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WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1855
REMARKS CONCERNING A PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE CIVIL AND DIPLOMATIC BILL, MARCH 3, 1855 1 It seems to me very curious, under the circumstances, that any objection should be made to this amendment. If we have nego- tiations pending with Mexico, intended to result to the benefit of our commerce, I cannot see why power should not be placed in the hands of the President of the United States, as circumstances may dictate, to pay or withhold this amount. If this amendment be adopted he will have the power to use the money already appro- priated, if, in the conduct of our diplomatic affairs with that country it should become proper and necessary. If he should regard it as improper, of course, he would withhold it. It seems to me, therefore, the plainest thing in the world. As the Presi- dent is in charge of the diplomatic relations of the country, a discretion should be left with him, that he may avail himself of all the advantages arising from our former, as well as our present, relations with Mexico. If you keep it out of his power to use this money, and it should be expedient and desirable to allow Mexico to have it, he will not be in a situation to extend to her the benefits arising from the present payment of it, and it may debar him from obtaining advantages which, under other cir- cumstances, he might obtain from that Government in the estab- lishment of a treaty of commerce. The money is already appropriated, and I can see no reason why it should not be placed in the discretion of the Executive to pay it as soon as the public interest makes it necessary. The amendment of my colleague does not require him to pay it, but it will depend entirely upon his own option and the exercise of his discretion, when he may be called upon by the circumstances under which he is negotiating. It seems to me, that it merely places in the power of the President the advantage which results from present payment, leaving to him the exercise of his discre- tion to withhold it, unless the power to pay can be beneficially exercised in the promotion of our relations with Mexico. 1congressi<nuil Globe and Appendix, Part 2, 1854-1865, p. 1121. During debate in the Senate on this bill, the boundary of Texas came under discus- sion. On December 30, 1853, the United States and Mexico made a treaty, known as the Gadsden Treaty, the first article of which definitely desig, nated the western boundary of Texas. In article th1·ee of the treaty the Government of the United States agreed to pay the Government of Mexico, at New York, the sum of $10,000,000, of which amount $7,000,000 should be
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