The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-07-18
For the Union.
MEXICO AGAINST THE UNITED STATES,
No. a.


Mexico to the United States--the one asserting the
scrupulous fidelity with which she has fulfilled her
treaty obligations the other averrine an habitual
disregard of those engagements-reference has only
been made to the general language Of the public
functonaries of the two governments, which, being
utterly at variance with each other the community
and the world are unable to decide TO which Of them
credit should be given. The weight Of names and
of authority, il the individuals cited spoke of facts
coming Immediately under their own view, would
undoubtedly preponderaie in favor of the American
side of the question. Itmay, however, be asked-Did
not these gentlemen employ language which each
derived from his predecessor, or from sources not
implicitly to be credited Did not Mr.. Van Buren,
merely reiterate accusations originally preferred by
General Jackson Did not the latter derive his
knowledge from subordinate functonaries' And
were not they msled by the representations Of in
terested and not trustworthy clamants' We wish
whether the allegations have been investigated.
Has their investigation been conducted by men in
whose integrity and capacity confidence may be re-
posed Are the claimants of responsibility and
WORTH and have they sustained their pretensions
by credible testimony? These are all pertinent and
proper subjects Of inquiry; and they shall be an
swered to the conviction of every man who may
truly desire to come to correct result on the sub
ject
The record of the proceedings of the board of
commissioners, as reported to Congress, is now be-
fore us, and the document is accessible to all who
have curiosity to examine the matter. In the first
tabular statement appended to it, embracing cases
which were decided by the concurrent judgment Of
the American and Mexican commissioners, will be
found the following: Peter Harmony, New York,
amount awarded, Sll,l30-the ground Of claim,
Specie seized on the way to Vera Cruz by officers
of the government, for its use" J. J. Aston &
Son, New York, S37, 66I o." For the brig Cos
sack, seized on the western coast of Mexico, &C."
Smith Thompson, and others, S2,093 g." Brig
Splendid, seized and employed by the Mexican
government" Theodore Ducoing, ~, 45O--" For
forced loan and seizure of property" John F. Old
ct al, $l3,267 Co." Brig Delight, detention Of the
vessel, and seizure Of part of the cargo"
The second table comprehends cases which were
finally decided by the umpire, the members of the
board differing in opinion. This includes the fol-
lowing cases: Arnold, Hicks, and others, ST.
26O 57-seizure of the ship Louisa and cargo.
Jackson Marine Insurance Company, IS, 36l 95-
schooner Brazoria seized and employed in the Mex
lean service. Thomas Wilson, ST. 1874 32-seizure
of schooner Fair American. Robinson Potter,
S3,363 50-seizure of and employment as trans
port Of brig William. John Baldwin, $l2, 800 g..
personal injuries, loss of property, Imprisonment,
&c. M. Mitchell, 1896 64-seizure of specie for
the use of the government, between Mexico and
Vera Cruz. Boric and Laguerenne, $35, 1886 So
illegal exaction of duties. Aaron Leggeit, $685.
4s7 94-sezure of steamboat, and other outrages.
Dennis Calagan, $l2,042-seizure of vessel, and
imprisonment. G. q. and 8. Rowland, Sls,O5s 6l--
seizure Of wax. Joseph Smith, $i8,762 63-seiz-
ure Of merchandise. John Baldwin, SlOO, OOO-va-
rious outrages, designated by the commissioners as
"a case ofthe most extraordinary and aggravated
ture," and for which the American members award
ed upwards of $4,000. Same, $45,174 rs SINH
lar atrocities. c. Bradbury and others, $ll9966 80
detention of brig Franklin.
The foregoing constitute but small number Of
of this description, in many o! which the
Mexican commissioners only differed from their
American colleagues in fixing the measure of COM
pensation, and in all of which they were afforded
a full opportunity ofopposing any allowance.
A third table shows the cases which were returned
by the umpire without his award; he being debarred
by the expiration Of the commission, from fulfilling
his entire duty.
The same tabular statements comprehend very
large number Of claims thus passed upon, which
were not Of this particular class They were,
not for illegal seizures of persons and property
but for simple breach of faith on the part of
Mexico, in not paying for advances and sup
plies furnished her. Enough, however, has been
shown to make it perfectly manifest, that among
the claimants were some of the most distin-
guished and irreproachable merchants in the land
that their allegations have been examined by
eminent and experienced judges; that Mexico had
the claimants were equally debarrcd from seeing the
evidence and hearing the arguments adduced against
them; and that the result fixes upon Mexico the
most fragrant violations of public law, of treaty stp
ulations, and of personal rights.
Still again the inquiry may be made What was
the character of the outrages of which complaint is
made This also shall be answered. One shall be
brought before the board; and one of private out
rage, which was thoroughly examined, and upon
which the commissioners and the umpire passed
their judgment In selecting these, it must be OBJ
served that they thus brought forward, not be-
cause they distinguished from others by any pc
culiarly aggravating circumstances, but because the
facts are exhibited in authentic shape and no
question can be raised as to the truth Of the mar
rative.
1t will be unnecessary here to particularize the
case of Mr.. Slacum, an officer of the navy Of the
United States, bearer Of dispatches from the De-
partment of State to the United States legation at
Mexico in 1896, who was arrested by Mexican Off
GERS, his public dispatches demanded, and he sub
jected to violent, rude, and offensive reatmen or
of the case of another public messenger of the Uni
ted States bearing dispatches from minister car
rying with him passport Of safe-conduct from the
supreme government of Mexico verifying his char