with the most obsti-eperous clamors for compensation.
The public have heard much, but understood little, about " Our claims upon Mexico." It is not probable that one in a thousand of those wlio declaim about Mexican outrages, as justifying the war against that Republic, know whereof they affirm. Before entering upon an ex- amination of our claims upon Mexico, it may be well to state two of the general principles which, by the laws and usages of nations, limit the interference of a government in behalf of the demands of its citizens upon foreign pow- ers for the redress of alleged grievances.
Complaints growing out of contracts entered into by citizens of one country with the Government of another, are not properly subjects for international discussion. Our Government would not tolerate for a moment, a re- monstrance from the British Cabinet in behalf of an Eng- lishman employed in our arsenals or ship -yards, who complained that he had not been paid his stipulated wages.