The Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1834-184?, 1845-12-13


\ Texas might afterwards choose to assume.
/ But although Mexico cannot complain o
the United States, on account of the annex
lion of the Republic of Texas, it is TO be re-
gretted that serious causes of misunderstand-
ling between the two countries continue 10
exist; growing out of undressed injuries In
ficted by the Mexican authorities and peo-
pie on the persons and property of the citi-
zens of the u. States, through a long series
of years. Mexico has admitted these inJu-
ries, but neglected and refused to repair
them. Such was the character ofthe wrongs,
and such the insults repeatedly offered to A
merican citizens andt American flag by
Mexico, in palpable violation of the laws of
nations andlthe treatyIbetween the two coun-
tries of the 9Th of April 1881, that they have
been repeatedly brought to the notice of
Congress by my predecessors. AS early as
the 6th of February, 1887 the President of
the United States declared in message to
Congress, that ''the length of time since
some of these injuries have been committed
the repeated and unavailing applications for
redress, the wanton character of some of the
outrages upon the persons and property of
our citizens, upon the officers and flag of the
United States, Independent of recent insults
to this Government and people by the late
Extraordinary Mexican Minister, would JUS
tify in the eyes of allnalions immediate war"
He did not, however, recommend an i'm
mediate resort to the extreme measure, which
he declared ''should not be urgedby just and
generous nations, confdIng in their strength
for injuriesscommitted il itcan be honorably
avoided but, ia spiritof forbearance, pro-
posed that another demand be made on Mex
leo for that redress which has been so long
unjustly withheld. In these views, commit
tees of the two Houses of Congress. in re-
ports made to their respective bodies, con-
Cured. Since these proceedings, more than
s years have elapsed, during which, in addi-
ton to the wrongs then complained of, 9TH
ers of an aggravated character have been
committed on the persons and property of
our citizens. Asspecial agent was sent to
Mexico in the summer 1888, with full au-
thorFty to make another and final demand
for redress. The demand was made-the
Mexican government promised to repair the
wrongs of which we complained; and after
much delay, a treaty of indemnity with that
view was concluded betwee the two coun-
tries on the 18th April, 1889, and was duly
ratified by both governments, By this trea-
ty joint commission was created to adiudi-
cate and decide on the claims of American
CrtTzens ON me government VI NIexICo. Tne
commission was organized at washington on
the 25th day Of August, 1910. Their time
YVES limited TO eighteen months; at the ex-
piration of which, they had adjusted and de-
cided claims amounting to 2,026,l30 IS
in favor ofthe U. States, against the Mexi-
can government, leaving large amount of
claim undecided.
Of the latter the American commissioner,
had decided in favor of our citizens, claims. as
mounting TO nine hundred and twenty eight
thousand SIX hundred and twenty seven dollars
and eighty eight cents, which were left unac>
ted on by the umpire authorised by the treaty.
Sill further claims, amounting to between three
and four millions OF dollars, were le!trundispos-
ed of. The sum of S2,026, 80 68. divided by
the board, was liquidation and ascertained
debt due by Mexico to the claimants, and there
was no Justihable reason for delaying its pay
ment according to the terms of the treaty. 1t
was not, however, paid. Mexico applied for
further indulgence and the request was granted,
and on the SOth January 1913, a new treaty was
concluded, By this treaty it was provided that
the interest due on the awards in favor of claim
ants under the convention of the 18th April '39,
should be paid on the Both April '43, and that
''ihe principal OF the said awards and the inter
terest arising thereon, shall be paid in five
years in equal instalments every three months.
the said term OF five years to commence on the
3Qth April l643.and the three first of the TWEEN
ty instalments have been paid. SIEVE nteen of
these lnstalmeaIs remain unpaid, seven of which
are now due.
The claims'which were lie # undecided by the
M in IN I'll Il
OUV OF dollars, together with other claims for
spoiiauons on the property of our citizens, were
subsequently presented to the Mexican Govern
ment Tor payment, and were so lar recognised,
that treaty, providing for their examination
and settlement by Joint commissions, was cons
cluded and signed at Mexico on the goth dav of
November, lS43 This treaty was ratified by
the nlted States with certain amendments, to
which no just exception could have bedl taken;
put 1t has not yet received the ratification Of the
MeXleah government In the meantime our
citizens who suffered great losses, and some of
whom have been reduced from affluence to bank
Tnptcy. are without remedy, unless their rights
be enforced by their Government. Such a con.
iaued and unprovoked series of wrongs could
never have been tolerated by the u. S. had they
been commit ed by one Of the principle nations
of Europe. Mexico was. however. a neiohbor-
ing sister Republic, (which, following ur,example |
mad achleved her lndepend ence, and for whose |
success and prosperity all our sympathies were
early enlisted. We have, therefore, borne :
the repeated wrongs she has committed with
great Patience,in the hope that returning sense
OF justice would ultimately guide her councils, |
and thar we might, if possible, honorabIy avoid
any hostile collision with her.
Without the previous authority of Con-
gress, the Executive possessed no power TO
adopt or enforce adequate remedies for the
injuries We had suffered, or to do more than
be prepared to repel the threatened agrees
sion on the part of Mexico. After our ar
my. and navy had remained on the frontier