Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-12-11

spirit manifested by The Mexican Government, il
has become my painful duty 10 return the sui
ecl, as il now stands, 10 Congress, TO whom il be-
longs, 10 decide npon The Time The mode, and the
measure OF redress" Had the U.!Staes, al that
time, adopted compulsory measures, and Ia
ken redress into their own hands, all our diff
cunes with Mexico would probably have been
long since adjusted, and the existing war
have been aveIled. Magnanimily and mode
ration on our part only had The effect 10
cnmplicale these difficulties, and render an ami
ca BILE seuemen, OF them the more embarrassing.
That such measures vi redress under similar
provucalons, commiied by any OF the powerful
nations ri Europe, would have been promptly re-
sorted 10 by The United States, cannot be doubt
ed. The national honor, and the preservation OF
the national character throughout The world, as
we'll as our own sei-respeci, and the protection
due 10 our own citizens, would have rendered
such resort indispensable. The history OF no
civilized nation in modern times has presented,
within so brief period, 50 many wan'on attacks
upon the honor Of its flag and upon The properly
and persons Of its citizens, as had at thai lime
been borne by the United States from The Mexi-
can 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 conditions; and these
considerations, il is presumed, induced Congress
10 lurbear sill longer.
Instead OF taking redress into onr own hands,
new negotiation was entered upon with iair pro-
misses on the part OF Mexico but with The real
purpose, as the event has proved, ofindefnitely
postponins The PREPARATION which We demanded, and
which was So Justly due. This negotiation aiteT
more than years delay, resulted in the Convcn-
lion of The eleventh Of April, 1889, "for The al
iuslmen, OF claims OF citizens Of the United
States Of America upon The Government, Of the
Mexican Republic" The Joint Board of Com
missoners created by this Convention 10 examine
and decide upon these claims, was not organzcd
until the month Of August, 1910, and, under the
terms Of the Convention, they were TO terminate
their duties within eighteen months from thai
lime. Four Of the eighteen months were con-
sumed in preliminary discussions on frivolous
and diIa,ory points raised by The Mexican Com
missioners; and il WIS not until The month Of De.
cetnber 1910, that they commenced the examna-
lion OF The claims Of our citizens upon Mexico.
Fourteen months only remained 10 examine and
decide upon these numerous and complicated
cases. In the month Of February, 1912, The term
of the commission expired leaving many claims
undsposed OF for want OF lime. The claims
which we're allowed BY the Board, and by The um
pre authorized BY The Convention 10 decide in
case Of disagreement between The Mexican and
American Commissioners, amounted 10 Two mil
| lion tweniy-six thousand one hundred and thirty
nine dollars and six'y-eisht CENTS There were
pending before the umpire WHEN the commission
| expired additional CLAIM which had been examin-
ed 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 dol
lars and eishly-eight CENTS upon which ne did
not decide alleging that his authority had ceased
with the termination Of The joint commission
Besides these claims, there were others Of Anne
rcan citizens amounting 10 three million three
hundred and lhiny-siX thousand eight hundred and
thirty dollars and FIVE cents, which had been
submitted 10 the Board, and upon which they had
not time TO decide before their final adjournment.
The sum OF two million twcnty-six lhousa nd
one hundred and lhiriy-nine dollars and sixty
eight cents, which had been awarded 10 The
| claimants, was liquidaled and ascenained debt
due by Mexico, about which thera could be no
dispute, and which she was bound 10 pay accord
| ing 10 The terms Of The convention. Soon after
| the final awards for this amount had been made,
The Mexican Govefnmen. asked Tor a postpone
menl Of The time Vi making raymen alleging
that it would be inconvenient to make The pay
menl al the time stipulated. In The spirit oil for
| bearing kindness towards sister republic, which
| Mexico has SO long abused, The United States
| promptly complied with her request. A second
| convention was accordingly concluded between
the Two governments on the tbirlielh Of January,
lS43, which upon its lace declares, tina, "this new
| arrangement is entered into Tor The accommoda-
ton of Mexico" BY the terms Of this conven
lion, all The interest due on The awards which bad
| been made in favor of the claimants under the
convention OF the eleventh Of April, 1889, was 10
| be paid 10 them on the thirtieih Of April lS43
and she principal Of The said awards, and the in
lerest accruing thereon" was stipulated TO abe
paid in five years, 10 equal inslalments every
| three months" Notwithstanding this new con-
vcnlion was entered INFO AT the request OF MeX-
CO. and for the purpose of relieving her from en-
| barrassmen,, the claimants have only received
the interest due on the lhistieih Of April, 1913,
and three OF the twenty instalments. Although
the payment of the sum thus liQudated, and con-
fessedly due by Mexico 10 our citizens as indem-
nily for ackno ~edged acts fourage and wrong,
was secured by treaty, The obligations Of which
Mexico has violated this solemn engagement by
failing and refusing TO make the payment. The
Two insalments due in April and July, 1914, un-
| der the peculiar circumstances connected with
| them, have been assumed by The Unied States
and discharged to The claimants, but they are sill
due by Me,ico. But this is not all of which we
have jus, cause of complaint. To provide re-
| medy for the claimants whose cases were not de-
cided by the joint commission under The conven-
| non Oi ccVCullt 1907 " "dS ca pIcsSIl
stipulated by the sixth article of The conventional
the ..ir'ielh Of January, IS43, that IA new con-
ver.'sn sha be entered into for The settlement Of
all claims OF the government. and citizens of the
United States against the republic OF Mexico
which were not finally decided by the late CON-
mission which met in the city of Washington,
and OF all claims Of the government and citizens
of Mexico against The United States ("
In conformity with this stipulation, third
convention was concluded and signed at the city
of Mexico on The twentieth OF November, l643,
by the plenipoenlaries OF The two Governments,
by which provision was made for ascertaiDing
| and paving these claims. In January 1914, this
| convention was ratified by The Senate Of The Uni
| ted States with Two amendments. which were
| manifesty reasonable in their character. Upon
reference OF The amendments proposed 10 The
| Government Of Mexico The same evasions, diff
| ticullies, and delays were inerposed which have
so long mail ed The policy oil that Government To-
wards The United States |, has mol vel even de-
| cided whether il wonld or would not accede 10
Them, although the subject has been repeatedly
| pressed upon lis consideration.
Mexico has thus violated second time the
faith OF treaties, by failing or refusing 10 carry
into effect the SIKH article Of The convention oil
January, l843.
Such is the history of the wrongs which we have
suffered and patiently endured from Mexico
through long series Of years So far from af-
fordipg reasonable satisfaction for tie injuries
and insults we had borne, great agcravation OF
them consists in the fact, that while the U. States,
I anxious 10 preserve good understanding with
Mexico, have been constantly, hui vainly, en-
ployed in seeking redress for past wrongs, new
| ourages were constantly occurring which have
continued 10 increase our causes ofcomplain and
10 swell The amount Of our demands. While the
citizens Of The United States were conducting a
lawful commerce with Mexico under The snaran-
" Of "amiiy, commerce, and navigation" many
oi them have suffered all The injuries which would
have resulted from open war. This treaty, in
stead of affoIding protection 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 plundered Of their property
and deprived Of their liberty u, ,hey dare!
insist on their rights. Had Inc unlawful seizures
of American properly, and the violation Of per-
sonal liberty of our citizens TO say nothing of The
insults TO our flag which have occurred in the
ports Of Mexico, taken place on the high seas,
- H. al tnnn civ a . r0nstJfuIad