NUMBER 370——.\ti3tv
THE SHAKER LOVERS.
Continue:/.
The young titan, the first to rC_iii'll the
sp it, stood pensively leaning ztjriiiiist the
trunk of at wide spreadiiig elm Siaiiding
but a short distance frotn the triargiii ol
the water. As the riiooii light strcnined
across his face, tokens of deep st:‘:t_grglitt_gr
emotions were there visibly dcpic ed;
and even a tear l'}'ll}_'jllt ()('C£l.~‘l()l!llll)' be
seen to start out and glitter opoti his manly
cheek. liesently the white fltii‘:erii‘i_i_3' robe
of a female was seen gluiiciiig along ziirioiig
the obstructing trees of the orclinrtl, and
rttpitlly gliding towards the spot. In
another nioment, the liglit figure rushed
in'o tlieopcn _nrrns of ilic _\outli, their
heads were dropped upon tacli other’s
shotildcrs,and for a brief ititeivul not a
word was spoken.
Uh Martlia, .\Ia'rtlial at lei'igtli uttered
the young iruin in tones of deep and troub-
led feeling, and again was silent.
Thee seems llllJt‘Il agitated to night,
Seth, said the girl in a meek, inquiriii-g'
tnt1niier,nfter waiting awhile for the other
to proceed.
lam, f\'I:lt‘tll:i, he replied; my heart is
indeed sorely tried.
And why are thee" thus (Il.~‘(jtJi€iP(l, Seth '1.
agzain asked the girl, and why, she coutiu-‘
tied in a tone oftenderexpostulation, why
hast thou tirged me to this meeting, when
\.
thee i nows I am not without in r tluiibts"
3 .
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SERIIJS.
j .1'\y. .‘\Iil‘..ll'«"l; but does thee regard nte t-:2-sti-Jii of our iiational interests from en- he presented them to tl.-e consideration of
uitfi that feeling which the \vorld calls,croachinent or sacrifice, and our national that body, and declared tl_.‘;at ‘ The length
Tl-ese mtist le oftime since some of the irijuries have been
_ They admit of committed, the repentetl and un-availing ap-
I ha e often gt-t-nily ft‘:l red that my l1t,‘.'1l‘l.jIl() coinproinise or iioglect, and must l:-e'plications for i'e-.lre;<s, the wanton character
In }of some of the outrages upon the property
love '7:
l liardly lauotv wliat to tell thee. Seth.
was an ei‘t'iti;." one I have t led to bestow
my love on all ; but I li.'ive soirietiiiics
tlioiiglit, perlnip.<, that thee was getting
rather in re tliati thy share.
'IiIl_\' wtirds are pic-vioits 10 my hi-art,
;\lartl:a. Li.-t ti.<, then, chi-ri.-li that feeling
towards e..cli -ot'.icr, and permit it to lead
us to its n;ttur.ilconsttintnntioii. 'l hi-e
liEl()\\'£~‘, Maitlia that the love of \\liit.'ll I
Speak, vtheu crowned by inurri:i;'c, is al-
lowed and approved by the good of every
sect but our own. Thee ltnows, too, that
it is saiitttitincd and lJi(.‘S5£‘t,l by the good
|l.)tlt)«, \‘.lll('ll I lciit thee (in piirpose tliat.
tsticli parts as ourelders would have us take
for our jg-uide, ('lllll|lli_Ql_V denying us the
free tisi_- of the book l:(.'('2lllSE they fear to
,~h:ive its l‘t‘.'l'-.l and reason upon the re. t——
‘not bccau.-e, as they pretend, \\(i should
pervert ll.
‘ 'i‘ltcc- bewildcrest me, Seth. I will con-
:f:-.-s that l have at times thotight that there
:is re:isoi'i in what thee now says; but I
ll.ave as often l'e::rc:l that it was only the
‘pr:)m_r‘.tings of vain fltiit-ies or .-inful incli-
na ions; and it is so rliffci'etit from what
llhave always ‘ecu tauglit to believe rij_ihi,
that it soinctintes ma es me tremble lest
.I should he left to harbor a belief which
“ml ‘“i5l='l"l“?5 “l~’°“tC‘-’m”'““l“‘:" ""'l‘l”l“’° may be wr no‘ in itself, and proie i‘uin0t;s
in this man- er, and when atso, thce so ,0 ,,,\- S,,uj’_,. my ,.,,.,l5_
well knows the great risk we both rim of
being tliscoveizcd and pnnislied, and I of man 3 3, ,5 “U, “.,.O,,£,, j\.j,,,.,j,,,_
being‘ brought to sliame before the people ! my ,~c,,5U,, H3315 ,},(._;3 may gt L, ,—;(_h,,
or in. other feurftil ways
I know-—l know all, Martha, and l
~should be grieve-.l to be the means of
causing thee trouble. But so many tliii'igs
have happened since \ve met, and I had so'
lTitlt3l] whicli l tlcsirctl to say to thee, that:
I cotild not find it in tiiy heart to go away
without seeing thee.
