Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1846-12-11

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| ~, 1912. 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 umpire authorized by
the convention 10 decide in case of disagree
ment between the Mexican and American
commissioners, amounted to two million twen-
ty-slx thousand one hundred and thirty nine
dollars and sixty-eight cents. There were
| pending before the umpire when the commits
sion expired, additional claims which had been
examined and awarded by the American COM
missioners, and had not been allowed by the
Mexican commissioners, amounting to nine
hundred and twenty eight thousand SIX hun
dred and twenty-seyend dollars and lightweight
cents, upon which he did not decide, alleging
that his authority had ceased with the termi-
nation of the joint commission. Besides these
claims, there were others of American citizens
amounting to three million three hundred and
thirty-six thousand eight hundred and thirty
seven dollars and five cents, which had been
submitted to the board, and upon which they
had not time to decide before their final ad-
llournment.
The sum Of two.milion twenty-six thou
sand one hundred and thirty-nine dollars and
sixty eight cents, which had been awarded to
the claimants, was iquidated and ascertain
ed debt due by Mexico, about which there
could be no dispute, and which she was bound
TO pay according TO the terms OF the conyen-
ton Soon after the final awards for this a.
mount had been made, the Mexican govern
ment asked Tor postponement OF the time of
making payment, alleging that it would be in
convenient to make the payment at the time
stipulated. In the spirit of forbearng kind
ness towards sister republic, which Mexico
hoe cO lam ,rc-I Al
II complied with her request A second con-
: vention was accordingly concluded between
the two governments on the thirtieth of Janu-
airy, 1913, which upon its face declares that
: G. this new arrangement is entered into for the
accommodation OF Mexico By the terms of
this convention, all the interest due on the a.
warls which had been made in favor of the
claimants under the convention of the eleventh
cf April, 1889, was to be paid to them on the
thlrtleth OF April, 1913, and &c the principal OF
the said awards, and the interest accruing
: thereon" was stipulated to &c be paid in five
years, IN equal instruments every three
months" Notwithstanding this new conven-
ton was entered into at the request of Mexi-
co, and for the purpose of relieving her from
embarrassment, the claimants have only re-
ceived the interest due on the thirtieth of A.
pril, 1843, and three OF the twenty instalments
Although the payment of the sum thus liqui-
dated, and confessedly due by Mexico TO oul
: citizens as indemnity for acknowledged acts OF
outrage and wrong, was secured by treaty, the
obligations of which are ever held sacred by
all Just nations, vet Mexico has violated this
solemn engagement by failing and refusing to
l make the payment. The two instruments due
in April and July, 1914, under the peculiar
circumstances connected with them, have been
: assumed by the United States and discharged
S to the claimants, but they are still due by Mex.
!, leo. But this is not all Of which we have ius
$ cause of complaint To provide remedy fo1
the claimants whose cases were not decided
by the joint commission under the convention
3 of April the eleventh, 1889, it was expressly
stipulated by the sixth article of the conyen
ton of the thirtieth Of January, 1913, that g
: new convention shall he entered into for thu
e settlement of all claims of the government anc
: citizens of the United States against the re
: public of Mexico, which were not finally de-
+ cided by the late commission, which met II
c the city of Washington, and of all claims O.
: the government and citizens of Mexico agains
: the United States
e In conformity with this stipulation, a thri
. convention was concluded and signed at thu
: city of Mexico on the twentieth of November
n 1913, by the p'enipotentiares OF the two gov
q ernments, by which provision was made TO
0 ascertaining and paying these claims In Jan
e uary, 1914, this convention was ratified BY
the Senate of the United States with two a
II mendments, which were manifest}y reasonable
IN their character. Upon a reference of thu
: amendments proposed to the government o
l. Mexico, the same evasionS, difficulties and de
: lays were interposed which have so long mark
! ed the policy of that government towards tn
q United States. 1t has not yet even sdecide(
Il whether it would or would not accede to them
e although the subject has been repeatedly pres
IS sed upon its consideration.
st Mexico has thus violated a second time tn
e. faith of treaties, by failing or refusing to car
y ry into effect the sixth article of the conven
l. ton of January, 1843.
l. Such is the history of the wrongs which W
m have suffered and patiently endured from Mex
he leo through long series of years. So ia
n from afording reasonable satisfaction for tn
u injuries and insults we had borne, great az
T. gravatlon of them consists in the fact, tina
s while the United States, anxious to preserve
+ good understanding with Mexico, have bee
III constantly, but valnly, employed in seekin
IN redress for past wrongs, new outrages wer
re constantly occurring, which have continued t
he increase our causes of complaint and to swe
e. the amount of our demands. While the cit
s. zens of the United States were conducting
u; lawful commerce with Mexico, under the guar
OF anty Of a treaty of amity, commerce, an
he navigation,'' many of them have suffered a
ne the injuries which would have resulted frol
It, open war. This treaty, instead of afordin
ne protection to our citizens, has been the mean
m OF inviting them into the ports of Mexico, tn;
e, they might be, as they have been in numerou
ed instances, pluDdered of their property and d.
a a; pryed of their personal liberty if they dare
III insist on their rights. Had the unlawful Sc
~ lures of American property, and the violatio
IL OF personal liberty of our citizens, to say mott
ty ing Of the insults to our flag which have O,
T. CURED in the ports of Mexico, taken place @
er the high seas, they would themselves Ion
n since have constituted state of actual w;
IS, between the two countries. In so long SUITE
~ ing Mexico to violate her most solemn treat
Ia obligations, plumber our citizens of their pro-
ed erty, and imprison their persons without a
o. fordlng them any redress, we have failed
IT. perform one of the first and highest duti
ur which every government owes to its citizens
UT -and the consequence has been, that many
e. them have been reduced from a state of af1
II, ence to bankruptcy. The proud name of Am
Cd rican citizen, which ought to protect all wi
at bear it from insult and injury throughout Il
he world, has afforded no such protection to O.
at citizens in Mexico. We had ample cause
fes war against Mexico long before the breakil
Z L. IL.