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nor of the country, and insure ample reparation

House of Representatives made similar recon-
mendation. In their report they say that they
fully concur with the President that ample
cause exists for taking redress into our own
hands, and believe that we should be justified in
the opinion of other nations for taking such a
step But they are willing to try the expert
mcnt of another demand, made in the most So
Tenn form, upon the justice Of the Mexican Gov
eminent. before any further proceedings are
adopted"
No difference Of opinion upon the subject is
believe to have existed in Congress at that time
the Executive and Legislative departments con-
Cured and yet such has been our forbcarance,
and desire to preserve peace with Mexico, that
the wrongs of which we then complained and
which gave rise to these soemn-proccedings, not
only remain unrcdressod to this day, but add.
tional causes of complaint, of an aggravated
character have ever since been accommodating.
Shortly after these proceedings, a special mes
senger was despatched TO Mexico, to make a f.
nal demand for redress, and on the Goth of July,
1887, the demand was made The reply of the
Mexico Government bears date on the twenty
ninth of the same month, and contains assutan-
ces of the "anxous wish Of the Mexican gov
eminent not to delay the moment of that final
and equitable adjustment which is TO terminate
the existing difficulties between the two govern
ments," that nothing should be left undone
which may contribute to the most speedy and
equitable determination of the subjects which
have so seriously engaged the attention of the
American government !" that the Mexican
government would adopt, as the only guides for
its conduct, the panest principles of public
right the sacred obligations imposed by internal
tional law, and the religious faith of treaties
and that whatever reason and justice may dc
tate respecting each case. will be done" The
} assurance was further given that the decision OF
the Mexican government upon each cause OF
complaint, for which redress had been demanded
, should he communicated to the government OF
the United States by the Mexican minister a,
Washington.
These solemn assurances, in answer to our de.
mand for redress, were disrcgarded BY making
5 them however, Mexico obtained further delay
President Van Buren,, in his annual message Il
Congress of the fifth of December. 1897, states
! that although the larger number of our de
) mands for redress, and many of them aggravated
. cases of personal wrongs, have been now fol
: years before the Mexican government, and some
: of the causes Ct national complaint, and those o
e the most offensive character admitted Of imme
: date, simple, and satisfactory replies, it is onl,
within few days past that any SPECIFIC commu
= nication in answer to our last demand, made hive
i months ago. has been received from the Mexican
@ minister and that for not one of our public
/. complaints has satisfaction been g ven or offer
;. ed that but one of the cases of personal wrong
|. has been favorably considered and that bat tou
r cases of both descriptions, out of all those form
e ally presented, and earnestly pressed, have a
d vet been decided upon by the Mexican govern
n inent" President Van Buren,, believing that !
v would be vain to make any further attempt t
il obtain redress by the ordinary means within tn
% power of the Executive, communicated this opin
c ion 10 Congress in the message referred to, II
1t which he said: Or a careful and dalibcrat
l. examin ,,ion of the contents, ( of tine cor RS
re pondence with the Mexican government an
s. considering the spirit manifested BY the Mexica
le government it has become my painful duty t
d. return the subject il now stands, to Congress
&c to whom it belongs, to decide upon the time, th
IS mode. and the measure of reiress." Had tn
as United States, at that time, adopted comPnlsor
is measures, and taken redress into their ow
nr hands, all our difficulties with Mexico woul
I'd probably have been long since adjusted, and tn
10 existing war have been :,,,r,cd Magnanmit
and moderation on o.s 1r, Jrly had the eiie'
- 10 complica'e these difficulties, and render Il
Us amicable settlement of them the more emoarra
ms sing. That such measures OF redress, undt
ho similar provocations, committed by any of tn
~ powerful nations of Europe, would have bee
he promptly resorted to by the United States, cann
ho be doubted. The national honor. and the pr
of servaton OF the national character throusho'
,;r the world, as we'll as our own sef-respect an
hy the protection due to our own citizens, won
-. have rendered such resort Indispensable. III
"a. history of no civilized nation in modern time
ho has presented, within so brief period, so mar
IN. wanton attacks upon the honor OF lis lag, al
IN and upon the property and persons Of its citizen
mr. as had at that time been borne by the Unite
in States from the Mexican authorities and peopl
M But Mexico was sister Republic, on the Nor
&C American continent, occupying Il territory co
hn tiguous to our own, and was in a feeble and dl
~, tracted condition and these considerations 1t
re presumed, induced Congress to tor5ear st
an. longer.
IF Instead of taking redress into our own hand
er- a new negotiation was entered upon with IA
of PROMISES on the part of Mexico, but with {
Its real purpose the event has proved, OF indie
ok. nitely postponing the reparation which We
in minded and which was so justly due. III
n n negotiation, after more tnin year delay,
he suited in the convention OF the nth OF APP
re- 1889, for the al ustment OF claim, OF citLe
sod of the United States OF America, upon the gC
ms eminent of the Mexican republic The j.
nit board of commissioners created by this conrt
led. ton. to examine and decide upon these clail
the was not organised until the month of AngU
fry 1910, and, under the terms of the convenli
on thew were TO terminate their duties within ii!
' 10 teen months from that time Four of the Ell.
INTO teen months were consumed in preliminary
ON cussions Oh frivolous and dilatory points, raj
,wn bv the Mexican commissioners and il was
rtu until the month of December, 1910, that Il
and commenced the examination OF the claims
ion, our citizens opon ,Nlexico. Fourteen mon,
the only remained 10 examine and decide upon tn
hat numerous and complicated cases. lnthc mo-
the of FEBRUARY, 1912, the term OF the conmlsS
by expired. leaving many claims undisposed of
EN-. want of time The claims which we've allow
err BY the board, and by the umpire authorized
the the convention to decide in case OF dsagrecm
mo- between the Mexican and American comm
one sioners, amounted to two million twenty
" Thousand one hundred and thrty-nine dol ars
70 sixty eight cents. There were pending Def
Ia tn, umpire, when the commission expired,
~ &c ditonal claims which had been examined ;
loo awarded by the American commissioners,
. ro had not been allowed by the Mexican com
> o. sioners, amounting to nine hundred and TWEEN
;ons eight thousand six hundred and twenty-se'
mob dollars and lightweight cents, upon which
bv did not decide, alleging that his authority
III ceased with the termination oithe Joint conn
ton sion. Besides these claims, there were 9th
;s,or of American citizens, amounting 10 three N
,hon ion three hundred and thirty-sx thousand Ell
,hor hundred and thirty seven dollars and five ce
,,',, which had been submitted to- the board and u
w. which they had not time TO decide before Il
and final adjournment.
oubt The sum of two million twenty-six thous
stelv one hundred and thirty-nne dollars and sii
e no. eight cents, which had been awarded to