Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1886-08-18
INSPECTING THE RECORDS.

|
A Representative OF the State Depart.
ment Goes to Mexico TO look Over
the Court Docket IN the Cutting
Case.
Washington, August 15-Furthel
negotiations in the Quitting case are
likely to cease until the state department
Is authoritatiyely advised as to the exact
nature of the charges upon which Out
ting has been convicted. Secretary
Bayard proceeded upon the fact that
Mexico held Cutting for ON act com.
mitted IN Texas, and the communities
tions of Consul Brigham, as well as OF
Senior Romero, chow that the MeXicans
claim the right to apprehend and bring
to trisl citizens of the United States for
asts performed in this country, when
such acts are contrary to the laws
OF Mexico. Secretary Bayard denied
this right and stated that
The United States cosld not ac-
knowledge such principle. This
seems to have been the status of the
Quitting case up to the time of his con-
yiction by the court ut Paso del Norte.
1t Is impossible that CONSUL Brigham, in
the excitement of the occasion and in
his Ignorance of the Spanish language,
may not fully have comprehended the
exact nature of the charges against
Cutting, although the letter of Senior
Aariscal to Minister Romero set up the
same claim OF jurisdiction that Is pre-
sented in Consul Brigham's report and
Minister Jackson's letters. But in order
that the exact facts as they are on record
may be ascertained, Secretary Baysrd
has dispatched Gen. Sed gwick of New
York to Psso del Norte to obtain certi.
fled copy of the records of the court that
tried Cutting and its statement of the
case certified to the appellate
court. The administration, while deter
mined to assert the rights of American
citizens who are temporarily in foreign
countries, has no disposition to interfere
to protect those who violate law; and,
therefore, before proceeding further with
the case, desires to be fully informed as
TO the facts. If Consul Brigham has
misstated or misrepresented the facts,
he is likely to be recalled, and Cutting
will have to submit to the law violated !;
but this government will not assenf to
the proposition that cltizens of the
United States may be tried in Mexico
for acts performed beyond the juris-
dicticn of that country. The sending Of
messenger to obtain the transcript Of
the official record is not in any sense o
"back down" on the part of the govern
ment 1t is an aot of equity and fair
dealing TO Mexico, made necessary by
the fact that there is controversy as to
the exact nature of the charge upon
which Cutting was tried and convicted.
This government is not seeking quar-
rel with Mexico. 1t simply asserts the
rights of its citizens under treaty stipu-
lations, as well as prevailing interna.
tional law and custom. The Uuited
States will not acknowledge the right of
Mexico, no matter what the laws of that
country may be-, to apprehend ana
punish American citizens for acts per-
formed north OF the Rio Grande. No
apprehension is felt by the administra
ton as to the amicable adjustment of
the difficulty.
iSo, " said an ofisoeI now in " W tsoiiliuK ton,
who has had nearly fourteen years SER
vice on the Rio Grande and at the con-
tiguous points along the border between
the two conntries-"It will not be a
walk-over for us this time. 1t will not
be lS46-48 over again, by any means.
eral constitution. and made many
changes for the better. 4he MexIcans
have become excellent soldiers, too, for
about 10000 of them whipped French
army Of almost equal numbers COM
manded by some of Frances ablest sol
diers, with an imperial marshal at their
head. The monRrel population make
very good soldiers in many ways. While
they are not the equal of the Anglo
Saxon in stamina and staying qualities,
they can outmarch any infantry / ever
saw. Fifty miles day is nothing for
them, and they can keep it up for days.
While on the frontier from 1874 to 1881
/ made two visits to Mexico one under
confidential instructions from Gen. Mac
kenzie to investigate the condition, state
of discipline and general system of the
men and army. The standing army con-
sists of 10000 OF all arms. The infan-
try regiments are three battaiions strong
but are hardly ever recruited up to
their maximum of 600 men to bat.
talon. The cavalry regiments are zoe
strong, rank and file and the light artiI-
lery is brigaded with 100 batteries to q
brigade. There are three artillery brig.
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