The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1886-12-09
MEXICO.
THE TREATIES.


The encouraging development Of the bene-
fetal and intimate relations between the
United States and Mexico, which has
been so marked within the past few years.
is at once the occasion Of congratu]ation
and Of friendly soicitude urgently renew
nv former representation of the need of
speedy legislation by congress to carry into
effect the reciprocity commercial convention
of Jan. 20, 1888 Our commercial treaty OF
1881 with Mexico was terminated accord
ing to its provisions, in 1881, upon notifica-
tion given by Mexico in pursuance OF her
announced policy of recasting all her COM
cluded with several foreign governments
new treaties of commerce and navigation,
defining alien rights of trade, property and
residence, treatment OF shipping consular
privileges and the like. Our yet unexe-
cuted reciprocity convention OF 1888 covers
none OF these points, the settlement of
which is so necessary to good relationship.
I propose to initiate with Mexico negotia-
tions for new and enlarged treaty OF COM
merce and navigation.
THE CUTTING EPISODE.
In compliance with resolution OF the
senate, communicated to that body on Aug.
2 Last, and also to the house OF representa-
tives, the correspondence in the case OF A. N.
Cutting an American citizen, then 1mprs-
oned in Mexico, charged with the commits
sion of o penal offense in Texas, of which q
Mexican citizen was the object After a de-
mand had been made for his release, the
charge against him was amended so as to
include a violation of Mexican law within
Mexican territory. This joiDder OF alleged
offenses one within and the other exterior
to Mexico. induced me to order special in
vestigation OF the case, pending which MIR.
Cutting was released The incident has,
however, disclosed o claim of jurisdiction
by Mexico novel in our history, whereby any
offense committed anywhere by foreigner
and of which Mexican fs the object, may, 1t
the offender be found in Mexico be there
tried and punished in conformity with Mex
lean laws Jurisdiction was sustained by
the courts of Mexico in the Cutting case,
approved by the executive branch OF
that government upon the authority OF the
Mexican statutes. The appellate court in re-
donment of the complaint by the Mexican
citizens aggrieved by the alleged crime "a
hbelous publication), removed the basis OF
further prosecution, and also declared Justice
to have been satisfied by the enforcement OF
o small part Of the original sentence. The
admission Of such q pretension would be at
tended with serious results, invasive Of the
Jurisdiction Of this government and highly
dangerous to our citizens in foreign lands
Therefore, have denied it, and protested
against it's attempted exercise as unwar-
ranted by the principle Of law and inter-
ton Of offenses which take effect within his
territory, although concerted or commenced
outside It; but the right is denied Of any
foreign sovereign to punish a citizen of the
United States TOR an offense contaminated
on our soil, even though the offense be
againsta subject or citizen of such sover-
eign. The Mexican statute In question makes
the claim bodily, and the principle, If con-
ceded, would create q dual responsibility in
the citizen and lead to confusion of that
certainty in law which is an essential OF lib
erty When citizens of the United States
voluntarily 60 into foreign country they
must abide BY the laws there In force and
will not be protected by their own govern
menr from the consequences Of an offense
against the laws committed in such foreign
country; but the watchful care and interest
Of this government over its citizens are not
!! relinquished because the1 have gone abroad,
and II charged with crime committed in the
foreign land. q fair and opan triaf, CON
Quoted with decent regard for justice, will
be demanded for them. With less than.that
this government will not be content When
the life or liberty Of It's citizens is at stake,
whatevsr tha dearee to which extradition