NEW TREATIES WITH MEXICO ABOUT CLAIMS.
The Treaty of Arbitration had deprived the Adminisira tion for some time of all pretexts of complaint against Mexico, and probably postponed the annexation of Texas.
Fortunately for the designs of the Cabinet, the accumulation of claims towards the close of the Commission had, as we have seen, left a large nominal amount undecided. Of this surplus, the Administration eagerly availed itself to renew a harassing negotiation. No Minister had been sent to Mexico since Mr. Ellis thought it expedient to demand his passports, and to decline specifying the reasons of so ungracious a measure. The Commission under the Treaty terminated, as we have seen, in February, 1842;
and the next March, Mr. Tyler, who as Vice-President had succeeded to the -Executive Chair on the death of President Harrison, appointed Mr. Waddy Thompson, of South Carolina, Minister to Mexico. In selecting this gentleman, he was no doubt influenced by the same mo- tives which had led to the appointment of Messrs. Poin- sett, Butler, and Elhs. He was a slaveholder, devoted to the cause of Texas. He had, moreover, on the floor of Congress, introduced a resolution directing the President to take measures for the annexation of Texas, as soon as it could be done, consistently with the Treaty stipulations of the Government—an act which necessarily rendered him personally off'ensive to the Mexican Government.
It will be recollected that by the treaty of arbitration the award was to be paid half in cash, and half in treas- / REVIEW OF THE MEXICAN WAR. 75 ury notes at par, bearing eight per cent, interest, and receivable