Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1846-12-12


embarrassing. That such measures Of redress
under simiias nfoseSAtions, committed by any of
.she noxvr(Gj nksions of Eutope, would have been
rrodBIsly ftsofssd 70 BY the 0nited StAtes, can
not ke doesscd The national hoecr, and the
|nres1evatioN OF sae NxtiSsal ~hssae$ev through.
out the world, % we'll ~ our own selfrssrect,
and the protection due TO our own Citizens. would
have rendered such AREN'T Indispensable The
historv of no eiviiifed nation In modern times
has pfescntej within 80 brief period 20 many
wanion attacks upon the honor Of ito flag. and
upon the property aud persons Of its citizens, a.
had at that time been borne by tie United States
from the Mexican authorities and people. But
Mexitv was sister republic on the North Amer,
icsn continent, occupying q territory contiguous
10 our own, and was in = feeble and distracted
condition; and these considerations, IL ia presu.
med. induced Congress 10 forbeaf still longer.
+, Instead Of taking redress into our own hands,
rev nrgotiation was entered upon, with fair pro
misses on the part Of Mexico, but with the real
purpose, as the event has proved, Of indefinitely
posi- ponine the feparation which we demanded
and which was 90 justly due. This negotiation,
niter more than years delay. resulted in the
ccnven,ion Of the LTD Of April, 1889, "for the
adjustment Of claims of citixens Of the United
States Of North America upon the government Of
the Mexican republic" The joint board Of Com. >
rnissionrfs created by this convention 10 examine
and decide upon these claims was not organized
until the month Of August, l6i0, and under the
terms Of the convention they were 10 terminate
their duties within IS months from that time.
Four Of the eightcen months were consumed in
pre,iminary discussions on frivolous and dilatoiy
points Iaisrdby The Mexican commissioners; and
il was not until the month Of December, le40,
that they commenced the examination o. rhe
claims Of our citizens upon Mexico. Fourteen
months only remained 10 examine and decide up.
on these numerous end complicated cases. In
the month Of February, 1892 the term Of the
commission expired leaving many claims undis.
posed 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
disagreement between the Mexrsn and A merieen
commissioners, arocn,ed TO SO 200, l39 26
There were pending before the umpire when
the commission expired additional claims which
bad been examined end awarded by the American
| commissioners, and had rot been allowed BY the
Mexican commissioners, amounting 10 So2s 627
SIS cents, upon which he did not decide, alleging
that his authority had ceased with the rermins
tion of the joint commission. Besides these
claims, there were others Of American citizens
amounting 10 $3.50, sac 05 cts, which had been
| submitted tn the board, and uron which they had
not time TO decide before their fna! adjournment.
| The sum Of SO o2e i3e CO cents. which Ind
been swar e6 10 the claimants. was liquida,ed
| and asceriained debt due by Mexico, about which
| there could be no dispute. ard which she wns
hound 10 ray according 10 the terms Of the con.
vention Soon after the frsi awards for this q.
mount hod been made, the Mexican government
asked 70: cosfponcnent Of the time Of making
payment. alleging that II would be iresRvenient
10 make the payment st the time stipulated IN
| the spirit Of orbearng kindness towards a sister
republic, which Mexico had so long abused. the
United States promptly complied with her re.
guest.
:, A second Convention was accordingly eene|u
ded between the two governments on the ,hr.
tieih Of January. 1858, which urcn its face de.
clares, 'rhst this new arrangement is entered in.
TO for the accommodation OF Mexico" By The
terms Of this convention all the interest due on
the awards which had bern made in favor Of the
claimants under the convention Of the Ilth Of A.
pril. 1899. was TO be paid 10 theu on the Both Of
April, lsa3, aud "ihe principal Of the said q.
wards, and the interest ncrruirg thereon" was
stipulated to"be raid in five year, in equal in
a,slments every Ibree months " ..f..ttrgs
Notwithstanding this new convention was en-.
tered into st the rrqnest of Mexico. and for the
, purpose OF relieving her from embarrassment
the claimants have only received the interest du,
on the 3ofh Of April. lsA3 and three Of the TWEEN
ty instalmsnts Although the payment Of III.
SUN thus liqudated. and cunfessrdly due by Mex
, leo 10 onr citizens as indemnity for scknowled
ged acts Of Outrage and wrong, was secured b,
treaty. the obligations OF which are ever held "a
cred by all jus, nations, yet Mexico has violate,
this solemn engagement BY failing and refusin:
10 make the payment
The two ins,almcnts due in April end Jul,
is4A, under the peculiar circumstances connecte,
with them, have been assumed by the Unite,
States and ciseharerd 10 the ella nsnt., but the,
are still due by Mexico. Bur this is not all o
= which We have jun cause Of complaint To pro
q vide remedy for the claiman,s whose cases wer
, not diciacd by the joint commission under III
convention Of Arri, llth. 1899. II was rxpr.ssl
stipulated by The 9Th article ef the convention q
the goth January. le4A, thst "a new eonventio
: should be entered into for the settlement Of al
!, the Claims Of the government and citizens OF IN
United States eeaust the republic of Mrx;e
: which were not finally decided by the late com
mission, which mt Ia the city Of Washington
p and Of all claims Of the government .nd citizen
b OF Mexico against the United States."E tU
n In conformity with this stipulation. . fhir
. convention was concluded and signed at the cit,
n Of Mexico on the 20,h Of November. Is4a. b,
pienro,ehtisries Of the two governments, b,
which provision was made for atceriaining ant
paying these claims in January. 1874. this con
. vention was ratified by the Senate OF the Unite,
States with two amendments. which were mani
y festly reasonable in their charsrfer. Upon o re
!, ference 10 the amendments proposed TO the 60
vernment Of Mexico, the same evasions dffeul
n ties and delays were inserposed which have 9
n long marked tho policy Of that government ia
|, wards the United States II has not even vet DE-
!, cidcd whether il would or would not acced~ 4
!. them. although III. subject has been rcpesiedl
Y pressed npon its consideration
!, Mexico has thus violated o second time III
r faith Of treaties by falling or refusing 10 carr
!. int" effect the 9Th article Of the convention G
:, January. lBa3 r lisg ee es
. Such is the history Of the wrongs which "
!, have suffered and patiently endured from Mexie
7" through long series OF years. So far from =