In February of 1837, Andrew Jackson sent a special message to Congress regarding the mounting claims of American citizens against Mexico. Jackson urged Congress to give Mexico one more opportunity before any use of military action be taken against Mexico.
"That remedy, however, should not be used by just and generous nations, confiding in their strength for injuries committed, if it can be honorably avoided; and it has occurred to me that, considering the present embarrassed condition of that country, we should act with both wisdom and moderation by giving to Mexico one more opportunity to atone for the past before we take redress into our own hands" Andrew Jackson 1837
President Jackson was not going soft, rather he was showing Mexico and the world that the United States national Character was beyond "reproach" and he would not take military action against Mexico until all diplomatic options were exhausted. Mexico was being given fair warning. Jackson recommended to Congress "that an act be passed authorizing reprisals, and the use of the naval force of the United States by the Executive against Mexico to enforce them, in the event of a refusal by the Mexican Government to come to an amicable adjustment of the matters"
In response President Anastasio Bustamante of Mexico appointed Francisco Pizarro MartÃnez as Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of Mexico to the United States to resolve this matter. During the first year of Martin Van Buren's administration, the diplomacy continued but no agreement was made. Unlike Jackson who recommended military action to Congress, Van Buren was reluctant to take military action and instead simply turned the matter over redress to Congress. Finally, in September of 1838, Secretary of State John Forsyth and Minister Martinez met to negotiate a Convention to evaluate the claims and determine compensation. In his 1838, President Van Buren was relieved to announce that a "customary good feeling between the two nations" was restored. Van Buren discussed the restored relations with Mexico as the first topic of business in his 1838 State of the Union address.
"The most amicable dispositions continue to be exhibited by all the nations with whom the Government and citizens of the United States have an habitual intercourse. At the date of my last annual message Mexico was the only nation which could not be included in so gratifying a reference to our foreign relations.
I am happy to be now able to inform you that an advance has been made toward the adjustment of our differences with that Republic and the restoration of the customary good feeling between the two nations. This important change has been effected by conciliatory negotiations that have resulted in the conclusion of a treaty between the two Governments, which, when ratified, will refer to the arbitrament of a friendly power all the subjects of controversy between us growing out of injuries to individuals. There is at present also reason to believe that an equitable settlement of all disputed points will be attained without further difficulty or unnecessary delay, and thus authorize the free resumption of diplomatic intercourse with our sister Republic."
President Van Buren forwarded the Convention papers to the Senate, and the Senate approved it on January 31, 1839. It was the Fourth ever treaty between the United States and Mexico. The Convention was signed on April 1, 1839.
Unfortunately, the convention failed to be ratified. In his 1839, annual address, Van Buren once gain turned his attention to the unsettled claims of American citizens against Mexico. He noted that this first convention for adjustment had failed to gain ratification from Mexico’s legislature because of objections raised regarding the proposed role of the King of Prussia as arbitrator. Rather than push forward with antagonism, the President accepted Mexico’s explanation “in the most conciliatory spirit,” and agreed to a second convention. Diplomatic intercourse had resumed now that Minister Ellis had been dispatched to Mexico, and a revised agreement had been submitted to the Mexican Congress. Van Buren suggested that circumstances promised a "speedy ratification.”
"I regret to be obliged to inform you that no convention for the settlement of the claims of our citizens upon Mexico has yet been ratified by the Government of that country. The first convention formed for that purpose was not presented by the President of Mexico for the approbation of its Congress, from a belief that the King of Prussia, the arbitrator in case of disagreement in the joint commission to be appointed by the United States and Mexico, would not consent to take upon himself that friendly office. Although not entirely satisfied with the course pursued by Mexico, I felt no hesitation in receiving in the most conciliatory spirit the explanation offered, and also cheerfully consented to a new convention, in order to arrange the payments proposed to be made to our citizens in a manner which, while equally just to them, was deemed less onerous and inconvenient to the Mexican Government. Relying confidently upon the intentions of that Government, Mr. Ellis was directed to repair to Mexico, and diplomatic intercourse has been resumed between the two countries. The new convention has, he informs us, been recently submitted by the President of that Republic to its Congress under circumstances which promise a speedy ratification, a result which I can not allow myself to doubt."
Less than one year after the signing Francisco Xavier de la Paz Pizarro MartÃnez died. President Martin Van Buren and Secretary John Forsyth along with other cabinet members attended the Catholic funeral of Pizarro. He was originally buried in Georgetown, but his remains were transferred to Mount Olivet Cemetery in 1953.
References
"Second Annual Message." Second Annual Message | The American Presidency Project, 3 Dec. 1838, https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/second-annual-message-4
"Third Annual Message." Second Annual Message | The American Presidency Project, 3 Dec. 1839, https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/third-annual-message-4
https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/special-message-4019
https://www.raabcollection.com/presidential-autographs/van-buren-2-8-1839
https://maint.loc.gov/law/help/us-treaties/bevans/b-mx-ust000009-0783.pdf
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