Ypsilanti sentinel. [volume] (Ypsilanti, Washtenaw Co., Mich.) 1843-1900, 1847-04-21

4
those Governments. 1t made provision fol
fair settlement of all claims.and was understoo,
to have been entirely satisfactory to our Admin
istration IN all respects, but was not confrme,
by the Senate, for the reason tit is sadly tina
the commissioners We're to meet in the city O
Mexico.
The first commission had already sat in Wasl
ington. The cases to be determined are DEEPER
dant chiefly on evidence to be found among III,
rec ords of the courts of Mexico. Mexico hat
an egudtright to say where the commission sh't
sit, if it had been an original question: but he
claim was indisputable, since the other had sa,
in Washington: and it was better the commits
sion should be convenient to the evidence O
all accounts.
But Mexico was not allowed even this right
until she consented that our minister shoult
name the umpire, and that is, that he should ap
point the Judge and they say where the court
should sit.
General Thompson, in making this arrange.
ment. rendered great service to those claim.
ants who have any sort of equity in their de
mands. He insured competent Judge. NJ
honest man, or honest Government could ash
any mere. For, be it remembered, the decis
ions are all substantially made by the umpire
the commissioners of the two sides aerer agree
ing. Our Senate rejected the treaty on the
single ground that the commission was to NEE
in Mexico. A decision which, with due res
pect to that august tribunal, think was very
erroneous one.
1t is the fault of our own Government thai
these claims are not settled. or in course Of
settlement. And whether Mexico could pay a,
once or not, the amount due would be ascertain.
ed and settled as in previous cases.
No man will pretend that all that is claimed
is Justly due. do not presume that there is
one single claimant who will pretend that ever
his own account is made out for the exact sum
! due.
] see that in one of these cases man pre-
| sents his account for prosecutions" &c. and
in a few months, without one new item, states
il over again, and mends his hold, at the rate OF
an additional three hundred thousand dollars
| see in various cases sixty per cent. per annum
charged for interest, and calculated at the rate
| of compound interest.
| have not time to 90 into minute details, s.,
if had, have no wish to interfere with these
people; but there is one particular item, beau
ty of its kind, which will mention. The item
is for fifty-six dozen bottles of porter. believe
the best London porter can be purchased in any
part of the world for something like three dol
lars dozen and estimate this porter, there
fore very literally when put it down at two
hundred dollars. What do you suppose is de-
manded for it in this account? Why, 81, $3.50
sixteen hundred and ninety dollars. But that
is reasonable, compared to the interest charged
upon the price; that is, for less than six years,
set down at $6,570-six thousand five hundred
and seventy dollars making for fifty six doz
bottles of porter the nice little sum of 1920
eight thousand t,Co hundred and sirtv dolls
| 90 not say that all these accounts are OF
that sort. But this | will say, that many oil
them are more unreasonable. The claims not
decided by the board, are as follows:
Union Land Company, --------- %6S0,O0O
A very small fraction of this claim is
for an alleged seizure of ship and car
go; and may, therefore, be proper
cause for the interference of Govern
ment.
Trinity Land Company 2, $4,000
The claim of William $. Parrott. 9S6,S8C
For goods lost in Parian, and interest, 1880
r. r. Turnage, for schooner seized in
Texas, - ---------- 10000
Gilbert Thompson, land claim,--- 100000
S,4,3l3,374
Now | will not undertake to affirm that there
is no Justice in any of these claims. There
may be Justice in some degree in all of them
But almost the entire amount is for lands in
Texas. The claims founded on an alleged con-
tract with Texas, when Texas was a depart
ment of Mexico. And in no view has our Gov
eminent anything to do with it. for they arc
ayowed to rest on the ground of contract: and
the wrong, if there he any wrong. is not of the
sort that our Government has any right to re-
dress, or to interfere about except with its
"friendly Offices"
The case Of Parrot is stated to be for various
claims on Mexico, arising from contracts, and
partly from wrongs DONE" forced loans" and
various expressions, under color of judicial pro-
ceedings, from the year 1882 to 1887" Du-
ring this time he was resident. | do not
know whether he had become citizen Of Mex
leo. If had time, sir, | would enter much
more into detail on the merits, or, if you choose
on the dement's of these claims. The patriot
ic appeals of Mr.. Polk, in his annual message,
have brought them hero, sir, and made it your
,..,tv, and mine, to look at them and see what
they are.
1t has served at least one purpose, so far as
am concerned: had heard SO. much about
the "perfdy," the outrages, the insoence, the
injustice, and dishonesty of Mexico, that had
taken it for granted that it was all true. will
not now say it is false, but find no proof of il
in the record.
LANDING AT VERA CRUz.-The landing of
the American army at Vera Cruz has been ac-
complished in a manner that reflects the high
est credit on all concerned, and the regularity,
md