate TO
MR. Irst upon the subject of the Tehnanepee rirh of
way Tie was instructed to offer $5OoOooo for this alone
speaking OF the Tchuantepec route, he says:
81 Instead of SIS 900, stipulated to be pa;d b tho
th article for the extension of boundary over
co and Upper and Lower California you NAV increase The
AAmens OF 5000 900 annum provided the right of
psRe and transit the 1shmus of Tchuanepcc se