The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1846-12-25

u. States at that time adopted com
pulSory measures, and taken redres
into their own hands, all our Difficult
ties with Mexico would probabl
have been long since adjusted, an,
the existing war have been averted
Magnanimity and moderation on on
part onl had the effect to compli
cate these difficulties, and render al
amicable settlement Of them tn,
more embarrassing. That sucl
measures of redress under simila
provocations, committed by any o
the powerful nations of Europe
would have been promptly resorteC
to by the u. States, cannot be doubt.
ed. The national honor, and The
preservation of the national charac.
ter throughout the world, as well a,
our own self-rcspect, and the prtec.
ton due to our own citizens, would
have rendered such a resort indis-
pensabIe. The history of no civiIi-
zed nation in modern times has pre-
sentcd within so brief a period Sc
many wanton attacks upon the honor
Of its flag, and upon the property and
persons of its citizens, as had at that
time, been borne by tie u. States
from the Mexican authorities and
people. But Mexico was a sister
republic, on the North American
continent, occupying territory con-
tiguous to our own, and was in fee :
bic and distracted condition; and
these considerations, it is presumed,
induced Congress to forbear still
longer.
Instead of taking redress into oul
own hands, a new negotiation was
entered upon with fair promises on
the part Of Mexico, but with the reaI
purpose, as the event has proved, OF
indefinitely postponing the repara-
ton which We demanded, and which
was so justly due. Thisnegotiation.
after more than a years delay, re-
suited in the Convention Of the 18th
Of April, 1889, "for the adjustment
of claims of citizens Of the u. States
of America upon the government Of
the Mexican Republic" The joint
board OF commissioners created by
TINS convention to examine and de
eide upon these claims was not or
ganlzea un'h the month q August
l94V, ana nndcr the terms OF the
convention they were to terminate
th'ir duties within eighteen months
from '"at Tine -Four OF the eighteen
months were consumed IN prelImIna-
ry discussions on frivolous and diia-
tory points raised ~ the Mexican
commissioners; and 1t was not until
the month OF December, lS4O, that
they commenced the examination OF
inc claims oil our citizens upon Mex
lco. Fourteen months only remain
ca TO examine ana cecide upon these
numerous Fhd complicated cases.
IN Inc month CT February, 1912, TIC
term OF the commission expired
lea'inG many claims und!SpoScd oil
ior want OF umc' The claims which
were allowed 10y the board, and by
the umpire authorized by the Con-
vcntlod to decide in case ofdisagrcc-
ment between the Mexican and A.
meHcan commissioners, amounted to
two millions, twcnty-slX thousand
one hundred and thlrty-nine dollars
and siNty-eIght cents. There were
pending before the umpire when the
commission expired, additional
Chains, which had been examined
ana awarded by the American COM
mi$SloncTs, and had not been allow
ca by the Mexican commissioners,
amounting to nine hundred and TWEEN
ty-eight thousand, SIX hundred and
twenty-seven dollars and eighty
c,iS!t cents, upon Which he did not
decide, alleging that his authority
had ceased with the termination Of
the JOINT commission. Besides these
CLAIMS, there were others of Amcri-
can citizens, amounting to three nil
hon three hundred and thirly-siS
thousand, eight hundred and thirty.
seven dollars and five cents. whiC,