Go away! Surely I llast thou well con-
sidered, Seth?
Yea, long and well.
endure the vile mistisiigc I have lately
received; I can no longer endure to be a
slave, ii slave to those w'to woul l fetter and
degrtitle both body and mind: and Iain
determined that this night I will leave them.
But whither would thee go l—into the
wide wicked world I
Ifl tlionghtl should find the people of
the world more wicked than some of
those I leave behind, I would remain. But
it is not that which now perplexcs anti
troubles me.
If we have been taught aright, Seili,
what should trouble thee rnorel
Ay, if ariglit; but thee knows my opin-
ions of the creed, and falsity of half that
is told us. No,'it is no scruples of that
kind, btit my doubts and fears about the
receptien I may meet with in the world
of whose ways I tnow so little, and in
wliiclil must appear so foolish and awk-
ward. I am ignorant, ignorantas a ciiild,
of all that I should know.
But does not that spring from pride of
heart, Seth, which un"er any good creed,
thee should strive to banish I It appears
to me thee sliotild have better re:t.-ons.
\Vcll, l have other reason:-', and much
stronger ones, I know not tliatlthee would
consider them better. It is—— and the
youth paused and hesitated, while the won-
dering maiden threw an innocent and in-
quiring loo. upon his sorrowful and agita-
ted countenance— it is he resumed at
length "mastering his emotions, it is t‘ e
thought of leaving‘ thee, Martlia, wlifch
wrings my lieart—lcaving thee among this
people to be subjected to the wiles and per
secution of that wicked and designing——
Oh! name him not, Seth, name him not!
quickly interrtipted the girl with a shudder,
which but too plainly told both her fears
and abhorrence of the man about to be
mentioned.
I should not Martha, btit I have noticed
that ivliiieli has filled me with alarming
co;ijectures—-with fears for thy safety ; and
I would that thee tell me what he proposes
to thee.
I cannot-—I cannot; but oh! if thee
knew my troubles, Seth— and the poor
girl, at the tliought thus called up, dropped
her head upon the otber’s shoulder, and
wept as if her heart would l)l‘t‘al{-
The wretchl the accursed wretclil ex-
clziimetl the young man bitterly.
Nay, nay, do not curse, Seth, sobbed the
girl, making an effort to check her emotion,
that is :1 gift belonging, I think, only to
the Great One above, who tneets out jus-
tice to the sinful, not as man meets under
the influence of blinding passions, but ac-
cording to the proper measures; and we
must remember, can protect, the innocent,
as well as punish the guilty; and though
my trials are indeed sore, yet I trust that
Good Being will still, as he has done, pre-
serve me guiltless and linrtnlcss.
Each being absorbed in the thoughts and
feelings which the conversation had exci--
ted, there was herea short pause in the
discourse, during Wl‘ilL'll the maiden gently
disengaged herself from the embrace of
the other, and, wiping her eyes, seemed to
resume her usual tranquility.
Martha, at. length said the young man,
with an air of embarrassment and :1 slight
tremulous accent. I
What would thee say, Seth? a.--ked the
Maiden composedly, perceiving that the
other hesitated to gro on. ’
Martha, does thee love me’! resumed the
.youth with an effort. . .
, wh.Y_'WhYa replied she, now hesétating
sin turn, why we. are co.»7im(m:1cd to love
-. ,-one.gin9tb‘er, are we not I
I can no longer_
It is not wrong‘, v.'ari'nly urged the young
It is right;
All
nature confirms it. The Bible when pro )-
.erly consulted, also ttnstvers yea. Conic,
lthcu, ;llartlia, come with me. Let us go
iiiito tli'=. world,wltere there will be no mean
‘spies to dog and torment us——no tyrants
to pervert ourinnoccnt actioiis,and make
them an excuse for proscciiiiiig the foul-
est tle.-igiis, and none to lllOl(‘Sl or in-.1 e
us alriid; \vl.ere, unit.-d as one, lit‘-Vet‘
more to part, vie will live, be free to love,
and in that love and freedom find otir sol-
are, our comfort, and our lastingf licity.
.Con':e, cotne; fear not. \\ ith my own
_li1in(.l.$I will support tltce — in my own heart
,I will cherish thee.
I O! tempt tne uot———'.c-.nipt me not, Seth!
j Call it no temptation, dearest one. Soon
;cr would I suffer all that wiclcetl men can
‘inflict than I ad thee fl>ll‘.'l_V. I think it,l
ginear. it for thy own gool as much as for
any own happness. It is not teinptaiion;
‘it is bitt the pleadings of wisdom and love.
