The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-05-13

suceeeded in concluding convention with Mexico,
"Cor the adjustment Of claims of citizens of the
United States of America u BON the government of
the Mexican republic"
The board of commissioners under this conyen-
ZION, consisting Of two American and two Mexican
citizens, was not organized until the 25th August,
1910; and under its provisions they compelled to
terminate their labors within eighteen months from
that date. Four Of these eighteen months were
spent in preliminary discussions, which had arisen
on frivolous and datory objections, raised by the
Mexican commissioners. Indeed, from their course
of conduct it was at one time seriously apprehend-
ed that the board might separate, without hearing
or deciding q single case. Finally, however, on the
Gath December, 1910, they commenced the examlna'
ton of the claims of citizens, having then but
fourteen months left to conclude their abors. Du-
ring this period, the board allowed eleven claims,
amounting, principal and interest, to the sum
of s439, 393 90; and the umpire, upon disagree
ing reports Of the American and Mexican COM
missioners, allowed fhy-one claims, amounting,
principal and interest," the sum of 81, 1856, las sc
making an aggregate of s2,O26, 1879 90.
IL was hoped that the Mexican government
could promptly discharge the amount Of these claims
according to the terms Of the treaty; bat we were
| again destined TO disappointment. That government
stated lis inability to comply with these terms, and
is desire that they should be modified. The gov
eminent Of the United States ever willing to comply
with the wishes Of the Mexican government, so
far as this could be done without compromising the
rights Of our own citizens, aceeded to this request
and on the 30th January, lS43, concluded a new
convention with the Mexican government on the
very terms which it had proposed. Under Its pro-
/ visions the interest due on the whole amount
awarded was to be paid the 3Oth April, le43; and
1 the principal with the accrung interest, was made
payable in FIVE years. equal instruments at the end
of every three months. Under this new arrange
ment, made to favor the Mexican republic, nothing
has ever been paid except the interest due on the
3Oth April, ls43, and three Of the twenty install
ments.
But this is not all, of which we have just cause
for complaint. There were pending before the UNI
pire, at the time when the commission expired, 10
| claims which had been examined and allowed by
| the American commissioners, amounting principal
and interest, to the sum Of s929,627 50. Up
| on these he refused to decide, alleging
that his authority under the convention had
expired la addition TO these claims, six other
claims amounting to 1896, 1877 O5, were presented
TOO late to be considered by the board before It's dis
solution. To provide for the final adjudication OF
these two latter classes of claims, az well as others
which had not been presented to the board, third
convention was signed at Mexico, on the Goth No
vember, l843. This convention was ratified by the
Senate of the United States on the 30th January,
L .l,. A0ha
place Of meeting Of the board of commissioners
from Mexico to the city Of Washington; and the
second struck out the 10th article, which referred
the claims of pecuniary nature that the two gov.
ernments might have against each other to the
board, with an appeal to the umpire, in case ma
iority Of the commissioners could not agree.
These amendments were manifestly reasonable
| To have compelled the claimants, all OF whom are
citizens of the United States to proceed to Mexico
| With their documents and testimony, would, in
great degree have defeated the object of the CT M
mission. Besides, the new board was to he, in fact,
but continuance of the old one; and its duties
would have been chiefly to complete the business
which had been left unfinished in the city of Wash
ington by the former commission
In regard to the second amendment, II may be re-
| marked that it never had been suggested, in the
course of the negotiation, that either of the govern
men,s had claims of pecuniary character on the
other, or that any claims existed except those OF
American citizens on the republic of Mexico.
Upon reference of these two amendments of the
Senate to the government Of Mexico, 1t interposed
the same evasions, difficulties, and delays, which
have ever characterized its policy towards the UNI
ted States 1t has never yet decided whether it
would or would not accede to them, although the
subject has repeatedly been pressed upon its consld
Grafton by our ministers. The convention of Both
April l843, has thus become dead letter.
1t ought also, to be stated that since the final ad-
iournment of the board of commissioners on the
25th February, 1912, twenty.eight new claims have
been filed in the Department Of State. Seventeen of
these amount, according to the estimate of the
claimants, to the sum of Sl,l47 1888 SIS and the
remaining eleven have been presented without any
estimate To sum up the whole
The amount finally adjudcated un-
der the convention of the llth -
April, 1889, is S2,026, 10y 30
The claims referred to the umpire
/ upon a disagreement between the
American and Mexican commits
sioners, but which were not deci-
cided by him 929,627 SO
Amount of claims submitted to the
board too late be considered,
claimants themselves 1886, 1897 O5
Amount of II claims filed in the De-
partment of State since the ad-
iournment of the board, according
to the estimate Of the claimants
themselves l,l4I,9o9 %
Together with eleven other claims, filed since that
period, on which the claimants have placed no est
mate.
The result of the whole is, that the injuries and
outrages committed by the authorities of Mexico on
American citizens, which, in the opinion of President
Jackson, would so long since as February, 1887
have justified resort to war or reprlsaIs, still re
main unredressed, excepting only the comparatively
small sum received under the convention of April
1889 The history Of the whole case presents q
striking illustration Of the patient forbearance of the