Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-08-27
- rI---[Ii3EyT coaoyeoar's MANIFESTO
TUE VANS OF IEX{C0;
- - =

TuE WANTS or MEXICo'
BRooKLrS, Angus, IL, 1875
| To The Editors Of the E"qatrr
G.,rl.MEy My attention having been recently
directed through the newspapers to the affairs OF lex
;co feel il incumbent ni-, from residence !"
that country for several years, from an intiina'e
Knowledge of nearly all the revolutionary ei'es' """
a thorough acquaintance with the 'Plan OF Ayu''a'
and, lastly from my firm friendship tor Exrresiueh'
Comontort, 10 endorse the statements Oh nl' 'ne
Manifesto in which he has ably defended the poll
cv Of his Administration Administration oisl,n'
rnshed from all that preceded it: by ts devotion 10
the principles of civil and religious liberty Ieel u
nv duty TO say in addition, that Inc poson Ie.i
dent of Mexico WIS forced on Gen. Comontorl oy ms
most urgent solicitation of his predecessor Gen. Al
ysrez and hls entire Cabinet, because they recoe.
nzed i'll him an unconpromisiug ana deVo'eu p"'''"'
-ths man for the Times. the man of au from 'he Pe
n IF Ina has erred in the details OF his government,
j, has beeu from the principle OF The greaett goou
TO the greatest NUMBER; and though IN some parucu
lars am free To say :. differed from him, yet au
bound in honor to bear testimony 10 his honesy VI
purpose his lofty aims and his cell sacrincing uevo"
10 the cause of liberty and TO his unhappy country
go long tho victim OF oppression ana msrule II ne
was compeed TO succumb for time TO overwheinhe
mi.fortunes among which may be reckoned al cnei
The treason of those in whom he trusted, II mast Do
remembered that he sustained his government under
very trying and adverse circumstances; and when he
retired ut as he did with the dignity OF patrlo
and without II stsin upon his character.
Judging from the events which preceded his All
minstra;i0n, a. we'll rs from those which have fol-
lowed, have no hesitation in decalng II n my so
Tenn conviction that the call Of General ComonlOr,
by the people oil Mexico Is the only alternative iet
20 that distracted, miserable country LIS policy III
separating ecclesisstical rom political affairs, which
can only be done by decisive stroke and not by any
| l.mpurziDy, halfway measnrts, Ia the one thlDg
| neediul-the panacea for the political regeneration of
Mexico. 1t is the union of The church and State
which has brought 30 much misery and wrong III un'
happy Ireland, and neither Mexico or Ireland can
ever be great. glorious and free rl there ia di-
vorce Ia 0cuio between n. religious and civil pow
ers after the model of the United States.
II may not bs known 10 tn. majority OF your read
ers that previous 10 the accession OF ComoDiort, no
other Mexican statesman ever dared TO take ms
grand step towards civil and religious liberty. Be
fore his regime neither the clergy nor the army we're
amenable 10 the civil laws for wrongs inflicted on
civilians by members of the powerful bodies; there
was no redress and the people were doomed TO cutter
| on in hopeless bondage. All this was rem,dled by
Comoniori, who took for his chart the Constitution OF
the United States. II may readily be understood that
in adopting 80 vital and 80 comprehensive neaeure'
he raised up Tor himself host OF enemies, who
sought his destruction by the ioues eans, WHILE III
the generosity OF his nature, he scorned 10 adopt
those re aIiatory measures which less scrupulous
ruler would have promptly employed.
| am aware that numerous charges have been
brought against ComoniOri. arising Of the difficult
~ of his adminisrr Whether these charges are
true false, whether they are coiored by malice
or prejudice, il is beside my present purpose To on
qulre, suffice it TO say that this distinguished man
| rose 10 power from humble position without n-
rigue guilty ambition, and had the highest honor
| that could be bestowed upon any Mexican citlz-n
literally thrust upon him by The vOice OF the people
| and the will Of The existing government.
FROM the recipient Stage of the "PIan oil Ayutn,
headed by Gen Alvarez, in 1854 till the final close
of the national movement, when Alvarez WAS elected
President of the Republic by the College at Guerna-
vacs, ComUbfort brearhed not single aspiration
other than for the redemption of his country and the
overthrow of tyranny; srlhshness was Tar more re'
mote from his ideas. After Alvarez waa elected he
| appointed Comonfort Minister Of War and when he
entered the City OF Mexico he discovered. not
only FROM his advanced ege he WIS uuht 10
| battle with is political ntriguee, but that
the climate would speedily put an end 10 his
existence. and that wss necessary to retire from
| his position. What was then his feeling to-
wards Comonfort' He immediately selected him az
bis Substitute A choice which was afterwards rat-
| fed by the unramneled voice of The entire nation.
| While, therefore, the friend Of Cononfori, much
regret that ihe tongue of Islander has followed him into
the haven of liberty Which he found in this country
| il Is with feelings of unbounded joy perceive he
has al last broken through his fixed determination at
remaining SILENT aud has hurled back upon his Sian
derers hose weapons of truth which disn;anted their
| batteries.
Gen. Comonfort is no tilibuster. From my know
eCge OF VI mo past huu PTteeut' elnc
that he has never been connected, directly or indi'
reotly, with any fbustering movement, and that he
has sought the shores of tbs United States for no
| other reason than that hs wished 10 allow the chaos
in Mexico TO subsde aud the disurusra of her peace
and tho enemies Of her prosperity tn ind their proper
! level. He mas eSpatriated himself for a time But
the hour nearly approxmsting it not already come,
when the people of Mexico with one voice should re-
call their patriot vhs sacrificed hs interests at the
shrins Of civil and religious liberty and who, rather
than deluge the plains OF his native land with the
| blood Of lniernecnc war, withdraw from the stre.
in the hope that truth, and justice, and reason would
uTe speedily resume tner sway, and Tho dA?-star ot
| freedom arise once hls benlghed country.
His noble career 10 The past s The best and surest
guarantee for the future. Taught. too, by expert.
ence, he will avoid past errors-equally avoid the
rocks of Scya, ald the whirlpool OF Charybdis;
and, steering right witE firm, unswerving hand
he will pilot the tempest ossed, half wrecked ship OF
STATE into the harbor Of safety and Tepose In fine
I General COmOniort il the only man wiiO can unite
! the dis5ed aud distracted Mexican people on the sod
aud lasting basis of the eluay Of alt Glasses bctor,
he Ian, aud present them 10 the world redeemed, re
generated, and dlseRhraIed" by the genius OF uni
versa emancipation.
Very respectfully
CHARLES J.. DEHmAs.
.