{Fly with me, then, this night and this hour,
'—-fly with uie from the (langers and miser-
ies that here. beset thee to safety and hop-
piness.
Nay, nay ‘Seth, rr-plied the maiden calmly
and fi:‘n'ily after appearing to stt‘ii,r__r§__rle a
moment with her cunt iciiiig feelings. Thy
proposal is ii bold and st-.trtling one; it is
also new and une.\pected. I have not con-
sidered and ‘my not now accept it, and
moreover, I ntust not lt.-nger remain with
thee. I must return to the buildings.
And am I never to see thee more 7. ask-
ed the other sadly.
Wliy, if thee will indeed leave us, she
replied, lingering and liesitating, unless,
pcrliaps—unless thee could return at some
appointed time and place——
Will thee, then, eagerly inquiretl the
youth, will thee meet me here four weeks
from this night?
If perniittcd, I will, Seth.
And be prepared to go with me?
Again lmay not promise; but I will
weigh thy proposal with kindly intent.-—
Fare. well, Seth.
Fare thee \\ ell, beloved Martlia— if thee
can stay no longer, fare thee well, with
many bessings; but remember, 0 reniem-
ber !
PRESISEN i 5S MESSAGE;
Fellow C'2'ta'zcns of (lie Smmlc
and aft/ic House of 1'~.’z-p I'(.’8£’71«’.41[fI)L’S :—-
lu resuming your labors in the stcrvice of
the people, it is a subject of coir0__;i'atulatioii
that there has been no period in our past
liistory, when all tl.c elements of national
i prosperity have l..c-cu so fully developed.
. Since yourlast session, no afflicting dispen-
sation has visited our country; general
good health has prevailed; abundance has
crowned ti o toil of the busbandm-an ; and
labor in all its branches is receiving an ant-
ple i‘cwa1‘tl, while etltication, science, and
the arts are rapidly enlarging the means of
social liiippiness. The progress of our
country in Ler career of greatiiess, not only
in the vast extension of our territorial lini-
ils, and the rapid increase of our population,
. hut in resourcc:s and wealtli, and in tlze
l happy condition of our people, is without
l example in the history of nations. As the
wisdom, strength, and beneficence of our
free institutions are unfolded, every day
adds fresh motives to c.on‘.entrnet'it, and
fresli incentives to patriotisin.
1 Our devout and sincere acknowledg-
ments are due to the gracious Giver of all
good, for the nutnberless blessings which
our beloved country enjoys.
It is a source of high satisfaction to
know that the relations of the Unilctl States
with all other nations, with a single excep-
tion, arc of the most amicable character.
Sincerely attached to the policy of peace,
early adopted and steadily pursued by this
goveri1.ment,l have anxiously desired to
cultivate and cherish friendship and com-
merce with every foreign Power. The-
spirit and habits of the American people
‘are favorable to the maintenance of‘ such
international harmony. i_In adhering to
this wise policy,a preliminary and para-
mount duty obviously consists in the pro-
tlice lllI_,;l1i re:it'l ti.e whole, instead of only?
"t/\,r\_,
lhonor frotn repi'oacli.
,maiiitaine-;l at anv hazard.
lSC‘l'llj)|1lt)flSl_V,’ and cotistar.tl_v _$IUZ'tI‘LiCtl.
their vi_-.._»;ilaiit vitidi<;ation, collision and con-
‘flict with foreign llowcrs niay soinctinics
:IIC(‘.()lilC unavoidziblc. Sucli has l.ccn our
fscrtipulous :idl'.~erciicc to tlie dictates ofjus-
gtice, in all our foreign intercourse, that,
,5tltiiit;_rh steatlily and rapidl_v advancing in
i[‘:l'0Sj.‘»(‘.l‘il_V and pon or, we liave given no
just caitsc of complaint to any nation, and
ihavc Cllj0_‘;'C~l the lilessiiigs of peace for
=mot‘e tlian thirty _vc.ir.<. Frozn it policy so
sacred to liuinanit_v, and so salutary in its
eflects upon our political s_vsten‘i, we should
never be induced voltint-.ir'il_v to depart.
_ Tl.e existing war with l\lcx'.co was nei-
t.l.er (.i(3:ill‘(‘tLl lii~‘.)i' provoked bv the United
i ., -
Static-.s. On tl.e conti'ar_v, all honorable
inc.ins were resorleal to to avert it. After
'_\je-.irs of etnltirimce of a_t;gr.1vatetl and un-
i'e.lre.;.<ed \vron;_‘_§s on our part, Mexico, in
,violation of S‘~)l0ll')l1 ticnty .st;ipulations, and
of every principle of justice recognized by
civitizc-I iizttiotts, commenced hostilities;
and thus, b_v her own act, forced the war
upon us. Long lcforc the advance of our
actny to the left bank of the Rio Grandc,
no had ample cause of war against Mexi-
'co; and had tl c United States resorted to
this e.\'tremity,.we might have appealed to
t‘ c WI.OlC civili'/.c~;l world for tl.e justice of
our cause.
