The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1886-12-09

treaty stipulations be extended for fur.
'ther term of seven years. A re-
Gently signed treaty to this end
Is now before the senate. The import.
ance OF telegraphic communication
between these islands and the
United States should not be overlooked
The question of a general revision of
the treaties of Japan is again under dis
cussion at Toxic. As the first TO open re-
lations with that empire, as the nation in
most direct commercial relation with ia
pan the United States have lost no op-
portunlty to testify their consistent
friendship, by supporting the just claims
of Japan to autonomy and independence
among nations.
treaty of extradition between the
United States and Japan;-the first CON
cluded by that empire, has been lately pro-
claimed.
The weakness of Liberia and the
difficulty of maintaining effective
sovereignty over its outlying districts
have exposed that republic to encroach-
ment. 1t cannot be forgotten that this
distant community is an off-shoot of our
own system, owing its origin to the asso-
ciated benevolence of American citizens
whose praise worthy efforts to create a
nucleus of civilization in the dark contl-
nent have commanded the respsct aud
sympathy everywhere, especially in this
country. Although formal protectorate
over Liberia is contrary to our traditional
policy. the moral right and duty of the
United States to assist in all proper ways
in the maintenance of its integrity is OBJ
vious, and has been consistently announced
during nearly half century. recommend
that in the reorganization of our navy a
small vessel, no longer found adequate to
our needs, be presented to Liberia, to be
employed by it in the protection of its
coastwise revenue.
ABOUT MEXICO.
The encouraging development OF
beneficial and intimate relations between
the United States and Mexivo, which has
been so marked within the past few
years, is at once the occasion of con.
graduation and of friendly solicitude.
urgently renew my former representation
of the need of speedy legislation by con-
gress to carry into effect the reciprocity
commercial convention of January 10th
1888. Our commercial treaty of 1881
with Mexico was terminated according tC
its provisions in 1881. Upon notification
given by Mexico in pursuance of her an
nounced policy of recasting all her com
mcrcial treaties, Mexico has since con
cluded, with several foreign governments
new treaties of commerce and navigation
defining alien rights of trade, property
and residence, the treatment of shipping
consular privileges, and the like. Oul
yet unexecuted reciprocity convention o1
1888 covers none of these points-the set
tlement of which is SO necessary to gooc
relationship. propose to institute will
Mexico negotiations for new and en-
larged treaty of commerce and naviga
ton.
THE CUTTING CASE.
In compliance with q resolution of thu
senate, communicated to that body OF
August 2 last, and also to the house o1
| representatives, tbe correspondence l;
transmitted in the case of A. X. Cutting
an American citizen, then imprisoned II
Mexico, charged with the commission of
penal offense in Texas, of which Mexl
can citizen was the object. After de
mand had been made for his release, tn
charge against him was amended so as t.
include violation of Mexican law withil
Mexican territory. This joinder o
alleged offenses-one within the other
exterior to Mexico. induced me t.
order special investigation of the case
pending which Mr.. Cutting was released
The incident has, however, disclosed
claim of jurisdiction by Mexico, novel Il
our history, whereby any offense com
mitted anywhere by foreigner, penal Il
the places of its commission, and of whlc
Mexican is the object, may, If the OF
fender be found in Mexico, be tried an
punished in conformity with the Mexica
laws. This Jurisdiction was sustained D
the courts CT Mexico in the Cutting cast
and approved by the executive branch o
that government upon the authorlt
ofs a Mexican statute. The appelat
court in releasing Mr.. Cutting decide
that the abandonment of the complain
by the mere citizen aggrieved by the a
legged crime Ia libelous publication) re
moved the basis of further prosecution
and also declared justice to have bee
satisfied by the enforcement of sma
part of the original sentence. Inc ac
mission of such pretenslon would
attended with serious results and lhVaslo
of the Jurisdiction of this governmen.
and highly dangerous to our citizens
foreign lands Therefore | have denle
it and protested against its attempte
exercise as unwarranted. BY u
nrincinles of law and II
ternational usages soVerelg
has Jurisdiction of offenses which taf
effect within his territory, although COZ
certed or commenced outside OF IT, b'
the right is denied of any foreign sove
eign to punish a citizen of the onlV'
States for an offense committed on OF
soil in violation of our laws, even thoug
the offense be against subject or citize
of such sovereign. The Mexican statu
in ouestion makes the claim broadly, an
the principle, if conceded, would create
duai responsibility in the citizen and lea
to ipextricable confusion, destructive
that certainty in the law which is 9
essential of liberty. When cltlzel
of the United States voluntarily go I'M
foreign country they must ABIDE by I'll
laws there in force, and will not be pr
tected by their own government from u
consequences of an offense against tho
laws committed in such foreign countr
Rn. the watchful care and interest OF TN
c,overnment over its citizens are not
S,nnnished because they have gone abroa
ond if charged with crime committed
iood a fair and omen trlf