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

The encouraging development OF the bene-
fetal aud intiln;1tC relations between the
United States and Mexico, which has
been so marked within the past few years,
is at once the occasion of congratulation
and of friendly solicitude. urgently renew
nv former representation of the need of
speedy legislation by congress to carry into
effect the reciprocity commercial convention
of Jan. 20 1883. Our commercial treaty of
1881 with Mexico was terminated accord
ing to its provisions, in 1881, upon notltca-
ton given by Mexico. in pursuance OF her
announced policy of recasting all her COM
mercial treaties. Mexico has since con-
Guided 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 Ss3 covers
none of these points, the settlement of
which is so necessary to good relationship.
I propose to initiate with Mexico negotia-
lions for new and enlarged treaty OF COM
merce and navigation.
THE CUTTING EPISODE.
In compliance with q resolution of the
senate communicated to that body on Aug.
2 last, and also to the house OF representa-
tives, the correspondence i'll the case OF A. N.
Cutting, an American citizen, then impris-
oned in Mexico, charged with the commits
Mexican citizen was the object. Alter de-
mand had been made for his release, the
charge against him was amended so as to
include 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 Mr.
Cutting was released The incident has,
however, disclosed q claim of jurisdiction
by Mexico novel in our history, whereby any
offense committed anywhere by foreigner
and of which Mexican ia the object, may, ii
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-
leasing Mr.. Cutting decided that the aban-
donmeut of the complaint by the Mexican
citizens aggrieved by the alleged crime Ia
libeous publication), removed the basis OF
further prosecution, and also declared Justice
to have been satisfied by the enforcement of
a small part of the original sentence. The
admission of sucn 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, l have denied it, and protested
against it's attempted exercise as unwar-
ranted by the principle of law and inter
national usuages sovereign has jurisdic-
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 for an offense consummated
on our soil, even though the offense be
against subject or citizen OF such sover-
egn. The Mexican statute in question makes
the claim bodily, and the principle, If con-
ceded would create dual responsibility in
the citizen and lead to confusion of that
Cartaintv in In which ia n psapufoIl nf lin
erty When citizens of the United States
voluntarily 60 into q foreign country they
must abide by the laws there in force and
will not be protected by their own govern
menJ from the consequences of an offense
against the laws committed in such foreign
country; but the watchful care and interest
of this government over it's citizens are not
! relinqulshed because they have gone abroad,
and if charged with crime committed in the
foreign land. fair and open trial, 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,
whatever tha degree to which extradition