The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-08-25
in SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES.
AUGUST 10, 1912.
Mr.. RlvES submitted the following
EpOR II.

g. L. Thompson aud Others IL, relation to the claims
of themselves and others, citizens u The United States,
against The Government Of .Merieo md also The me
mortal Of faron Leggei, another claimant Represent
ing the grievances sustained by him from The Guthort-
ties Of Mero, and appealing 10 Congress Jor redress
together ciM numerous documents from the Depart
Of Stale relating TO the subjects Of these nenlort
ais haze had the under their consideration, and
beg leaue 10 report
In reviewing the history of the relations which have
existed between the United States and Mexico, 1t Is
painful TO observe in how many Instances the proper
ty liberty, and personal security OF our citizens as
well the national rights and dignity, have been
violated and outraged by neishboring Power, with
which has been policy to ntaln the most
friendly intercourse The Government of the United
States in seeking the redress for these injuries which
respect for Its own character less than the protec-
ton due TO It's citizens, urgently demanded, has al all
times exhibited moderation and forbeaTance IN
pressing its ust claims, which nothing but the most
anxious desire for the cultivation of harmony and
good neighborhood with youthful republic, us rls
ing into an independent national existence on the
continent with ITSELF could have prompted ex
cused. Al length after various abortiye expert
ments, assuming IN one inst ance the shape of for
NAL arrangement agreed upon tn its minister here
hut which the Government of Mexico failed to raIiy
and through patient and persevorng adherence by
the nted States 10 every honorable means of pacific
adjustment nveniion concluded and ratified
by both powers Tor the settlement of these unpleasant
subjects of controversy.
u nder his convention mixed commission, con
sistng Of two members being its citizens APP
pointed by the Government of Mexico, and of two
hers citizens of the United States appointed by the
Government of the Union organized in the city
of Washington on The 10Th of August, 1910. BY
the terms Of the convention all claims of citizens OF
OF the United States upon the Mexican Govern
ment-statemenls of which, soliciting the interpo-
| sition of the Government of the United States, had
been presented to the DEPARTMENT of State, to the
diplomatic agent OF the United States at Mexico pror
To the signature OF the convenon-were 10 be refer
red TO these commissioners, who were to be sworn i'm
partially To examine and decide upon the SAID claims,
according TO such evidence should be laid before
them on the part of the United States and the Mex-
can republic respectively the Mexican Government
engaging TO furnish all such documents and expana-
tons as might be in their possession touching the said
claims, whenever demand should be made upon
them, accompanied with specification of the docu-
ments required The said board of commissioners
was TO terminate its duties within eighteen months
from the time of its meeting in the city of Washing
ton and it was provided, in the event of the com
mssioners dsagreeng IN relation to any of the afore
said claims, that the points which they differed,
and the grounds on which their respective opinions
were found, should be submitted to the decision of
an arbiter umpire to be appointed by his majesty
the king of Prussia and that the decisions Of the said
umpire should be final and conclusive all the mat
tiers so referred. Finally, the amount which should
be found due to the claimants either by the decision
of the board OF commissioners that of the umpire
was to be paid by the Mexican Government, with a
stipulation that if it should not be convenient for the
Mexican Government to pay at once the amount so
found due, it should be at liberty, Immediately after
the decisions in the several cases. to issue therefor
treasury notes, of the description and under the
limitations set forth in the convention, bearing an in
teres of eight per centum per aunum from the date
of the award on the claim, in payment of which the
said treasury notes shall have been issued and the
United States agreed to exonerate the Mexican Gov
eminent for from any further accountability
for claims which shall either be rejected by the board
the arbiter aforesaid, which, being aiio,ced by
either, shall be provided for by the said Government
in the manner before mentioned.
The committee do not deem ii necessary proper,
at this time, to enter into detailed review of the
proceedings of the commission, in execution of the
provisions OF this convention 1t sufficient to OBJ
that very serious complaints alleged by the
memorialists against the of the Mexican
missoners, IN both the Interpretation and execution
of the high trust devoved upon them by the conver-
ton In the very outset of their Joint abors they
differed radically from the American commissioners
TO the character Of their functions under the con-
ventlon and as to the rules proper to be established
for the government of their proceedings, and to fa-
citae and methodlze the prosecution of the claims
before the board. These differences which, by the
tenacity with which the Mexican commissioners adj
hered to their peculiar views, terminated in denying
all direct access to the board by the claimants their
agents, for the conduct and management of their
caused, consumed much of the time of the COM
ton of any of the claims presented for their decision
until several months, from the period of their organi
cation, had elapsed. 1t has thus happened that the
eighteen months, to which the duration of the COM
mission was limited by the convention, have EXPIRED
leaving many important claims against the Mexican
Government undisposed of either because they were
not defntively acted upon by the board, or having
been acted upon by the board, and presented TO the
umpire for his decision upon the dsagreeing opinions
of the commissioners, they returned by him UNI
dad in of
anime them before the expiration of the commission
when he considered his authority and functions
also terminating. However much the results of
this opinion of the umpire may be to be regretted
the committee deem 1t due to the high character of
that distinguished functonary to that his perfect
consciousness in forming it, well as i'm pronoun-
cling all his other decisions, above the reach of i'm
putation suspicion
In regard to the claims thus undisposed Of at the
expiration of the mixed commission, the committee
are OF opinion, notwithstanding the ntmation TO the
contrary contained in two letters of the Mexican
commissioners, addressed to the Secretary of State
the 25th and Goth of February last that they are
to be regarded as still subsisting claims against the
Government of Mexico, in no manner whatever
barred by the convention the proceedings under IT.
and entitled according to their intrinsic merits to
the faithful counenance and support of the Govern
ment of the United States in prosecuting them TO
final adjustment Such Of the claims as have been
allowed and their amount asccr aimed by the deci-
sion of the board OF commissioners, of the umpire
will, of course, be the subject Of immediate d mand
for payment and satisfaction That satisfaction, to
fulfil the acquisitions of good faith the plain intention
of the convention, and the only rational end and pur-
pose of the whole transaction between the two Gov
ernments must, in every contingency, be rendered
in substantial value and if not convenient to be paid
" al once, Ito use the language of the conventon)
in money! must be rendered by substituting such evil
dences of debt as, while they serve the purpose of
giving to the Mexican Government further time for
the performance of its obligations, shall entitle the
holder at his option, TO ultimate and efiectual pay
ment in money.
Such, the committee have reason to believe,
the views which have been already expressed by the
Executive Department of the Government, the desg
nfth 10