New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1848-01-24
Claims on Mexico.

so industrousy and prousely set On foot 20 enrich
Individuals a,the public expense. yet there are some
instances in which it seems public duty to do it
whatever the consequences.
There are citizens Of eiis country who have
valid claims for Mexican 6polistions, and it is the
duty Of our Government to see justice done them
These ought no. 10 be prejudced by statement
Of the notorious fact that the irumped up unsuo-
s.antiated CT monstrou.ly exaggerated claims on
Mexico ere of infinitely greater amount and are
pressed with at leas, equal perlinacity. Let W
endesvor 10 give some idea oftnem
A Joint Resolution was, or tue An inst submit
ted 10 the United States Senate b Mr. Johnson CT
La. which authorizes the President 10 appoint
new Board oflhree Commissioners and Secretary
SALARY s. 500 year EACH whose duty 1t shall DO
10 -. receive, hear, examine and finally decide all
claims Of citizens Of the United States 1poo the Re-
public Of Mexico which shall be presented and ex-
hibited 10 them"--whicL Board, in Its al 1dica-
ton Of these claims shall be governed BY the Pr.n-
ciples and rales established aud embraced In the
uurstifed Treaty executed by the PleniPoten-
taries Of the two powers on the goth OF Nov 1873.
Just consider the terms Of tnis resolution We
are 10 the midst Of q sanguinary War with Mexico
and are threatening bio. her from the list OF ma
tons. OF course, she will not be represented oe-
fore our Commissioners, nobody expects t"st shc
will We then are % institute uiouna' OF oar
own citizens. nj q cost to our Treasury OF some
$50 900 year which tribunal 10 70 bear the story
only Of Our citizens who may choose TO be claimants
opon Mexico, and on that enc sided story and
nothing but that, is to award such amount oil dam
ages to be paid by the nation with which we are 81
war and which has had 10 hearing In the premises
a. it in it's wisdom shall see fit! Did mortal
man ever hear Of such adjudication before
But look at the phrsseology Of this remarkable
resol o.on, all claims on Mexico Here is q
Yankee who owns lendcontrsct with Mexico
Tor some one whose claim he has purchesedl where
in she stipulates 10 give him such a tract OF land
on certain conditions. He says, she hes refused
me the land, and l claim damages to the amount
of Ten Millions Of Dollars. Now Mexico might
very likely be able to show that ne never fulfilled
his part OF the contract, or was detected In con-
spiracy and forced to fee the country but she IS
not in a condition to show anything, and the claim
will pass So Of fifty other varieties OF CLAIMS
whereto the proper answer OF Mexico would be. " j
deny the right Of this man to drag me before
foreign tribunal in this case. He came to me as a
.sappiant aud voluntarily became one Of my peo-
pie and will respond to him in that capacity on
'iy. 1t is an indignity to call me to account on
nero pretence Of breach Of contract IN this way,
and refuse to submit TO it." Only in case of a
violat.on of Treaty or Of the lars Of Ndtons does
the act of Government within its own borders
become proper subject of international adjust
ment and this resolution Dug t to be modified and
restricted accordingly The 5enates Committee
on Foreign Relations has added the following
proviso;
"pyop,Sed nevertheless that nothing in this resolution
contained shall At any time bs Construed ss making the
United States aDswerable for the payment Of srch claims
OF themsnd that the Board shall NOT Continue 40
being for more than enc year"
This proyiso clearly betrays Consciousness of
the Improperly of the loose, rambling. one-sided
adjudication contemplated by the resolution. Sup
pose a Mexican contractor for the supply OF their
Armys food OF clothing finding it impossible 10 Oh
tain payment therefor, should sell or transfer his
account 10 one Of our citizenthere is the basis OF
a good claim under the phraseology OF Mr.. John
sons Joint Resolution. Bat our Government very
properly says it has nothing to do with the collec
ton of mere debts owed by Mexico,-that the cred
itors must take care of themselves. Very true
Mexico might say; then why do you NEEDLE with
my debts at all II
Our citizens undoubtedly have Tor had valid
claims ON Mexico--claims which the Law Of Ma.
tons recognizes the legitimate subjects Of Gov
Ornamental action and responsibility. If there be
any such not already adjudicated, we hope they
speedily may be, and, when verified beyond
doubt, let them be paid But collecting all the
simple debts which Mexico may owe is large IN
dertazing and we think our Government should
finish some Of the jobs it has already on hand be-
fore commencing that one.