I ldcein it to be my duty to {resent to
iyou, on the present occasion, a condensed
review of tlzc injuries‘ “O had sustaiiicd, of
the. catises which lel to tl.-e war, and of its
pi'o_r_ftc-ss since its coiiiinciicement. This is
’i'c'.idci'e-.l the more iiecessary because of LI e
'misappielzcnsioits which have to some ex-
;tcut prevailed as to its origin and true cha-
racter. 'l'l e war has lcen rcp'esente(l as
lunjust and unr.=e::cssat'y, and as one of ag-
l_9:ression on otir part upon a weal: and in-
ljurel cuein_v. Such erroneous views though
e;i‘.ertaitiet'l by but few, have been widely
lillld ex‘.ensivel_v circulated not only at borne,
that have been sp:‘e;id throughout Mexico
;and the whole world. A more ellbcttial
«fmeans could not have Ieen Ccvisetl to en-
lcourage tlte eztcmy and prolract the war
fthan to advocate and adl erc to their cause,
land thus give them “aid and comfort.”
l It is :1 source of iiationnl pride and exal-
§tz'-.tion,tb:tt the great body of our people
i have thrown no such obstacles in the way
‘of the govcrnn‘ient in pro.-;ecuting tl.e war
lsuccessfully, but have shown tlueinselves
to be emiiieiitly patriotic, and ready to viii-
ldicatc their countr_v’s honor and interests
; at any sacrifice. The alatcj'it_\' and prompt-
tncss with which our vgteer forces rush-
god to the field at their country’s call, prove
Inot only their patriotism, but their deep
conviction that our cause is just.
Tlse wrongs which we have suffered from
ilifexico almost ever since she became an
itiilcpctitlcnt power, and the patient endu-
rance with which we have borne them, are
without a parallel in the history of modern
civilized nations. There is reason to be-
lfeve that if these wrongs had been resented
and resisletl in the first instance, the present
war might have been avoided. One out-
rage, however, permitted to pass with im-
punity, almost necessarily encouraged the
perpetration of anotltcr, until at last Mexi-
co secined to attribute to weakness and in-
decision on our part a forbearance, which
was the offspring of maguanimity, and of
a sincere desire to preserve friendly relations
with a sister repubiic.
Scarcely bad Mexico achieved lzer inde-
pendence, which the United States were
the first among the nations to acknowledge,
when she commenced the system of insult
and spoliation, which she has ever since
pursued. Our citizens engaged in lawful
commerce were imprisoned, their vessels
seized, and our flag insulted in her ports.
If money was wanted, the lawless seizure
and their cargoes was a ready resource;
and if to accouiplish their purposes it be-
captains, and crew it was done.
superseded rulers in Mexico in rapid suc-
this system of depreciation.
postponed or evaded. The files and records
sive proofs of the numerous lawless acts
perpetrated upon the property and persons
of our citizens by Mexico, and of wanton
insults to our national flag.’ The interpo-
sition of our government to obtain redress
was again and again invoked, under circuin—
stances which no nation ought to disregard.
It was hoped that these outrages would
cease, and that Mexico would be restrained
by the laws which regulate the conduct of
civilized nations in their intercourse with
each other after the treaty of amity, com-
merce and navigation of the 5th of April,
1831, was concluded between two repub-
lics; but this hope soon proved to be vain.
The course of seizure and confiscation of
the property of our citizens, the violation
Of their persons and the insults to our flag,
puiisuedby Mexico previous to that time,
were scarcely suspended for even a brief
period, although the treaty so clearly de-
tiues the rights and duties of the respective
parties, that it is impossible to m'i,su_nder-
stand or mistake them. In less than seven
years after the conclusion of that treaty
our grievances had become so intolerable
that, in the opinion of President‘Jacks'on’,
AL K.
I ll!)l§s!ie-:1 lgvery Vi'vednes«1:n.y fYIo1'nin_:,', by JAMES REED, at Two Dollzus Per Anninn ‘in Aqlvance. ‘ioffilce on the ‘Dock, Vvest Side of llle Bi-:c!;:e.'
eyes of all nations, iinmcdiato war. ’
and confiscation of our niercliant vessels‘
came necessary to imprison the owners,_tlie “anxious wish” of the Mexican gov _ _ . _
Rulers ' ernment “ not to delay the moment of that ,eigl_ity-eight cents, upon which he did not
gfiual and ecjuitable adjustment which is to decide,
of the Department of State contain couclu-'
-the twentieth of July, 1837, the demand
they should no'flc;n'ger' be er-.dur'ed. In his
message to ___Congress in February, 1837,
.c*'-'
.1»
‘\/\/\/\
NOR.WAI.K, CT. WEDNESDAY. DECEMBER 16.18.16.
