Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 18 Part 2c.djvu/516

 MEXICO, 1868. 509 MEXICO, 1868. CONVENTION BETWEEN THE UNITED STAT - PUIMYJC OF MEXICO FOR THE ADJUSTMENTOOFAUEAIMS,A(Il:O)N€£UD1E}l) ASHINGTON JULY 4, 186B· RATIFICATION ADVISED BY SENATE JULY 25, 1868; ~RATIF‘IED BY PRESIDENT JANUARY 25, 1869· RATIFICATIONS  AT WASHINGTON FEBRUARY 1, 1869; PROOLAIMED FEBRU- Whereas it is desirable to maintain and increase the friendly feelings Preamblc between the United States and the Mexicam Republic, and so to strengthen thesystem and principles of republican government on the American continent; and whereas since the signature of the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, of the 2d of February 1848, claims and complaints have been_ made by citizens of the United States, on account of injuries to their persons and their property by authorities of that republic,  similar claims and complaints have been made on account of injuries to the persons and properties of Mexican citizens by authorities of the United States, the President of the United States of America ,U·¤~¤*·<=**¤S P¤¤‘· and the President of the Mexican Republic have resolved to conclude "°“‘ a convention for the adjustment of the said claims and complaints, and have named as their Plenipotentiaries, the President of the United _ States, William H. Seward, Secretary of State; and the President of N°$°°“°°"°· the Mex1can Republic, Matias Romero, accredited as Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of the Mexican Republic to the United States; who, after having communicated to each other their respective full powers, found in good and due form, have agreed to the following articles: Anurrcnn 1. All claims on the part of corporations, companies, or private in- Claims to be dividuals, citizens of the United States, upon the Government of the °“P"9“°*°d *° °°“*· Mexican Republic, arising from injuries to their persons or property °""'°°°"‘ by authorities of the Mexican Republic, and all claims on the part of corporations, companies, or private individuals, citizens of the Mexican Republic, upon the Government of the United States, arising from injuries to their persons or property by authorities of the United States, which may have been presented to either Government for its interposition with the other since the signature of the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo between the United States and the Mexican Republic of the 2d of February, 1848, and which yet remain unsettled, as well as any other such claims which may be presented within the time hereinafter speci- _ tied, shall be referred to two commissioners, one to be appointed by the A{’nP;"':"“‘°“* °f President of the United States, by and with the advice and consent of °°m °° °"°r°’ the Senate, and one by the President of the Mexican Republic. In case vacancies, of the death, absence, or incapacity of either commissioner, or in the event of either commissioner omitting or ceasing to act as such, the President of the United States or the President of the Mexican Republic, respectively,·shall forthwith name another person to act a commissioner in the place or stead of the commissioner originally named. _ The commissioners so named shall meet at Washington within six Meeting of eemmouths after the exchange of the ratitlcations of this convention, and "““‘°“°’“· shall, before proceeding to business, make and subscribe a solemn _ declaration that they will im partially and carefully examine and decide, Deelmtien. to the best of their judgment and according to public law, justice, and equity, without fear, favor, or affection to their own country, upon all such claims above specified as shall be laid before them on the part of the Governments of the United States and of the Mexican Republic, respectively; and such declaration shall be entered on the record of their proceedings. The commissioners shall then name some third person to act as an Selection of umpire in any case or cases on which they may themselves differ in ¤¤¤P¤‘¤· opinion. If they should not be able to agree upon the name of such