Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1875-12-04
TREATY WITH MEXICO.

If special correspondents are to be
relied upon, there seems little room
for doubt that treaty has been nego-
tiated between Mexico aud the United |
States, the leading terms of which are :
That Mexico agrees to cede Lower CAL
ifornia and a large portion of the
Northern States to this government,
the consideration being = that the
United States assume and pay the $50,
600 900 which Mexico owes by award
to our citizens who have been aggriey-
ed by citizens of her government.
This might be viewed as merely
fair business transaction, beneficial to
both parties, but for the obviously
dangerous and unwise experiment of
additions to territory of country al
readr too unwieldy for safety and the
prompt administration of justice. Be-
sides this, there is the fearful risk OF
adding, indefinitely, to the dangerous
power of the Neutrality-suspicious.
ing, as it already does, all other de-
partments and corrupting by Its malig-
nant influence the integrity of the
whole people, who were trusted by our
fathers as the unfailing source of re-
publican liberty. To these leading OBJ
jectioDs TO the treaty may well be ad-
ded the increase of ignorance aud vice
which it will fasten upon the country
by an accession of population COM
bining within itself ali the worst ele-
inents of mixed and semi barbarous
mob. 1t seems TO us that enlightened
potriotism can give no sanction to such
measure, alta time, too, when educated
corruption, acting upon vicious ignor-
ance, is running government and peo-
pie by the most selfish and debasing
misrule.
If the report be true that such a
treaty has been negotiated and only
awaits ratification by the Senate
which body, once the master, is now
the tool of the Executive-we must
accept the additional rumor, altogeth-
er plausible, that under the secrecy
which covered the whole transaction
there was conceded the basest scheme
that ever disgraced even the present
administration. The story runs that
as soon as the negotiation was consid-
cred fact, its terms were made known
TO such men as Cameron, Tom Scott
Conkling and other Radical harpies
who proceeded to profit by the bonanza
thus laid before them, by the purchase
of mines and lands in the ceded terri.
tory. And worse than this, the claim:
secured to the victims of raids, which
the government ought to have prevent
ed, have been bought up by the favor
ed few at from fifteen to thirty cents OF
the dollar, because the rightful holders
were kept in ignorance that they nigh
be more closely Aeeced. The Who'll,
story may be a sensation, but it is 81
very characteristic of all the parties
introduced into it that we shall ceas,
to believe it only when its falsity is sat
isfactorily proven. But if true, W,
think every Southern CONGRESSMAN
ought to vote against any appropriation
for these claims until the matter i
thoroughly sifted and then, if satisfac
tory, for no more than will pay tn
holders of the purchased claims tn
exact amount expended in the pur
chases. Such charge as this agains
the administration would need stron
proof to uphold it, but for the remem
brance of the huge swindle arranged
in connection with the proposed an
nexation of San Domingo, strength
ened by Credit Mobillier and man
other swindles perpetrated by leadin
Radicals with, or without, the conniv
ance of Washington authorities.