Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1846-12-17


flag and upon the property and persons of its
citizens as had at that time been born by the
United States from the Mexican authorities and
people. But Mexico was SISTER Republic, on
the North American continent, occupying
territory contiguous to our own, and was in
feeble and distracted condition aud these con-
siderations, it is presumed, induced Congress to
iOrbear still longer
Instead of taking redress into our own hands,
new negotiation was entered upon with fair
promises on the part of Mexico, but with the
real purpose, as the event has proved, of indef-
nitey postponing the reparaton which we de-
manded, and which was so Justly due.-Ihls
negotiation, after more than years delay, re
suited in the Convention of the llrh of April
1889, " for the adjustment Of claims of citizens
Inent between the Mexican and American COM
mssoners, amounted to two millions twenty-six
thousand one hundred and thirty-nine dollars
and sixty eight cents There were pending be-
for the umpire when the commission expired,
additional claims which had been examined and
awarded by the American commissioners, and
had not been allowed by the Mexican commits
sioners, amounting to nine hundred and twenty
eight thousand six hundred and twenty-seven
dollars and lightweight cents, upon which he
did not decide, alleging that his authority had
ceased with the termination of the JOINT COM
mission. Besides these claims, there were 9TH
|
million three hundred and thirty-sx thousand
eight hundred and thirtyseVen dollars aud five
cents, which had been submitted to the Board
and upon which they had no time to decide be-
fore their final ad lOurnnent
The sum oftWo millions twenty-sX thousand
one hundred and thrty-nine dollars and sixty
eight cents, which had been awarded to the claim
ants, was liquidated and ascertaned debt due
by Mexico, about which there could be no dis
pute, and which she was bound to pay accord
ing to the terms of the Convention. Soon after
the final awards for this amount had been made,
the Mexican Government asked for postpone
ment of the time of making payment, alleging
| that 1t would be nc0nVcnlent to make the pay
mcnt at the time stipulated. In the spirit of
| forbearing kindness towards sister Republic,
which Mexico has so long abused, the United
States promptly complied with her request.
second Convention was accordingly concluded
between the two Governments on the thireth
of january, 1913, which upon its face declares
that " This new arrangement is entried into for
the accommodation of Mexico" BY he terms
Of this Convention, all the interest due on the
awards which had been made in FAVOR Of the
claimants under the Convention Of the eleventh
of April, 1889, was TO be paid to them on the
thirteth Of April, l949, and the principal of
the said awards, and the interest accruing there
on," was stipulated to "be paid in five years,
|
Notwithstanding this new Convention was en-
tered into at the request Of Mexico, and for the
purpose of believing her from embarrassment,
the claimants have only received the interest
due on the thrlieth of April, 1913, ard three
of the twenty nslalIments Although the pay
| mcnt of he sum thus liquilated and contessedly
due by Mexico to our citizens as indemnity for
acknowledged acts Of outrage and wrong, was
secured by treaty, the obligations of which are
| IoII Il |, /
| has violated this solemn engagement hV failing
and refusing to make the payment. the TWO
nstallnlcnts due in April and July, 1914 under
the peculiar circumstances connected with them
have been assume hy the United States and
| discharged to the claimants, but they are still
due by Mexico. But this is not I'LL of which we
have Just cause of complaint. TO provide a
remedy for the claimants whose cases were not
decided by he joint commission under the Con-
vention of April the 1lth, 1889, it was expressly
stipulated by the sixth article of the Convention
of the 90h of January 1914, that " a new Con-
veuton shall he entered into for the settlement
" all claims Of the Government and citizens of
the United States against the republic of Mcxi-
co which were NOT finally decided by the late
commission, which met in the city of Washing
ton, and of all claims of the Government aud
citizens of Mexico against the United States"
In conformity with this stipulation third
| Convention was concluded and signed at the cI-
ty of Mexico on the Goth November, 1949, 10y
the pIeupoentiaries of the two Governments,
by which provision was made for nscertaning
aud paying these claims. In January, 1874,
this Convention was ratified by the Senate of
the United States with two amendments, which
were manlfestY reasonable in their character.
| Upon reference of the amendments proposed
to the Government of Mexico, the same eva
sions, difficulties and delays were interposed
which have so long marked the policy of that
Government toward the United States. 1t has
not even yet decided whether it would or would
not accede to them, although the subject has
been repeatedly pressed upon its consideration.
Mexico has thus violated second time the
faith of treaties by failing or refusing to carry
into effect the sixth article of the Convention of
January, l849.
Such is the history of the wrongs which we
have suffered and patiently endured from Mex
leo through long series of years. So far from
affordng reasonable satisfaction for the injuries
and insults we had borne a great aggravation
of them consists in the fact, that while the Unit
ed States, anxious to preserve good under
standing with Mexico have been constantly, but
vainly, employed in seeking redress for past
wrongs, new outrages were constantly occurring
which have continued to increase our causes of
complaint and to swell the amount of our de-
mandS While the citizens of the u uted States
were conducting lawful commerce with Mex
leo under the guaranty of treaty of amity,
commerce, and navigation, - many of them have
suffered all the injuries which would have re-
suited from open war This treaty, instead of
affording projection to our citizens, has been
the means of inviting them into the ports of
Mexico, that they might be, as they have been
in numerous instances, pundered of their pro-
perty and deprived of their personal liberty if
they dared insist on their rights. Had the I'M
lawful seizures of American property and the
violation of personal liberty of our citizens, to
say nothing oft The insults TO our flag which have
occurred in the ports of Mexico, taken place
on the high seas, they would themselves long
since have constituted state Of actual war be-
tween The two countries. In so long suffering
Mexico to violate her most solemn treaty obl-
cations, plumber our citizens of their property
and imprison their persons without ahordlng
them any redress, we have failed to perform
one of the first and highest duties which every
Government owes to its citizens aud the con-
sequence has been that many of them have been
reduced from state Of afiluence to- bankruptcy.
The proud name of American citizens, which
ought to protect all who bear it from insult add
injury throughout the world, has afforded no
snrh urotpctinn 10 our citizens i'm Mexico. We