_..-_.. __- ____..__.. .: __ ._._. _.-__...._.. .- .- .,,
and persons of our citizens, upon tl.e offi-
cers and flag of the United States, iiidepen-
dent of tie recent insults to this govern-
ment and people by do late cxtraurdinnr_v
Mexican Minister, would justify in the
In a
spirit of kindness and forberirauce, how-
ever, he recommended reprisals as n inilcler
mode of redress. I-Ie «.‘.ecl~.n'e-..l that war
should not Le used as a reme-.ly“byjust
and ,c:eiic:'ous nations, confiding in their
strength for injuries committed, if it can be
honorably avoided,” and adt.'c.d, “it has oc-
curre.l to me that, consic’eriiig the ptescnt
cinbart'asse.l condition of that country, we
should act with both wisdom and modera-
tion, by giving to Mexico one more oppor-j
tunity to atone for the past, before we take
redress into our own hands. To avoid all
misconception on the part of .‘.'Iex'co, as
well as to protect our own national char-
aclcr from reproach,this opportunity should
be given with the avov. ed design and full
preparation to take iminediate satisfaction,
if it should not be obtained on a. repetition
of the demaiid for it. To this end I re-
cotninend that an act be passed authorising
reprisals, and tl.e use oftlc naval force of
the United States, by the Exccu‘.ive,again~_<t
Mexico, to enforce tltem in the evc..t of a
refusal by the Mexicou governnient to come
to an amicable adjustment of the iiiatfeis
in controversy between us, upon another
demand thereof, made from on board one
of our Vessels of war on the coast of l‘/Iex
ico.”
Cot-nmittces of both houses of Conp_;i'ess,
to which this message of this President was
i'cl'cr:'e;l, fully sustaiiicd his views of thel
character of the wrongs which we had suf-l
fered frotn Mexico, and recommezitled that
another demand for redress slioul-.l he made
before atttliorizing war or reprisals. The
Committee on Foreign Relations of the Se.~
note, in their report say: “After such a
demand, should prompt justice be rcfusel
by the Mexican goveruineut,wc inay appeal
to all nations not only for the e juity and
and moderation with which uesball have
acted towards a sisfer republic, btit for the
ne-sessity which will then compel us to seek
redress for our wrongs, either by actual war
or by rcprisals. The subject will then be
bresenled before Congress, at the co:nincuce-
ment of the next session, in aclear and dis-
tinct fortn ; and the committee cannot doubt
that such measures will be immediately
adopted as may be necessary to vindicate
the honor of the country, and insure ample
reparation to our injured citizens.”
The Committee on Foreign Af‘fiiii‘s of the
House of Repieentatives, made a similar
recoininendation. In their report, they say
that tl.ey»“ fully concur with the I’rc.eident
that ample cause exists for taking l'CLll‘CSS
into our hands, and believe that we should
Le justified in the opinion of otluer nations
for taking such a step. But they are will-
ing to try tl.c experiment of anotlter de-
mand, made in the most solemn form, tip-
on the justice of the Mexican government,
before any further proceedings are adopted.
No difi'erence.of opinion upon the subject
is believed to have existed in Congress at
that time; the Exec-utive and Legislative
departments concurred ; and yet such has
been our foi'be;1rance, and desire to preserve
peace with Mexico, that the wrongs of
which we then co1nplained,and which gave
rise to these solemn pi'oceediiigs, 1]Ji. only
reuiain unre-dressed to this day, but addi-
tionul causes of complaint, of an a.ggi'aV:t-
ted character, have ever since been accu-
mulating.
