The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-01-17
Tho regular circulation Of TIE srN 70,
Claims Against Mexico.


An erroneous suppression exists in regard
60 the results Of the joint commission of
the United States and Mexico for the set
uCm, nj OF claims which deserves to Ice
corrected a. the last day Of its existence
draws near The first convention was pro-
claimed February !, 1850, and the Commits
Honcf- met on the last day of the SIX
months allowed n the time for oigauiza-
ton. 1t extended for two and u half
years
1m- convention was twice renewed for
PEI iods of one and two years, and will
GIally expire on February |, after having
covered Il period of five years and Il half,
OF more than double the time cont,n-
pa,cd in the original convention. Tile
claiins uisht easily nave been settled with
M the two ana a half Years first provided,
bat Che commissioners, agents, secretaries,
and suhurliuatCs on both sides had an in
tcrcst IN prolongiug the period Of their
tenure. and the work was regulated ac-
ocrdingly.
when the history of this commission
shall be fully written. and the curtain
which now hides some OF its secret trans
actions raised, so that the public may see
them as they really are there must be II
strong sentiment against the injustice OF
many Of its decisions. II IS capable OF
proof that rightful claims were excluded.
that fraudulent clnius were allowed, and
that sinister influences operated to the
prejudice of one class aud the Partially of
the other. That there were large num-
bers OF fabricated claims on both sides, is
undoubtedly true.
The awards thus far. including those
made 10y the umpire, Sir EDWARD THORN
ton. reach about s3.s00.O00 against Mexico,
and about $4,000 against the United
states. The time of the umpire extends
to the LIST of August next, or six months
after the expiration Of the comm ssion.
What lie may do in that period cannot be
predicted upon any decisions thus far
made, because there has been no con-
sistent rule Of action or guiding prin-
ciplc upon which a sound opinion can be
formed.
Bat a general belief obtains that the
allowances will not be much increased,
and that less than five millions viii cover
the aggregate 20 both parties. II has been
SUPP lsyI that the payment Of these claims
might embarrass Mexico. and thus FUR
=
acquiring territory as a set on. The con-
vcnt'oh OF 1865 r.0yldcd AGAINST any
hardship IN this respect 10 either Gov
eminent, even at some wrong to the
claimants, as will be seen 10y the follow
ing.
"AFytcLE lv.-when decisions shan have been
M de lv the inisai me-. t.d ucWh ief I'm fNcry
an orn awaidci o. l me c,scs decided ID favor ftnc
o u GH S@f E' 'SG .e M pary
stud d lrr fnsi be- pnI Al thu Ciry Il Mexico or at
the iy Of We-nineton, IA eol1 or equiv en, with
Inc covcrnnen m favor II Who's CT rs the greater
oticr DEDUCTION ttsn maj ccned IN Article vi
Of M c.nycntion Iae re.idue Of the eaio balance
II, ,paiyacni in any one year untll he whoic shai
have been PAID
Assuming, after deductine the awards to
Mexico, that there should be 6. balance of
$4,000 O00 in round numbers due to citizens
Of the United states, the first instalmont
of which must be paid inside OF twelve
months, Mexico would have twelve years
In all to pay her debt. The terms are
easy, but as happened with other Spanish
American republics, Mexico may default
and give trouble.
A. the case stands, however, there Is
certainly no Just protcxt for making war
on account of these claims, or for finding
IN them "A cause of national irritation. rs
has been alleged by the President : friends.
No doubt, however, Mexico will pay the
hrst mstalmcnt of s30O,00) without any
difficulty, and thus remove one ground of
complaint. II she would also make an
example OF the border ruffian CoRrINA
aud some OF his thIeving followers, good
neighborhood would soon be established
with Texas, and Mexico would have the
hearty ~ mpathy Of the American people
In her struggle for better government and