Mississippi Democrat. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1846-12-23

ment mot I'D uSidJ iHS hioinent OF mat II.
nal and equitable adjustment which is to
terminate the existing difficulties between
the two governments" that "noth,np
should be left pndone which may contri-
butte TO the mosfspeedy and equitable de.
termination of the subjects which have so
seriously engaged the attention of The A.
merIcan governments" that the s.Mexican
government would adopt as the only guides
for lis conduct, the plainest principles of
public right, the sacred obligations impos.
ed by international law, and the religious
faith of treaties;" and that "whatever rea-
son and justice may dictate respecting
each case WHY be done" The assurance
was further given, that the decision of the
Mexican government upon each case of
complaint, for which redress had been
demanded, should be communicated to the
government of the United States BY the
Mexican minister al Washington.
These solemn assurances, in answer TO
our demand for redress, were disregarded.
By making them, however, Mexico obtain
ed further delay. President Van BMM.
lin his annual message to Congress oil
9Th December, 1887, states that "alihoHln
Fthe larger number" of our demands for re-
dress, and "many of them aggravated Ca
ses of personal wrongs, have been now for
years before the Mexican government,
and some Of the causes of national com.
plant, and those of the most offensive
character, admitted Of immediate. simple,
and satisfactory replies, it is only within
lew days past that any specific commu
nlcatOn in answer 20 our last demand,
made five months ago, has been received
from the Mexican minister" and that ''fOr
not one of our public complaints has salts
faction been given or offered; that but one
Of the cases OF personal wrong has been
fayorably considered, and that but four ca
ses of both descriptions, out of all those
formally presented, and earnestly pressed.
have as yet been decided upon by the
Mexican government" President Van
Buren,, believing that it would be vain II
make any further attempt t. obtain re-
dress by the ordinary ueans within the
power Of the Executive, communicated
this opinion TO Congress in the message
referred TO, in which he said: "On care
fui and deliberate examination OF the con
tents (oi the correspondence with the
Mexican oovernmenD and considering the
spirit manifested by the Mexican govern
ment, it has become my painful duty to
return the subject as il now stands, 10 the
Congress, to whom il belongs, to decide up
on the time, the 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 wonld probably
have been long since adjusted, and the eX-
| listing war have been aveTted. MagnanI-
nifty and moderation on our part only had
! the effect to cOmplicate these difficulties;
and render an amicabe settlement OF them
the more embarrassing. That such mea'
sures of redress, under similar prOvoca-
tons, committed BY any of the powerful
| nations of Europe would have been resort.
ed 10 by the United States, cannot be
| doubted. The national honor, and the
preservation of the national character
| throughout the world, as well as our own
| seIf.respect and the protection due TO our
own citizens, would havs rendered such q
resort indispensable The history of nc
civilized nation in modern times has pre-.
scented within so brief a period so many
wanton attacks upon the honor of its flag,
and upon the property and persons of lis
citizens as had at that time been borne by
the United States from the Mexican au
thorities and people. But Mexico was a
sister Republic on the North American
continent, occupying a territory contigu.
Gus to our own, and was in a feeble anC
distracted condition; and these considera.
tons, it is presumed, induced Congress tC
forbear still longer.
Instead Of taking redress into our own
hands, a new negotiation was entered up
on with tair promises on the part OF Mex
leo, but with the real purpose, as the event
has proved, of indefinitely postponing the
PREPARATION which we demanded and which
was so Justly due. This negotiation, after
more than years. delay, resulted in the
convention of lth April, 1899, ''for the
| adiu stment of claims of citizens of the
United States upon the government OF
| Mexico" The joint board of commits
sioners created by this convention to exa-
mine and decide upon these claims, was
not organized until August, $40, and IN
der the terms of the convention they were
to terminate their duties within eighteen
mouths from that time. -Four months were
consumed in preliminary discussions on
frivolous and dilatory points raised by the
Mexican commissioners; a-d it was not
until December, 1910, that they common
ced the examination of the claims of our
citizens upon Mexico. Fourteen months
only re NAMED to examine and decide upon
these numerous and complicated cases -
In the month of February, 1910, the com
mission expired, leaving many claims I'M
disposed OF for want of time. The claims
which were allowed by the board, aud by