The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-05-19
lCoATIGUED.

srtSttng relations Oefuesn INC C"Aea otaes ana
yMerieO.
CONTINUED.
We should have been glad to abbrevate these
documents, bat we feel that any analysis Of them
would do injustice To the highly important case
which Mr. Sdell presents with so much ability
and force.
Enclosure No. 81
Mr.. SiideH TO Mr.. PsHa Psfa.
MEXICO, Dec. "a, lS45.
The undersigned, envoy extraordinary and minis
ter plenpotentiary of the United States Of America
had the honor 10 receive on the evening Of Sunday
the 2lst instant, the communication OF Mr.. Peia y
Peha dated on the preceding day. The undersigned
will abstain from the full expression Of the feelings
of astonishment and dissstisfaeton which It's peru
sal has so naturally excited fearful that, If he did
not do so, he might oyerstep the bounds which
courtesy and ths usages of diplosarc intercourse
prescribe in addressing person occupying the dis
linguished position Of Mr.. Peha Pehai but he
should be recreant alike 10 the character, dignity
and interests Of the government which he has the
honor represent, were he not to point out to your
excellency, and through him TO the people Of the
United States and Of Mexico, the misstatements
and he begs To be understood that he uses this
word 10 no nyIdIous sense) which the communics-
uOn of your eXCellenCy contains OF the correspond
ence which induced the appointment Of the under
signed refute the reasoning by which Mr.. Fra y
PeIl attempts to sustain the refusal Of the Mexican
government to receive him, and apprlse him Of the
very grave consequences 10 which rerSstence IN
that refusal will probably lead.
In performing this ungrateful duty, the under
signed will sedulously endeavor to avoid every ex-
preston that could, by possibility, offend the just
SensibIlitles of the Mexican government; but this
feeling sincerely entertained would degenerate into
cupable weakness, were he to withhold any fact or
suppress any argument necessary to the faith full
discharge of the task which has been imposed upon
hlm-that Of indicating the strict correctness Of
the course pursued by his government, and de-
monstratIng the glazing improperly Of that which
the Mexican government seems determined TO pur-
sue.
For this purpose, it will be necessary to make a
brief reference TO the difficulties which existed be-
tween the two countries, when, at the instance OF
your excellency, the consul Of the United States,
acting by authority Of his government addressed to
your eXcellency, the 18th of October last letter.
the substance of which had been communicated
orally to your exCelency in a confidential interview
two days previously. Diplomatic relations had
been suspended by the recall Of General Almonte,
the Mexican minister at Washington, in March last,
and the subsequent withdrawal Of the minister of the
United States from Mexico.
Mexico considered herself aggrieved by the course
which the United States had pursued in relation TO
Texas, and this feeling, 1t Is true, was the lmmedr
ate cause Of The abrupt termination Of all diplomatic
relations; but the United States, on their part,
had causes Of complaint, better founded and more
serious, arising out Of the claims Of its citizens on
Mexico.
II is now the purpose Of the undersigned to trace
the history of these claims, and the outrages from
which they sprung. The annals of no civilized ma
ton present, in so short period of time, so many
wanton attacks upon the rights of persons and prop
erty have been endured by citizens Of the United
States from the Mexican authorities-sttacks that
would never have been tolerated from any other nation
than neighboring and sister republic They the
subject of earnest, repeated and unavailing
STRANGE during long series Of years, until at iss,,
on the llth Of April, 1899, convention was con-
Guided for their ad ustment. As, by the provisions
of that convention, the board of commissioners
ganized for the liquidation of the claims obliged
to terminate its duties within eighteen months, and
as much Of that time lost in preliminary dis
cussions, it only acted finally upon small portion
of the claims, the amount awarded upon which
amounted to So 026, 80, 1.-TWO millions twenty-six
thousand hundred and thltty-nine dolarsD
claims examined and awarded by the Amer-
can commissioners, amounting to 1926, 627, (nine
hundred and twenty-eight thousand six hundred
and twenty dollars,) upon which the umpire
refused to decide alleging that his authority had
expired while others, to the amount of S., 1886, 1877
(three millions three hundred and thrty-six thou
sand eight hundred and thirty seven dolIars,) re-
manned altogether Enacted upon, because they had
been submitted too late for fthe decision Of the
board In relation to the claims which had been
submitted to the board of commissioners, but were
not acted on for want of time amounting to
"a 265, AGA, flour millions two hundred and sixty
five thousand four hundred and slxty-our dollars,)
a convention signed in this capital on the Goth
of November, lS43, by Mr.. Waddy Thompson on
the part of the United States and Messrs. Became
era and Trigueros, on that of Mexico, which was
,6aIn ,,th IF tbn Init 81
amendments manifestly reasonable and necessary.
Upon reference of these amendments to the gov
eminent Of Mexico, it nterposed evasions, difficult
ties, and delays of every kind and has never yet
decided whether it would accede to them or not, al
though the subject has been repeatedly pressed by
the ministers Of the United States. Subsequently,
additional claims have been presented TO the De-
partment Of State exceeding in amount 81, 200, OO0
two millions two hundred thousand dolurs,) show
ing in all the enormous aggregate Of SS, 49l SOB,
eight millions four hundred and ninety-one thou
sand six hundred and three doars.) But what has
been the fate even of those claimants against
the government of Mexico, whose debt has
and its payment guaranteed by the most
solemn treaty stipulations' The Mexican gov
eminent, finding 1t announcement to pay the amount
awarded either in money or IN an issue of treasury
notes, according to the terms of the convention.
new convention was concluded on the Goth of jan
uafy, lo4o, between the Two governments, 10 rcleVe
that OF Mexico from this embarrassment. BY its
terms the interest due on the whole amount award
ed was ordered to be paid on the Goth of April,
lS43, and the principal, with the accruing interest,
was made payable in five years, in equal install
ments, every three months. Under this new agree
ment, made to favor Mexico, the claimants have
only received the interest up to the 3Oth April, lS43,
and three Of the twenty instruments.
The undersigned has not made this concise sum
mary Of the injuries inflicted upon American cti-
zens during long series of years, coeva, indeed,
with the existence of the Mexican republic, repara
ton for which has been SO unjusy delayed, for the
purpose of recrmnation, or to revive those angry
feelings which it was the object of his mission to
assuoge, and, if possible, by friendly and frank ne
gotation, to bury in the most profound oblivion;
but simply to prove, that if the proposition made
by his government, through its consul, for the re-
newal of diplomatic relations, presented any amb-
guilty, (Which he will proceed to show does not ex-
ist,) it could not by any fair rule of construction,
bear the Interpretation which your exceIlency has
given to it, The United States have never yet, in
the of their history, failed to vndcae, and
successfully, too against the most powerful nations
ofhe earth, the rights Of their injured citizens III
such has been their course in their infancy, and when
comparatively feeble, il cannot be presumed that
iii ,uiilI 10