The claimants received the
interest due on the 30th April, 1843, and the three first instalments.
The agent of the United States having, under peculiar circumstances,
given a receipt for the instalments due in April and July, 1844, before
they had been actually paid by Mexico, the payment has been assumed by
the United States and discharged to the claimants.

A third convention was concluded at Mexico on the 20th November, 1843,
by the Plenipotentiaries of the two Governments, by which provision was
made for ascertaining and paying the claims, on which no final decision
had been made. In January, 1844, this convention was ratified by the
Senate of the United States, with two amendments, which were referred
to the Government of Mexico, but respecting which no answer has ever
been made. On the 12th of April, 1844, a treaty was concluded by the
President with Texas, for the annexation of that republic to the United
States. This treaty, though not ratified by the Senate, placed the two
countries in a new position, and arrested for a while all negotiations.
It was only on the 1st of March, 1845, that Congress passed a joint
resolution for the annexation.

It appears most clearly, that the United States are justly entitled to a
full indemnity for the injuries done to their citizens; that, before the
annexation of Texas, there was every prospect of securing that
indemnity; and that those injuries, even if they had been a just cause
for war, were in no shape whatever the cause of that in which we are now
involved.

Are the United States justly entitled to indemnity for any other cause?
This question cannot be otherwise solved, than by an inquiry into the
facts, and ascertaining by whom, and how, the war was provoked.

III.--ANNEXATION OF TEXAS.

At the time when the annexation of Texas took place, Texas had been
recognized as an independent power, both by the United States and by
several of the principal European powers; but its independence had not
been recognized by Mexico, and the two contending parties continued to
be at war. Under those circumstances, there is not the slightest doubt
that the annexation of Texas was tantamount to a declaration of war
against Mexico. Nothing can be more clear and undeniable than that,
whenever two nations are at war, if a third Power shall enter into a
treaty of alliance, offensive and defensive, with either of the
belligerents, and if such treaty is not contingent, and is to t