Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1846-12-17


These solemn assurances, In answer to our de-
: mand for redress, were disregarded BY making
them, however, Mexico obtained farther delay.-
7 President Van Buren,, in his annual message to
Congress of the fifth of December, 1887. states
that although the large numbers ofour demands
: for redress, and ''many Of them aggravaAd cases
of personal wrongs, have been now for wears be-
fore the Mexican Government, and some of the
causes of national complaint, and those of the
most offensive character, admitted of immediate,
simple, and satisfactory replies, 1t Is only within
f few days past that any specific communication
in answer to our last demand, made five months
ago. has been received from the Mexican minis
ter" and that "for not one OF our public COM
pla intS has satisfaction been given or offered !;
that but ole of the cases of personal wrong has
been favoraby considered, and that but four cases
of both descriptions out of all those formerly pre-
sented, and earnestly pressed have as vet been
decided upon by the Mexican Government"
President Van Buren, believing that it would be
vain to make any farther attemptto obtain redress
by the ordinary means within the power of the
Executive communicated this opinion to Con-
gress, in the message referred tc, in which he
said: .On a careful and deliberate examination
Of the contents" (of the correspondence OF the
Mexican Government, )''ant 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 measure
ofredresS." Had the United States at that time
adopted compulsory measures, and takon redress
into their own hands, all our difficulties with
Mexico would probably long since been adjusted,
and the existing war been evaded. Magnanimity
and moderation on our part only had the effect to
\
cable 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 re-
sorted to by the United States cannot be doubted.
The national honor, and the preservation Of the
national character throughout the world, as well
as our own self respect and the protection due to
our own citizens, would have rendered such
resort Indispensable. The history OF no civilized
nation III modern times has presented within SO
brief period so many wanton attacks upon the
honor OF lis flag, and upon the property and per-
sens OF It's citizens as had at that time been borne
By the United States from the Mexican authorl-
ties and people. But Mexico was sister Re-
public, on the North American continent occu-
pylnG territory contiguous to our own, and was
III feeble and distracted condition and these
consderatonsi is presumed, induced Congress to
iorbear still longer
Instead OF taking redress into our own hands,a
new negotiation was entered upon with fair pro-
misses on the part OF Mexico, but with the real
purpose, as the event has proved, of indefinitely
pOStponlng the reparation which we demanded,
and. which was so Justly duc.-I'his negotiation,
after more than years delay, resulted in the
Convention Of the l1th of April, 1889, for the
adjustment of claims of citizens of the United
States of America upon the Government OF the
Mexican Republic" The joint Board of Com
mlsSlonerS created by this Convention to exam
Inc and decide upon these claims was not organ-
zed until the month of August, 1910, and under
the terms Of the Convention they were to terln-
nate their duties within eighteen months from
that time -Four of the eighteen months were
consumed IN preliminary discussions on frivolous
and dllatory points raised by the Mexican Com
mlsslonerS; and it was not until the month of.
December, 1910, that they commenced the ex-
animation Of the claims ofour citizens upon Mex
IcO Fourteen months only remained to exam
Inc and decide upon these numerous and compli-
Gated cases In the month OF Feb. 1872, the
term or the commission expired, leaving many
claims undIsposed of for want Of time. The claims
authorized by the Convention TO decide in case OF
disagreement between the Mexican and AmerI- /
can commissioners, amounted to two millions
twentysx thousand one hundred and thirty-nine |
dollars and siXty-eigh cents. They were pen
ding before the umpire when the commission ex-
pred additional claims which had been exalnin-
ed and awarded by the American commissioners,
amounting to nine hundred and twenty-eght .
thousand six hundred and twenty-seven dollars
and elghty-eight cents, upon which he did not de- /
eide, alleging that his authority had ceased with
the termination Of the Joint commission. Besides
these claims, there were others Of American cit
lzens amounting to three hundred and thirty-sx
thousand eight hundred and tliirty-seven dollars
and five cents, which had been submitted to the
Board, aud upon which they had not time to de-
eide before their final adjournment.
The sum Of two millions twenty-siX thousand
one hundred and thirty mine dollars and sixty
eight cents, which had been awarded 10 the
claims, was liquidated and ascertaned debt due
by Mexico, about which there could be no dispute,
and which she was bound to pay according TO the
terms OF the convention Soon after the final
awards for this amount had been made, the Mex
lean Government asked for postponement ofthe
time of making payment, alleging that it would
be nconvenient to make the payment at the time
In the spirit Of torbearing kindness
towards sister Republic, which Mexico has so
long abused, the United States promptly coInp-
ed with her request A second Convention was |
concluded between the two Govern
ments on the thirtieth Of January, lSl3, which {
upon It's face declares that ''this new arrangement
is entered into for the accommodation of Mexico"
BY the terms Of this Convention. all the interest
due on the awarJs which had been made il ia {