The Daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1845-1850, 1846-12-10


a few days past that any specific communication
lii answer TO our lastdemand, made FIVE months
ago, has been received from the Mexican minis
ter;' and that g for not one of our public com
plants has satisfaction been given offered that
but one OF the cases Of personal wrong has been
tayorablv considered, and that but tour cases of
both descriptions, out of all those formally pre-
sented and earnestly pressed have as yet been
decided upon by the Mexican Gov rnment''
President Van Buren,, believing that it would be
vain to make any farther attempt to obtain re-
dress by the ordinary means within the power of
the Executive, communicated this opinion to
Congress, in the message referred to, in which he
said: e On careful and deliberate examination
of the contents,' (of the correspondence with the
Mexican Government,) sand considering the
spirit manifested by the Mexican Government, it
has become my painful duty TO return the subject
as it now stands, to Congress to whom it belongs,
to decide upon the time, the mode, and the mea-
ofredress." Had the U. States at that time
adopted compulsory measures, and taken redress
into their own hands, all our difficulties with Mex
leo would probably have been long since adjust
ed, and the existing war have been averted
Magnanimity and moderation on our part only
had the effect TO complicate these difficulties, and
render an amicable settlement Of them the more
embarrassing. That such measures of redress,
under similar provocations, committed by any of
the powerful nations Of Europe, would have been
promptly resorted to by the U States, cannot be
doubted. The national honor, and the preserva-
ton of the national character throughout the
world, as we'll as our self respect and the
protection due to our own citizens, would have
rendered such resort indispensable. The his
tory oil no civilized nation in modern times has
presented within so brief period so many wanton
attacks upon the honor of its flag, and upon the
property and persons of its citizens as had at that
time been borne by the u. S. from the Mexican
authorizes aud people. But Mexico was a sister
Republic, on the North American continent, oc-
cupying territory contiguous to our own, and
was in feeble and distracted condition; and
these considerations, it is presumed, induced Con-
! gress TO forbear still longer
Instead of taking redress into our own hands,
negotiation was entered upon with fair prom
ses on the part Of Mexico, but with the real pur-
pose the event has proved, Of indie hnitely post
| poning the reparation, which was demanded, and
which was so Justly due. This negotiation, after
more than years delay, resulted in the Conven-
ton OF the lth of April, 1889, g tor the adjust
ment of claims Of citizens of the U. S. Of America
upon the Government of the Mexican Republic -
The Joint Board of Commissioners created by this
Convention to examine and decide upon these
claims was not organized until the month of Aug.
1910, and under the terms OF the Convention they
were to terminate their duties within Is months
from that time Four of the IS months were con-
sumed in preliminary discussions on frivolous and
dilatory points raised by the Mexican Commits
sioners; and it was not until the month OF Dec.
1910, that they commenced the examination OF
the claims of our citizens upon Mexico. Four
teen months only remained TO examine and de-
eide upon these numerous and complicated cases.
! In the month of Feb 1912, the term OF the COM
! mission expired, leaving many claims undisposed
of for want of time The claims which were al
lowed by the Board, and by the umpire authoriz-
ed by the Convention to decide in case of disa-
greement between the Mexican and American
commissioners, amounted to S., 260,l32 68. =
There were pending before 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 commissioners, amounting to $92S, 627,-
SO, upon which he did not decide, alleging that
his authority had ceased with the termination of
the Joint commission. Besides these claims, there
were others OF American citizens amounting 10
$3, 1886, 1877 O5 which had been submitted TO the
Board, and upon which they had not time TO de-
eide before their final adjournment.
The sum of $2,260, I39 g. which had been
awarded to the claimants, was a liquidated and
ascertained debt due by Mexico, about which
there could be no dispute, and which she was
bound to pay according to the terms of the con-
vention Soon after the final awards for this
amount had been made, the Mexican Govern
ment asked for postpOnement OF the time OF
making payment, alleging tiat IL would De an
convenient to make the payment at the time stp-
uaed. In the spirit of forbearing kindness to-
wards sister Republic, which Mexico has so
long abused the U. States promptly complied
with her request. A second convention was ac-
cord;ngy concluded between the two Govern.
ments on the 3Oh OF jan, 1913, which upon its
face declares that {" this new arrangement is en-
tered into for the accommodation OF Mexico" BY
the 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 nth
April, 1882 was TO he paid TO them on the 30th
OF April 1913, and 'the principal Of the said
awards, and the interest accruing thereon' was
stipulated to " be paid in five years, in equal IN
stallnents every three months" Notwithstand-
ing this new Convention was entered into al the
request OF Mexico, and for the purpose OF reliev
ing her from embarrassment, the claimants have
only received the interest due on the Both April,
1913, and of the 20 insalments. Although the
payment Of the sum thus quidated, aud confess
sedy due by Mexico TO our citizens as indemni.
ty Tor acknowledged acts Of outrage and wrong,
was secured by treaty, the obligations of which
are ever held sacred by all just nations yet Mex
leo has violated this solemn engagement by fail
ing and refusing to make the payment. The two
instalments due in April and July, 1874, under
the peculiar circumstances come .ted with them
have been assumed bv the United States and d;s