Arizona citizen. [volume] (Tucson, Pima County, A.T. [i.e. Ariz.]) 1870-1880, 1870-11-19

larger rebel military force which had
shortly before occupied the town ON
the American side OF the river; that
this band of soldiers coming from the
territory Of the United States captured
Mr.. Mills on Mexican soil, and with
him returned to the territory Of the
United States, combining him in the
guard house at Fort Bliss for month
and half, under just such circum-
stances of disgust, indignity and cru
city as we might expect from such
lawles persons engaged in such a
lawless enterprise.
The evidence does not furnish any
details of the arrest and deportation
from Mexican soil of the fugitive who
had thrown himself upon the hospita-
BILE protection of that Republic. How
long. the violence was i'll progress,
whether it occurred in the day time or
at night; if the Mexican authorities
had notice of the outrage before it
was complete, or while it continued,
or possessed any means Of resisting the
sheriff and his posse, or the rebel force
in sight ON the other bank OF the river,
and which had launched this violence
against Mr.. Mills, does Tot appear.
There is actually no proof on this in
teresting part Of the subject. 1t ap-
pears, however, from the memorial
that 10 demand was ever made upon
the Mexican authorities by the person
whose rights have been violated for
redress OF any description.
The question presented by these
facts is, was Mr.. Mills injured in has
person or property by authorities OF
Che Mexican Republic! ("
AS it is apparent that citizens of the
United States, in rebellion against
their own Government, We're not ''au-
thorities of the Mexican Republic"
the further question is presented
whether the neglect by the Mexican
authorities to protect MIR. Mills, a cit
izen of the United States, commorant
in Mexican territory, from the VIC
lencc which he suffered, constituted an
injury by the authorities Of that coun-
try within the meaning Of the Conven-
ton which has brought US together.
Before considering such question,
however, it will be proper first to in
ouire whether the Mexican authorl-
ties. in the ease under discussion, omit
ted the discharge OF any duty to cit
zen of the United States, imposed by
the laws of nations or sanctioned by
the treaties Of friendship and COM
lnerce between the two Republics, and
unless we find such injurious neglect
the decision of the other question may
be waived as unnecessary to the nnal
determination of the case.
A citizen of the United States enter
| ing the territory Of Mexico, Is bound
to respect and obey the laws of that
country, and so long as he does this,
at least he is entitled to protection to
his person and property from the au-
thorities of Mexico. He is entitled
not only to freedom from injury, but
to the execution Of justice according to
those laws under. whose sway he has
voluntarily placed himself. If the
laws of nations were doubtful upon
this point to the extent the language
employed imports, the treaties between
1.-The United States and Mexico are en-
phatic.
Gonceding this, it cannot be claim
ed that the Republic of Mexico has
guaranteed the safety Of the citizens
Of the United States within her bor-
ders in every case and under all cir
cumstances. We think the most that
can be claimed (where the injury hap
pens not by the direct action or by the
connivance of the authorities, Or then
:, wrongful act, is not, after the fact
assumed or justified by them) is, thf
:, discharge by Mexico Of her obligation
as a nation, and the enforcement o.
her laws with reasonable rigor anc
, promptness to prevent violence whe1
: practicable, or failing in that, to pun
ish the offenders criminally, and to in
> demnify the injured party by her rem
edial civil Justice. 1t is only, it seems
= to US, when there has been some plail
violation of duty in these particular
of international or treaty obligation
that diplomatic interference may b
properly invoked and the affair assum
y national Importance.
Tested by these perhaps imperfec
t definitions of the'rights Of citizens o
: the United States temporarily reslden
S in Mexico, and Of the obligations o
If that Republic to them, we have bee1