Mobile register and journal., 1846-12-16

dnAOQS WISH or ult ACAtCAn government llOl 10 delay the moment of thal final and equitable adjust ment which IS to terminate the existing difficulties he lween the two goVernments;' that nothing should be left undone which may contribute 10 h most speedy and equitable determination of the subjects which have so serlouslyengagsd the attention of the Ame- mean governmeni that the Mexican government would adept, as he only guide for is conduct the planest principles of public right, the sacred obliga lions imposed byAnternatonal law, and the religious faith of treaties; and that whatever reason and jus tlce may dictate respecting each case will be done The assurance whs further given, that the decision of the Mexican government upon each cause of com plaint, for which redress had been demanded should be commsncaled 10 the government of the U. States by theMexican minister al Washington
 These solemn assurances, in answer 10 our demand for redress, wen dlsregarded. By making them however, Mexic obtained further delay. President Van Buren, in lis annual message 10 Congress of the fifth of December 1887, states that 'alfho' the larger number, bf our demands for redress, and many of them aggravated cases of personal wrongs have been nowlor years before the Mexican gov ernment, and sane of the causes of national com plaint and thos of the most offensive character ad- mitted of immdite, simple and satisfactory re- piles, it IS only within few days past that any spe- cl6c communication in answer to our last demand, made five monhs ago, has been received from the Mexican minisBr; and that for not one of our pub lie complaints hs satisfaction been given or offered; that but one ofhe cases of personal wrong has been favoraby consJss, and that but four cases of both desgntiapsp. xasseqsU5, those formally -nresenied Buren, believing that il would be vain to make any further attempt to obiain redress by the ordinary means within the power of the Executive, commu- ncated this opinion to Congress, in rhe message re- ferred to- in which he said: "On a careful aud dellbe- rate examination of lhe coents" (ofthe correspon- dence with the Mexican government1 'aDd consider ing the spirit manifested by the Mexican govern ment, Il has become my painful dnY to return the subject as 1t now stands, to Congress 10 whom 1t belongs, to decide upon the time, tfn mode and the measure of redress" Had the United States at that time adopted compulsory measures, and taken redress into their own hands, all our difficulties with Mexico would probably have been long since adjust ed, and the existing war have been sserted. Mag nanlmlty and moderation on our pat only had the effect 10 compcate these difficulties and render an amicable settlement of them the more embarrass-
 ing. That such measures of redresss under similar provocatons, committed by an o the powerful na lions of Europe, would have been promptly resorted 10 by the United States, cannotbe doubted The national honor and the preservatpn oi the national character throughout the world, as well as our own self respect and the protection due to our own citl- Zens, would have rendered such resort lndispensa ble. The history of no civilized nation in modern times has presented within so brida period so many wanton attacks upon the honor oiit flag and upon the property and persons of it's citizens, had at that time been borne by the United States from the Mexican authorities and people. But Mexico was a sister republic on the North American continent, occupying territory contiguous to our own, and was in a feeble and distracted condition; and these considerations, it Is presumed. induced Congress to forbear still longer.
 Instead Of taking redress into our own hands, new negotIaIon entered upon wllh far promises on the part of Mexico, but with real purpose as the event has proved, of indefinitely posponing the paration which we demanded and which was so justly due. This negotiation. niter more than years de- lay, resulted in the convention of the eleventh of April, ls39 for the adjustment of claims of citizens of the United States of America upon the govern menI nf ihe Mexican Republic" The joint board of commissioners created by this convention 10 amine and decide upon these claims was not orga. nized until The month of August 1s40. and under the terms of he convention they 10 terminate their duties within eighteen months from that time. Four oi the eighteen monIhs were consumed in preliminary discussions frivolous and diatnry points raised by the Mexican commissioners; and il was not until the monih of December. l94n, thal they commenced the examination of ihs cai"s of oir citizens upon Mexico Fourteen months only remained To exam
 inc and deeIde upnn these numerous and complicated cases In the month of February, l842, the of the commission expired, leaving many claims undis. posed oi for want of lime The claims which were allowed by he board. and hy the umpire authorized hy the convention to decide in case of disagreement between the Mexican and American commissioners, amounted to two million twenty-six thousand one hundred and thirty nine dollars and sixty eight cents. There were pending before the umpire when the com- mission expired, addii onal claims which had been examined and awarded by the American commi ion- CTS, and had not been allowed by the Mexican com missioners, amounting ts nine hundred and twenty eight thousand six hundred and twenty dollars and eighiy-eigh cens upon which he did not decide. alleging thai hls authority had ceased with the ter imitation Of the joint commission. Besides these claims, there were others of American citizens a- mounting to three million three hundred and thirty. six thousand eight hundred thirty seven dollars and five cents, which had been submitted to the board and upon which they had not time to decide before their final adjournment.
 The of two million twenty-six thousand one hundi ed and thirty dollars and sixty eight which had been awarded to the claimants, was li- quidated and asceraned debt due by Mexico, about which there could be no dispute. and which she was bound to pay according to tho terms of the cUnven- tion. Sosn after the final awards for ihis amount had been made, the Mexican government asked for postponement oi lhs time of making payment, aeg- ing that II would bo inconvenieni to make the pay ment at the tune stipulated. In the spirit of fo . bearing kindness towards a FIster republic, which Mexico has so long abused, the United States promptly complied with her request. A second con. venton was accordingly concluded between the two governments on he thirteth of January, lS43, which upon its face declares that "the arrangement Is entered into for the accommodation of Mexico" By the terms of ihis convention, all ihe interest due the awards winch had been made in favor of the claimants under the convention of the eleventh of April 1899, was 10 be paid to them the thirieth Of April l843 and "lhe principal of the said awards ard the interest accrung thereon" was stipulated to ''be paid in five years, in equal inslalments every three mouths" Notwithstanding this new conven- ton was entered al the request ol Mexico, and for the purpose of relieving her from embarrassment, the claimants have only received the interest due on the lhrieth of April, l643, and three of the twenty insIalmenls. Although ihe payment of the sum thus hquldated, and confessedy due by Mexico to our ct. izens as indemnity for acknowledged acts of outrage and wrong secured by treaty, the obligations of which are ever held sacred by all just nations, yet Mexico has violated this solemn engagement by lail- ing and refusing to make ihe payment. The two instamenis due in April and July. 18d4. under the peculiar circumstances connected with them have been assumed by the United States and discharged lo the claimants, but they still due by Mexico- But this ia not all of which we have just cause ol complaint. To provide remedy for the claimants whose cases were not decided by the joint comms. sion under the of April the eleventh, 1889, it expressly stipulated by the sixth article of the convention of the thirteth of January, 1643 that a new convention shall be entered into for the selte- of all claims of the government and citizens of the United States against the republic of Mexico which were noi finally decided by the commission which met in the city of Washington, and of all claims -of the government and citizens of Mexico against the United Slaies.'
 In coalrmiiy with this stipulation. a third was con. cluded and signed al the cty of Mexico on the twentieth of November, l542, by the plenpoten'ia. res of the two governments, by which provision was made tor acertaining and paying these claims In January, lS44, this convention was ratified by the Senate of the United States will, two amendments, which were manieslly reasonable m their character. Upon a reference of the amendments proposed to the government of Mexico. the same evasions, difficult ties, and delays, inierposed which have long marked the policy of that government towards the United States. It has not even yet decided whether
 Il wouli would not accede to them, although the subject has been repeatedly pressed upon it's cousld- eration,
 Mexico has thns violated second time the faith