The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-08-04
The Condition of Mexico.


reached the last stage of debility and embarrass-
ment which is consistent with the existence Of a
State-f indeed, State can be said to exist at all
without financial resources, without Legislature,
without the power of protecting its frontiers OF
governing its people President Arista md his
cabinet still continue, indeed, to carry on what is
termed the executive government, and the fidelity
they have hitherto shown TO the constitution has
contributed to bring the country to its present
dition. In his last message to the Legislative
body, the President declared that nothing seemed
to remain for them but . to fulfil the last and
saddest mission Of man upon earth-the burial Of
their country" Yet in spite of this appeal, the
Assembly refused the extraordinary powers which
the urgent necessities of the State certainly en-
titled the government to ask for; and after q
session Of four months, in which nothing had
been done, the Legislature adjourned itself on tho
2lst of May, sane die, without having voted the
supplies, and without providing in any way for
the conduct of public affairs The effect of such
a state Of anarchy is of course disastrous. The
government, deserted by the Legislature, is already
reduced to restitution, which must be followed by
absolute bankruptcy, unless the resources of the
country are once moro managed by some responsible
and competent authority. For this purpose orders
had been sent to the outports of Vera Cruz and Ma
zatlan TO hold in hand all the received for GUS
tom house duties; the compliance Of these ports with
doubtful. At Vera Cruz -four had already been
brought in ut reduced duties, and at Tampico the
tariff of the United States was likely to be establish
ed. On the northern frontier the Apaches and Ca
dering and saughtering the struggling settlers Of
Spanish or Anglo American blood who have pene-
trated into the wilderness In the province ofSonora
party of French adventurous arc making head,
having been driven out of the State of Cafor-
MIA. In Lower California an outbreak is said
to have occurred, instigated by some of the Wild
er spirits of San Francisco In the Southern pro-
vinces the of Santa Anna is still popular, and
it is not improbable that revolution q coup
d'eat for the proclamation of the dictatorship of
Arsta in the capital would be followed by o pro
nuncidnfnfo in favor of some other chief in other
parts of the country. The government Of the
United States is pressing for its right of way across
the isthmus of Tchuantepec, although this concss-
sion conflicts with the Garay grant already made
by the Mexican government AT Acapulco q quar-,
rel has taken place with the Consul of the United
States which has ended by the committal Of that
unctionary to Jail, " in full uniform, with his flag
in his hand" The French Minister is engaged in
a diplomatic warfare with the government on ac-
cunt of seme duties which he asserts have been an
duly RENTED to the British bondhold re-. The
army has, Of course, fallen into state of confusion
and disaffection, which reduces it far below the
condition in which it stood during the late war
with the Unite States, and indeed, rendersit inca
pable of defending the internal political authortyof
the government. The end Of system OF republican IN
situations utterly unsuited to the character
nle has been total cessation OF the most ordinary
and essential functions of government; and VIC are
witnessing tho unexampled spectacle of people OF
seven OF eight millions, inhabiting magnificent
territory, in full possession OF political independence,
pire of Spain, but who have now sunk TO depth Of
anarchy. Mt which their existence as q nation and
even the ties Of society are almost abolished and
dissolved We can recall no case of so rapid and
total political ruin. Hardly quarter of century
has ella psed since these provinces threw off their al
legianco to Spain; and, however, corrupt. tho
Spanish administration in her colonies may have
become, it is scarcely possible to doubt, that tho
emancipation of these possessions has proved q far
greater calamity to themselves than to the mother
country. There is at this time as much difference
Letwt en- Cuba and Mexico; as there is between Cuba
and Dayt and the loss Of legal authority is driving
both these countries into state OF barbarsm, in
which the abuse of liberty is only followed by tho
usurpations Of military adyenturcrs or contcmpu-
bile tyrants.
IN the present emergency the only chance of
avcrting the greatest calamities seems TO be the
scheme ascrbcd to President Arista for assuming
dictatorial powers ard i j. supposed that he has
already taken tie pt,aautiou u securing the good
will 81 the government 81 The United states with a
view a. such . revolution Zoe Cabinet az Wash
ipgton naturally ws,enes ,ne progressive dissou-