Shortly after these proceedings, :1 special
messenger was despatched to I‘-2-Iexico, to
make a final demand for redress; and on
was made. The reply of the Mexican go-
vernment bears date on the twenty—nintli of;
the same month, and contains assurances Of!
aession, but still there was. no change in l terminate the existing difliculties between
The govern-:tlie twogovernments;” that“nothmg should _
meat of the United States made repeated be left undone which may contribute to tliej
reclainations on behalf of its citizens, but -' most speedy and equitable deterrniiiatioii of.
these were answered by the perpetration of, the subjects which have so seriously enga- j
’new outrages. Promises of redress made’ god the attention of the Ainericau govern-
by Mexico in the most solemn forms vverc'ment ;” that the
l
I
Mexican government:
would adopt, as the only guides for its con-E
duct, the plaiuest principles of public right,‘
the sacred obligations imposed by interna-'
tional law, and the religious faith of trea-t
ties ;” and that “whatever reason and jus-
tice may dictate respecting each case will,
be done.” The assurance was further giv-,
en, that the decision of the Mexicap gov-I
ernrnent upon each cause of complaint, for:
which redress had been demanded, should,
be communicated to the government of tl-e
United States by the Mexican Minister at
\'Vashington. '
These solemn assurances in answer to
our demand for redress, were disregard¢_3d-
By making them, however, Mexico obtain-
ed further delay. President Van Bufefla "1
his annual message to Congress of the fifth
of December, 1837, states, that “ although
the larger number” of our demands for re-
dress, and “ many Of them aggmvaled C?‘
ses of personal wrongs, have been now for
years before the Mexican government, and
some of the causes of national complaint,
and those of the‘ ’ most offensive character,
admitted of immediate, simple, and satis-
factory replies, itjis only Wltllln a_few_ days
past that any specific communication in an-
swer to our last demand, made five mopthé
ago, has been received from-the Mexican
minister ;” and that “for not one of-our
—/\/\/\/\/s /\,/\/xgxrx/xxx.-.r\/\,-\/\/\/\/\
.sixty—eight'cents,
public complaints has satisfaction been giv-
en or ofi'e:'e:l ; that but one oftl e Citses of
pervonel wrong has been favorably consid-
erci.l, and that but four care-stof both de. -
criptions, out of all those f()l’Ii1:tll:y"pl‘CS€ll‘-
ed, and earncstl_v pressed, liavc as yet been
tlccidetl upon by tlzeMexican_govcrnu':eiit.”
Presideiit Van Buren, believeiiig that it
would Le vain to make any f'tii-theratteinpt
to obtain rcdrcs:s by the ortlitiary u_ie.=.us
within the power of {lo Exectitive, commu-
uicat.e=.l this opinion to C~.iti:;;re:ss,iu tic
Mes-.:age i'ef'et'rer.l to,‘ in whicli l1csaid 2 “On
a careful and delilseratc e:-;uutiua*.ioti of ti e
contents,” (of the coi'a'cspcii'dcncc with tl e
Mcxicaii government) “ and coxisizlczftig
the spirit iiiatiilbstcd by tlzc I".IC.\'.i('{il) gov-
crntnent, it has l;ecoir.e tny pgiiiifttl du’_v to
re‘.u:'n the subject as it now stands, to Con-
gress, to whom it belongs to decide upon
the time, the mode, and the ir.casu:'c of re-
dre.~is.” Had the Unite} States at that tiine
a.lop‘.ed compulsory measures, and taken
redress into their own hands, all our difi‘i-
culties wtih Mexico would probably have
been long‘ since adjus‘.e;l, and the existing
war have been averted I\‘I.igiianiinity and
moderation on out‘ part only had the effect
to complicate tlicse difficulties, and !‘el]{iCI'
an amicable settlement oftlcm do more
€Iiil')‘»iI‘1‘dssiii<,_1_'. Tliat such tneasurcs of re-
dI'€a‘-'%, limlei‘ similar provoczitions, commit-
ted by any of the powerful nations of Eu-
rope, would have been proinpt.l_v rcsor‘. .l to.
by the United States, cannot be doub€.el.——j
The national honor, and the prese;-vnt?on of
the national character tbrotighout tl.e world,
as well as our own self-re:spe-st, and do pro-
tection duc to our citizens, would have reti-
tiered such a resort inclispensable. The his-
tory of 11.) civilized nation in modern times
has preseu‘.e:l V‘.'ll.l1lIl so brlcfa period so-
many wanton attacks upon the honor of its
flag, and upon tlze propc and j‘.‘~C2‘S0l}3 of
its citizens, as lliitl at that time been home
by the United States from the Mexican au-
thorities and people. But Mexico was a
sister republic, on the ’.\'orth An’:e;'ican con-
tinent, occupying a tc:‘ritor_v contiguous to
our own, and was in a feeble and tlistra;-t-
ed condition ; and these cotisitler-ations,'ii
is presume-.l, induced C-.ingres.s to fL)1‘l.‘0‘.i1
still l0iig(‘.‘.'.
