Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1845-12-19

serious causes OF mlSunderStaNdin be-
tween the two countries continue to eX-
ist, growing ont Of uhred dressed injuries in
tlicted by the Mexican au .horities and peo-
pie Oh the persons and property OF citizens
Of the United States, through long series
Of years. Mexico has admitted these in
pair them. Such was the character of the
wrongs, and such the insults repeatedly
offered to American citizens and the Ameri-
can flag by Mexico, in pal alpable violation of
the laws of nations and the treaty between
the two countries of the 5th Of a priI, 1881 -,
that they have heen repeatedly brought to
the notice OF Congress by my predecessors.
As early as the 9Th Of February, 1887, the
President of the United States declared,
in a message to Congress, that "thr length
of time since some Of the injuries have
been committed, therepeated and unavail-
ing 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 Gov
ernment aud the people by the late Extra
in the eyes of all nations immediate war;
He did not, however, recommend an i'm
mediate resort to this extreme measure,
which, he declared, "should not ne used
10y Just and generous nations, conidng in
their strength, for injuries committed, If it
can hJ hnnOrably avoIded;' but, in spirit
OF tOrhparanCe, proposed that another ne
mand be made on Mexico for that redress
. which had been so l0Ng and uniustly with
held. In these views committees of the
two Houses Of Congress, in reports made
! to their respective bodies, Concurged. -
: Since these proceedings more than eight
: years have elapsed, during which, in ad-
| dItIOn to the wrongs then complained Of,
! Others OF an aggravated character have
been committed on the persons and pro-
5 perty of our citizens. AspeciaI agent was
sent to Mexico in the summer Of 1888,
= with full authority 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 between the two Powers on
, the nth Of April, 1899, and was duly rati-
: fled by both Governments. BY this treaty
! a Joint commission was created to adiudi.
| cate and decide on the claims Of American
, citizens on the Government of Mexico
The commission was organized at WaSh,
: ington on the 25th day of August, 1916. :
I Their time was limited to eighteen months
7 at the expiration Of which, they had ad,
} Indicated and decided claims amounting
20 two millions twenly-siX thousand one
, hundred and lhirty-ninp dollars and sixty.
5 eight cents IL favor Of citizens of the Uni.
ted States against the Mexican Govern.
, ment, leaving large amount OF claims
, undecided. or the latter, the American
commissioners had decided in favor Of oul
citizens claims amounting to nine hundred
and twenty-eight thousand six hundred
and twenty-scVen dollars and eighty-pigh
r cents, which We're left unacted on by the
! umpire authorized by the treaty. Still fur
= ther claims amounting to between three
and -four millions OF dollars, were submit
# ted to the board too late TO he considered
and were left undiSposed Of The sum o
, two millions twenty-siX thousand one hun
dred and thrty-nine dollars and sixty
eight cents, decided by the board, was
q liquidated and ascertained debt due b,
n Mexico to the claimants, and there was NJ
il justliahle reason for delaying its paymen
: according to the terms of the treaty. |
a was not, however paid. Mexico applied
O for fulther indulgence; and, in that spiri
. of lIberality and forbcarance which ha
n ever marked the policy of the United State
Y towards that Republic, the request wa
v granted; and, on the thirtieth of January
;. l843, a new treaty was concluded. B.
, this treaty it was provided that the inter
q est due on the awards in favor OF claimant
9 under the convention Of the eleventh o
q April, 1899, should be paid on the thirtiell
v April, l843i and that "the principal Of th
= said awards, and the interest arising there
g on, shall be paid in five years, in equal in
Il stalments, every three months; the SAT-
8 term Of five years to commence on the thir
I tieth day OF April, 1843, as aforesaid. ~
O The interest due on the thirtieth day O
4 April, l843, and the three first of tn
q twenty instalments, have been paid. Sew
n enteen Of these instalments remain unpaid
q seven of which are now due.
The claims which were left undecided
!, by the joint commission, amounting t
e more than three millions of dollars, togeth
d er with other claims for spoilations on tn
& property of our citizens, were subsequent
n ly presented to the Mexican Government
y for payment, and were so far recognized
= that treaty, providing for their examina
d ton and settlement by joint commission
II was concluded and signed at Mexico OF
2 the twentieth day of November, l843. Thi
: treaty ywas ratified by the United States
= with certain amendments, to which n,
t Just exception could have been taken; bu
d it has not yet received the ratification o
It the Mexican Government. In the meal
G time, our citizens, who suffered great los
It seq, aud some Of whom have been reduc
a ed from aflluence to bankruptcy, are with
= out remedy, unless their rights he enforced
e by their Government. Such continued
r and unprovoked series OF wrongs coul,
e never have been tolerated by the U. State
~ III. 4 4