Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1846-12-18

States, cannot b doubted. Tho nation.l honor.
and the preservation Of the national character
throughout the world, as we'll as our own sclr.re.
speci and the protection due TO our own ciuzens.
would have rendered such a resort indispensable.
he history Of no civilized naiions IN modern
times has presented within SO brief period !,
many wanton attacks upon the honor Of i,s nsg.
and upon the properly and persons Of iis eiiizens.
as mac ai mat time been borne BY the United
Sia'es IRON ihe Mexican authorities and people.
Do' me&leo was sister republic, on the Norh
american comment, occupying q territory con-
ug1ous TO our own, and was in feeble and dis.
iracied condition; and III csc conscientious. /, is
presumed, induced Congress toforbear stil lonpry.
Instead Of taking redress into our own hands.
q new negotiation was entered upon with fnir pro.
misses on the part Of Mexico, but with the real
purpose, as the event has proved, Of indefinitely
Postponing the reparation which we demanded.
and which was 50 justly due. This negotiation.
after more than years delay, resulted in thecon.
venion Of the eleventh Of April, 1889, "for the
adjustment Of cla ms Of citizens Of the United
States Of America upon the government Of the
Mexican Republic. The joint board Of commits.
sloners created by this convention to examine and
decide upon these claims was not Organized IN.
Ill the month Of August, le4U, and under The
terms Of the convention they were to terminate
their duies within eighteen months from tbat
time. -Four Of the eighteen months were con-
sumed in preliminary discussions on frivolous
and dilatory points raised by the Mexican COM
mlssioners: and Twas not until the month Of De-
cember, 1870, that they commenced an examina.
ton Of the claims Of our citizens upon Mexico.
Fourteen months only remained to examine and
decide upon these numerous and complicated ca
ses. In the month Of February, l842, the term
Of the commission expired, leaving many claims
undisposed Of for want Of time. The claims
which were allowed by the board, and BY the UNI
pire authorized by the convention 10 decide in
case Of disagreement between the Mexican and
American commissioners, amounted TO Two mil.
lion twcnty-six thousand one hundred and thirty
nine dollars and sixty-eght cents. There were
pending before the umpire when the commission
expired additional claims which had been exam
ined and awarded by the American commission
ers, and had not been allowed by the Mexican
commissioners, amounting 10 nine hundred AID
twenly-eght thousand six hundred and twenty.
seven dollars and eigh,y-eight cents, upon which
he did not decide. alleging that his authority had
ceased with the termination Of the Joint commits.
sion. Besides these claims. there were others Of
American citizens amounting 10 three million
three hundred and ihiuy-six thousand eight hun.
dred and thirty.seven dollars and FIVE cents which
had been submitted 10 the board, and upon which
they had not time to decide before the final ad.
journment
The sum Of two million twcniy-six thousand
one hundred and ihirv-nine dollars and siy.v-
eight cents, which had been awarded TO the claim.
ants, was liquidaied and ascerlained debt due
by Mexico, about which there could be no dis.
pute, and which she was bound 10 ray according
10 the terms of the convention. Soon after the f.
nal awards for this amount had been made, iLe
Mexican government asked for q poctronement
Of the time Of making payment, alleging that il
would be inconvenient TO make the payment at
the time stipulated. In the spirit of for5oay.rg
kindness towards sister republic, which Mexico
has so long abused, the United States promptly
complied with her request. A second corren.
tion was accordingly concluded between the two
on the lhrlieth Of January, le43,
which upon its face declares that "this new ar.
rangement is entered 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 conven-
ton Of the eleventh of April, 1889. was 10 be
paid 10 them on the thirtieth Of April, I943, and
"the principal Of the said awards, and the inter.
est accruing thereon" was stipulated to "be paid
in five years, in equal instalments every three
months" Notwithstanding this new convention
was entered into at the request Of Mexico, and
for the purpose of relieving her from enbarass-
ment, the claimants have only received the inter.
est due on the ,hirtieth of April, l843, and three
of the twenty instalments. Although the pay.
ment Of the sum thus liquidated and confessedly
due by Mexico 10 our citizens as indemnify for
acts of outrage and wrong, was
secured by treaty, the obligations of which are
ever held sacred by all just nations, yet Mexico
has violated this solemn engagement by failing
and refusing to make the payment The Two in.
stalments due in April and July, 1874, under the
peculiar circumstances connected with them,
have been assumed by the United States and dis.
charged 10 the claimants, but they are still due by
Mexico. But this is not all Of which we have
just cause of complaint. To provide a remedy
for the claimants whose cases were not decided
by the Joint commission under the convention Of
April the eleventh. 1889, it was expressly stipula-
ted by the sixth article OF the convention Of the
thirtieh of January, I843, that ga new conven-
ton shall be entered into for the settlement of all
claims of the government and citizens Of the u
nited States againstthe Republic Of Mexico which
were not finally decided by the late commission,
which met in the city of Washington, and Of all
the claims of the government and citizens of
Mexico against the United States."
In conformity with this stipulation, a third con-
vention was concluded and signed at the city of
Mexico on the twentieth of November, Ie43, by
the plenipotentiaries of the two governments, by
which provision has been made for ascertaining
and paying these claims. In January, 1914, this
was ratified by The Senate of the U.
nited States with twp amendments, which were
reasonable in their character. Upon
a reference of the amendments proposed TO the
of Mexico, the same evasions, diff.
culties, and delays were interposed which have
50 long marked the policy Of that government