Ins‘.cad of tal:in_9,‘ redress into our own
hands. a new negotiation was entei'e:.l upor.
with fair protnises on the part of Mexico
but with I’.l‘.C restl purpose, as the event has
proved, of indefinitely postponing there-
paration wltich we tlem;ititle.;l, and wliicl
was so jtist'y due. This iiegotiatioii, aficr
more than a ye:1r’s delay, re.~;ulie;l in the
convention of the e'cventli of April, 1839,
“ for the adjusttneuts of claims of citizen:
of the United States of Ainerica upon the
goveriitneat of the Mexican republic.” Tlvc
joint board of cotninissioners C1‘G:1l.etlb_Vtlilt
convention to exatnine. and decide upon
'Ll1(_-3.50 claims was not organized until the
mouth of August, 1840, and under the
terrns of the convention they were to let‘-
minate their duties within eigliteezi month:
from that time. lfour of the e'_.;litcer.
months were consutnctl in 1:.re‘.it‘niiiary dis
cussions on frivolous and dilatory points
raised by the Mexican cotninissioiicm ; and
it was not until the month of December,
1840, that they commenced the examina-
tion of the claims of our citizens upon Mex-
ico. Fourteen months only reruaine.l ti:
examine and decide upon these nuuie:ot:s
and cotnplicated cases. In the month ()1
February, 18-12, the term of the cmitnis-
sion expire-.1, leaving in-any claims uiidispos-
ed of for want of» time. The claims which
were allowcl by the board, and by the
umpire authorized by the convention to de
cide in case of disagreement between the
Mexican and American commissioners,
amounted to two million twenty-six thou-
sand one hundred and thirt_v-nine dollars
and sixty-ciglit cents. There were pend
ing before tli umpire when the cointnzssion
expired additional claims Wl1lCl’l had been
examined and awarderl by the American
commissioners, and had not been allowed
by the Mexican comniissiouers, amounting
to nine hundred and twenty-eiglit thousand
lsix hundre.l and twenty-seven dollars and
alleging that his authority had ceas-
ed with the termination of the joint corri-
rnission. Besides these claims, there were
others ‘of American citizens amounting to
three million three hundred and thirty-six
thousand eight hundred and tliirty-seven
‘dollars and five cents, which had been sub-
mitted to the board, and upon which they
had not time to decide before their final ad-
journment. _ ,
The sum of two million twenty-six thou-
sand one hundred and thirty-nine dollas and
which had been awarded
to the claimants, was a liquidated and "its-
certained debt due by Mexico, about. which
there could be no dispute, and wliicn she
was bound to pay according to the terms of
the convention. Soon after the final awardrd
for this amount had been made, the Mexi-
can government asked for a postponement
of the time of making payment, alleging
that it would be incovenient to make the
payment at the time ' stipulated. In the
spirit of forbearing kindness towards a sis-
ter republic, which Mexico has so long abu-
sed, the United States promptly coinplied
with her request. A second convention
was accordingly concluded between the two
governments on the thirtieth of January,
1843, which upon its face declares that
“ this‘ new arrangement is entered into for
the accommodation of Mexico.” By the
terms of this convention, all the interest
due on the’ awards which had been made in
fiivor of the claimants under the conven-
tion of the eleventh of April, 1839, was to
to be paid to them on the thirtieth of April,
1843, and “the principal of the said awards,
and-. the interest accruing, thereon,” was
"T/\'\"\"\""’-"\"\"""'\"‘-’\’\’\.*'\/\r\z\-s /\ -f\_ as /xx-/~ - Ix/Vxzx/-'_/s/\.
VOLUME 29--.t\*L‘=i\ir.r.n
1
'4»-
. .'
50’:-
stipulated to “be paEd '11 five _1.'e;.rs, in equal
in:_italn.ents every three months.” Not-
v. ithstandiiig this t‘.(‘:W c nvention -was en-
tered into at the :‘ep.2e.<t of Mexico, and for
the purpose of relieving lzer from.embar-
r-.-.sstncnt, the claimants have only received
the interest due on the tlili'tietli of April,
1843, dud three of the twenty instalments.
Altltougli the priymeitt of ti o st*.m'tl'ius li-
quidaiel, and cotifessdely dire Mexico
to our citiszens as iii«;’etn_iii'.y"for acknowl-
c lged acts of outr-.i;;e and wrong, w'as_,se-
cured by treaty, tl.e oliligjatious of which are
ever held sacred by all just nations, yet Mex-
ico has violated this solemn eiigagcmetit by
failing and refusing to make the payment.
The two ittsfaltiaezits clue in April and July,
18-I-1, u:i;'er tl.e re':uliar c§1'ctimstai1ces
connected. with tluezn, ll;-IVC been assumed
by the Uuitezl States and discliarged to the
claimants, but they are still due by Mexico,
But this is not all of which we have just
cause of complaint. To provic‘.e a remedy
for the clainianls whose cases were not (‘e-
'cit'.ed by tle joint commission under the
jconvention of April the elevenitli, 1839, it
{was expressly s’.ipulafccl by the sixth arti-
-cle of the convention of the thirtieth of Jan-
l1tar_v, 18-13, that “ a i)C'»V convention shall
"be entered into for the settlement of all
claims of the government and citizens of
the United States against the republic of
Mexico, which were not finally decided by
the late coinrnission, which met in tl.e city
of lrV'.‘.Sl1lP.gl0I1_, and of all claitrs of the go-
vcriinient and citizens of Mexico against
the United St-.i‘.e.s.” ’ .
