The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-10-30
THE REVOLUTION IN MEXICO

THE REVOLUTION IN MEXICO
A few days since the National Intelligence,
stated distinctly, that according to the mos
authentic advices the revolution in Northern
Mexico was the work of Mexicans themselves
and that very few Americans had anything to
do with it, The statement seemed to us
f groundless, and we quoted from several news.
papers in the South to show that it was not Ia
be relied upon.
Since then the IateihgenCer has confessed it,
error, and the President haas ISSUED the follow.
ing proclamation e.
OFFICIAL.
By the President of the United States
PROCLAMATION.
Whereas there is reason to believe that mill
tary expedition is about to be fitted out in the
United States for the purpose of invading the
Mexican Republic, with which this country is
at peace and whereas there is reason to ap-
prehend that portion of the people of this
country, regardless of their duties as good citi-
zens, are concerned in or may be seduced to
take part in the same and whereas such en-
terprises tend to degrade the character of the
United States in the opinion of the civilized
world and are expressly prohibited by law:
Now, therefore, | have issued this my procla-
nation warning all persons who shall connect
themselves with any such enterprise, in viola
ton of the laws and national obligations of the
United States, that they will thereby subject
themselves to the heavy penalties denounced
against such offences that if they should be
captured within the jurisdiction of the Mexican
authorities, they must expect to be tried and
punished according to the laws of Mexico, and
will have no right to claim the interposition of
this Government in their behalf
therefore exhort all well-dispOsed citizens
who have at heart the reputation of their coun-
try and are animated with just regard for
its laws, its peace, and its welfare, to dscounte-
nance, and by all lawful means prevent, any
such enterprise; and call upon every officer of
this Government civil Or military to be vigil
ant in arresting for trial and punishment every
such offender
Given under my hand the twenty-second day
of October, in the year of our Lord one thou
sand eight h,,ndrnd and Fifty one and the
seyenty-sixth of the independence of the United
States. WILLARD FILLMORE
BY the President:
J. J. CRIrTENDEN,
Acting Secretary of State.
The proclaim alton is well timed and issued
we doubt not in good faith. Whatever delin-
quencies the Administration is guilty Of bad
faith towards foreign nations is not one of them
1t has always shown both the will and ability
to maintain our treaty obligations and respect
the rights of our neghbors Still, these ma
raudng movements on our Southwest must
deeply affect our national reputation. The
world will begin to. distrust our honesty, and
regard us with fear and dislike, as People in
clined to treeboOting.
The information on which the Proclamation
was issued, was received just before its appear
ance, from our Consul at Matamoros, and was
to the effect that a company of Texans had
been organized and had marched into Mexico,
and that new enlistments were in progress for
similar movements.
The newspapers represent that the revou-
ton, as it is called, has grown out of the high
tariff of Mexico, and the cupidity Of smugglers
A correspondent of the Intelhgeneer, writing
from Brownsville, October l. says:
"The American merchants have on hand
large amount of goods which cannot legally be
sent into Mexico with any profit on account of
the high tariff, and in attempts to smugge
them in large quantities have been seized. and
are now lying in the Mexican custOm-houses on
the river. To get possession of these goods, and
open the ports for the purpose of passing in
others these mercenary individuals work upon
the passions of a few discontented Mexicans.
and employ greater number of Americans to
place themselves under the command of q GER
tain Carvajal, cross from the American side Of
the river, and, under the name of n revolution,
attack the town, or rather custom-house of Co
margo After the slaughter of about fifty Of
the Government troops, and number of help
less women and children, they take possession
of the place, publish pronunciamientO, seize
the custom-house. declare the port open, and
for the purpose of dividing the spoils, sell the
forfeited goods to the original oscaers, who, be-
ing present and prepared, bid them in at auc-
ton Mt u fraction of their value thus recover
ing by an act Of piracy and robbery property
legally forfeited for violating the laws of Mex
icon
The same writer says that majority of the
revolutionary party is composed Of Americans,
and while he characterizes the creator portion
rs worthless and abandoned" he adds
Unfortunately this cannot be said of oil of
them In the town of Rio Grande, opposite
Camargo, it is a common boast among many Of
The most influential citizens of the place that
they were present. and took part in the fight"
1t is folly to attribute these revolutionary
projects to the scrdid purposes of a few snug
glers The movement has its origin in the de-
termination of large portion Of our South
western population to obtain more territory and
additional security for Slavery. A few months
ago, we published an editorial from the Hops-
ton Telegraph entitled "a Speck of War;" in
which it was stated that the escape Of slaves to
the Mexican side of the Rio Grande and the OBJ
stacles thrown in the way Of their reclamation,
had become such an evil, that, unless the Fedc-
ral Government should promptly interfere to
correct it. the People would take the remedy into
their own hands. This may throw some light
upon what seems to the correspondent Of the
National Inieiigeneer 40 inexplicable-"th the
common boast among many Of the most infuen-
tal citizens Of the town Of Rio Grande, that
they took part in the fight at Camargo" They
had someth'ng TO gain by a.
The plan is to push the revolution as far as
the Sierra Madre, separate Tanaulpas, New
Leon, and Coahuila, from Mexico, and add
them to our Union US slave Satisfactorily in