MEXICO. 



495 



ing the territory of the republic in case the 

 compensation demanded should not be grant- 

 ed) might not be carried out, and declaring 

 that the republic had at all times discharged 

 its lawful obligations. 



The Roman Catholic clergy were loud in 

 their protestations against the new law grant- 

 ing freedom of public worship to all religious 

 sects; but the Government issued an order to 

 the effect that the law should be fully ob- 

 served. Under the protecting influence of 

 this law, Protestantism is rapidly spreading in 

 various parts of the country. 



A remarkable phenomenon, in the shape of 

 a quicksilver shower, was witnessed in the 

 town of San Ignacio, State of Sinaloa. A 

 thick shower of minute drops of mercury cov- 

 ered the plants ; and samples were collected 

 and preserved for scientific examination. 



At the close of the year 1872 the entire 

 country was at peace; but some complica- 

 tions, arising out of the depredations on the 

 Rio Grande, exercised for a time an unfavor- 

 able influence upon industry and commerce. 



A commission was appointed to examine 

 into the affairs on the Texas frontier, and the 

 following circular was issued for distribution 

 among the Mexican- and American citizens on 

 either side of the river: 



The Kxecutive of the nation, empowered by the 

 law of September 30th, has appointed the subscrib- 

 ers as a commission to examine into the facts rela- 

 tive to the damages complained of by citizens of the 

 United States, and also such as the latter have 

 caused to Mexican citizens in the States of Tamau- 

 lipas, NuevoLeon, and Coahuila, by depredations of 

 Indians, by robbery of cattle or other attacks upon 

 persons or property ; therefore the commission will 

 receive all complaints which may be presented un- 

 der the following rules : 



Firtt. Persons who have suffered in the territory 

 of Mexico since February 2, 1848, any attack upon 

 their persons or property, provided it has had its 

 origin in invasions or incursions of individuals com- 

 ing from the territory of the United States, or of in- 

 dividuals who at the time of committing the act 

 resided in the territory of Mexico, and found pro- 

 tection afterward in the territory of the United 

 States, may present their claims before this com- 

 mission. 



Stcond. The presentations of complaints will b 

 made in writing on paper of the fifth seal, obtain- 

 able from the secretary of the commission, or made 

 verbally by the personal appearance of the party in- 

 terested before this commission. 



Third. In either case the following shall he set 

 forth: 



1. The name and surname of the complainer or 

 complainera, his or their domicil at the time in 

 which the event or events took place which caused 

 the complaint, his or their present domicil, his or 

 their nationality, the exact or approximate date of 

 the said events, the precise or approximate places 

 or place where the same events took place, a brief 

 history of the fact and its circumstances, without 

 nny opinion being expressed in regard to them, and 

 whether any claim has or has not been presented 

 before the mixed commission at Washington. 



2. The kind, quantity, quality, and value of the 

 property robbed or lout from any of tho causes 

 mentioned in rule first. If the complaint arises from 

 any attack upon the person, the equivalent in an 

 exact amount of money should be expressed. 



S. The names and surnames of those who have 



done the injury, if known, and the place of their 

 residence when the facts occurred which gave rise to 

 the complaint. If these circumstances are not 

 known, then the reason or reasons should be ex- 

 pressed for believing that the injury hua been oc- 

 casioned by persons residing in the United States, 

 or by persons, who, residing in the Mexican terri- 

 tory, have met with protection in the United States. 



4. If the property robbed has been earned into 

 the territory of the United States the circumstances 

 of the act will be set forth, as far as known, by those 

 complaining. It should also be shown if they have 

 muilu any demand or any claim, or sought any kind 

 of aid from any authority of the United States for 

 the purpose of recovering that property ; if the ob- 

 jects robbed were restored, the difficulties which 

 may have been realized in securing their restoration, 

 or the reasons which may have been announced by 

 the authorities for not doing so. 



5. Should the property robbed, in the territory of 

 Mexico have been carried into the United States 

 and converted into objects of commerce, the name 

 and surname of the person or persons who ac- 

 quired, the amount or price at which they acquired 

 them, the place or places where the purchasers took 

 them, and such other facts as may be known by 

 those complaining. 



6. Should those persons accused of the acts which 

 gave rise to the complaint have found protection in 

 the United States, the kind of protection which was 

 extended shall be declared and shown by whom, 

 if the persons who protected said accused were au- 

 thorities when such protection was given, or, if they 

 had been before or were afterward, stating the pub- 

 lic office or offices which they may have filled at any 

 time in the United States. 



Fourth. Persons complaining may present their 

 proofs, either in writing at the time of presenting 

 their complaint, or at any time thereafter, or verbally 

 by a personal appearance. 



Fifth. Should the proofs be in the form of docu- 

 ments, they should be presented before the com- 

 mission, or it should be communicated to the com- 

 mission in what archive or archives said documents 

 may bo found, in order that the commission may 

 ask such copies or testimonials as may be thought 

 necessary. 



Sixth. Should the proofs proceed from witnesses, 

 the complainant should present them before the 

 commission ; it would be better with a written in- 

 terrogatory, or, at least, a verbal explanation to the 

 commission of the points which he proposes to tes- 

 tify to, so that the witnesses may 6e interrogated 

 upon them. The witnesses should number at least 

 three upon each one. 



Seventh. Should any witness not desire to appear, 

 the complainant may inform the commission in or- 

 der that it may issue a formal summons to compel 

 the witness to appear. 



.Eighth. Heirs or representatives of persons who 

 have suffered damages named in rule first, have, 

 under the laws, the right to present their cpmplaint. 



the 



KOTK8. 



1 This commission having for its object to make 

 complete inquiry, the rule of its conduct will be 

 e most complete impartiality ; and being guided 

 by the principles of the strictest justice it invites 

 persons residing in the- territory of the United 

 States or individuals who have property there, and 

 who believe themselves entitled to complain of rob- 

 beries or depredations committed by bands organ- 

 ized in the territory of Mexico, to present their 

 complaints before tho commission with the required 



PI 2 Persons residing in the territory of Mexico are 

 rcoucsted to give their aid to the commission in 

 order that it may possess all the faciht.es necessary 

 to fill its mission, and provide measures to remedy 

 the evils said to have been committed on both fron- 

 tiers, and prevent them in the future. 