.l.l conformity with this stipulation, :1
third convention was concluded and signed
at the city of Mexico‘, on the twentieth of
Novenilser, I843, by the plenipotentiaries
of the two governments, b.y_w_h_ich provi-
sion was made for ascertaining and paying
thete c‘ tints. In .Iant1ai'_v, 18-‘I4, this con-
vention was ra'eif'ied by the Scnte of the
U tiled States with two amendments, wlticli
were mtinifes‘.ly 1'C.‘.SQ1‘t:1l)l€ in their charac-
ter. U,.=Ot‘i a reference of the amendments
pr-.=posecl to the g.’)'.’Cl'I‘.lTlCI1l. of Mexico,the
's'Jll'lC cvasiozis, difficulties, and delays were
'n'erposed vi h?ch It-at-‘e so long marked the
policy of that government towards tl.e
United States. It has not even yet deci-
Jed wlzetlzer it would or would not accede
to them, although tlie subject has been re-
,'ie;~.te;lly pressed upon its consideration.
Mexico has thus violated a second time
the faith of treaties, by failing or refusing:
’.o carry into effect the sixth article of the
sonvention of .Iaiitiai'y, 18 £3. ,
Such is the liistory of tl:e_\vrongs which
we have suffcrel and patiently endured
from Mexico through along series of yeags.
So far from affording reasonable satisfac-
tion for the injuries and iniults we had
borne, a great aggravation of them consists
in the fact, that while the United States,
anxious to preserve a good understanding
with Mexico, have been constantly, but
va,inl_v, employed in seeking redress for past
wrongs, new outrages were constantly oc-
currin_x_,r, which have continue-:l_to increase
our causes of complain-‘, and to swell the
amount of our demands. While the citi-
zens of the United States were conducting
guaratity of a trezity of “amity, commerce,
;tn'.l navigation,’ manv of them have suf-
t'e‘red all the injuries which would have re-
sulled from open war. This treaty, instead
)I' affording protection to our citizens, has
been the means of inviting them into the
ports of Mexico, that they might be, as
they have l:.ec.i in numerous iustunces,plun-
dered of their property and deprived of their
personal liberty if they dared insist on their
rights. Had the unlawful seizures of Amer-
ican proper'.y, and the violation of personal
liberty of our citizens, to say nothing of
the insults to our flag which have occurred
in the ports of Mexico, taken place on the
high seas, they would tl;emselves long since
l'11\'B constituted a state of actual war be-
tween the two countries. In so long suf-
fering Mexico to violate her most solemn
treaty» pbligations, plunder our citizens of
their property, and imprison their persons
without affording them any redress, we have
failed to perform one of the first and high-
est dutfes which every government owes to
its citizens ; and the C0nSCSj_lJCI1CG has been,
that inaiiy of them have been reduced from
a state of afiluerice to bankruptcy. The
proud name of American citizen, which
ought to protect all who bear it from insult
and injury throughout the world, has af-
forded no such protection to our citizens in
Mexico. We had ample cause of war
against Mexico long before the breaking
out of hostilities But even then We for-
bore taking redi*ess into our own hands,
until Mexico herself became’ the aggressor
by invading our soil in hostile array and
shedding the blood_of our citizens.
Such are the grave causes of complainnt
on tine part of the United States against
Mexico———causes which existed long before
the annexation of Texas to the American
iUnion; and yet, animated by the love of
lpeace, and a magnonimous moderation, we
:did not adopt those measures of redress
which, under such circumstances, are the
justified resort of injured nations. -~
The annexation of Texas to the United
States constituted no just cause of offence
to Mexico. The pretext that_it did so is
wholly incocsistent, and irrec'oiicilable with
well authenticated facts connected with the
dent of_ Mexico. That this may‘ be - the
more manifest, it may be proper to advert
to the causes: and to the _hi'_st0i‘)_’ _0.f-ftl‘-3
principal‘ events of that revolution. '_ -‘
Texas constituted a portion of the ancient
province ofifflouisiaiia, ceded to the
States by France-in the year 1803. In the
year ]819,'tbe United States, by the Flor-
idav»treai_:y7, ceded to Spain all that part of
3. lawful commerce Vt i;h Mexico under the .
revolution by which Texas became indepenr — .
United -
4
Norwalk Chronicler