The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1845-12-19


, principal powers of Europe. Treaties o
commerce and navigation had been con
cIuded with her by different nations, an,
ii had become manifest To ,he who'll
world that any further altemp, on the par
, Of Mexico TO conquer her, or overthrow
her government, would be vain. Ever
. Mexico herself had become satisfied o
this fact; and whilst the question of an
neXaton was pending before lIe people o
Texas, during the past summer, he gov
eminent Of Mexico, by a formal act
agreed 10 recognize the independence o
Texas on condition that she would no
annex herself to any other power. Th,
agreement to acknowledge the indepcnd
ence Of Texas, whether with or wihou
this condition, is conclusive against Mex
leo herself, and she has no right or au
lhorty To prescribe restrictions as 10 the
form of government which Texas might
afterwards choose to assume.
But though Mexico cannot complain Of
the United States, is to be regretted that
serious causes CT misunderstanding be-
tween the two countries continue to eX-
list, growing olt Of unredressed injuries
Inflicted by the Mexican authorities and
people on the persons ana property Of ci.
tiZens OF the United States, through a
long series Of years. Mexico has admit.
ted these injuries, but has neglected and
refused TO repair them Such was the
. character Of the Wrongs, and such the in.
suit repeatedly offered to American CHI.
Gems and the American flag by Mexico,
IN paIpable violation Of the laws OF ma.
tons, and the treaty between the two
countries OF the hllh OF April, 1891, that
they have repeatedly been brought to the
notice Of congress by my predecessors.
a, early as the 9Th Of February, 1897,
the president Of the United States dcclar.
ed IN a message to congress, that "thc
length Of tine since some Of the injuries
have been committed. the rrpea,ad and
unlvallue applications for redress, the
waulan character Of some Of the outrages
upon the persons and properly Of our ci-
li2rns, upon the officers and flag Of the
United States, independent Of recent IN"
suits to this government and people by
the late extraordinary Mexican minister,
would Justify, IN the eyes Of all nations,
immediate war" lie did not, however,
recommend a resort 10 this extreme mea.
sure, which he declared "shouId not be
used by Just and generous nations. conf
ding in their strength, for injuries COM
mlued, II II can he honorably avoided (;
but in spirit Of iorbearanre, proposed
that another demand be made on Mexico
for that redress which has been so long
and so unjuslly withheld. In these views
committees Of The two houses Of congress,
in reports made to their respective bodies,
concurred. Since these proceedings,
more than eight years have elapsed, du-
ring which, in addition to the wrongs
then complained Of, Others Of an aggraya.
ted character have been committed on the
persons and property Of our citizens. A
a special agent was sent to Mexlca IN the
summer Of 1898, with full authority to
make another and final demand olIedress.
The demand was made: the Mexican 90.
vernment promised TO repair the wrongs
OF which we complained and, after
much delay, treaty of indemnify, with
that view, was concluded between the
two powers on the lllh of April 1889,
aud was duly ratified by both govern
menis. by this treaty, joint commits
sion was created to adjudicale and decide
on the claims of American citizens on the
government of Mexico.
The commission was organized at Wa
shinglon on the 25th day OF August, 1910.
Their time was limited to Is months at
the end of which they had adjudicaied
and decided claims amounting to two mil
lions twenty-six thousand one hundred
lhrty-nine dollars and sixty.eight cents
in favor of citizens of the United States
against the Mexican government, leaving
a large amount OF claims undecided. OF
the latter, the American commission had
decided IN favor of our citizens claims
amounting to S02S, G27sS, which were
left Enacted on by the umpire authorized
in the treaty. Sull further claims, am
oun,ing to between three and four mil. |
lions Of dollars, which were submitted To
the board too late to I've cons idered, were
left unllsposed Of. The sum of 50 ,026,. .
1905, decided by the board, was i Ii.
quldaIci and aSrcrIained debt due by
Mexico to the claimants, and there was
no Unsuitable reason for delaying It's pay,
menl according to the terms OF the treaty.
Ii was not, however paid. Mexico ap.
piled for hrlher indulgence aud in that
spis,toi liberty aud i0rblarancc which has
ever marked the policy of the United
States towards that republic, the request
was granted; and GA thc 18Th Of january.
1913, a new treaty was concluded. By
Tins treaty It was provided lha, the inter.
est due on the awards in favor of the
claimants under the convention of the |
lith of April, 1899, should be paid on
the 30Ih of April, 1913, and that the prin-