The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-01-04

The New State OF Things I'm MexioO-The Last
Chance OF that Republic.

The New State OF Things I'm Mexico-The Last
Chance OF that Republic.
No one who has followed the course of affairs
in Mexico during the last twelve months is at
all surprised at the events which have taken
place there. When the Mexican constitution,
which has 80 lately been swept away, was pro-
mulgated few months since we carefully ex-
amined its provisions, and unhesitatingly as
serted that it was utterly impracticable as a
theory of government, and must end either in
anarchy or absolutism. Stripping the execu-
tive branch of all power, the interests of the
country were given over to mere debating
club, under the name of a Congress composed
of single chamber, which was to be in per-
petual session, either as Congress or as a Con-
gressional Committee of one member from
each State of the confederacy. The experiment
of government under this form failed in the first
thirty days of the first session, and resulted in
the comforting of limited dietatorial powers
upon the constitutionally elected President.
But the Chamber still wished to be above
these powers and President Cdmonfort soon
found himself under the necessity Of putting
out of the way set of ignorant but wordy
debaters.
This IL what has been done, and President
of reconstructing the decaying government of
Mexico. How he will succeed in this, time only
can determine; but it is very evident that he is
now in the hands of the money lenders, who are
helping him with small sums at the most enOr-
nous rates of profit. Unless he can relieve him
self from the drain which they are making on
his future resources, or procure some assistance
from abroad, he stands but small chance of Sc
curing long tenure of power. We learn from
good authority that the establishment of
monarchy has already been proposed to him,
with an offer Of European assistance; but such
course offers even less chance of success to him
than the attempt to carry out his high purposes
through his own unaided efforts. The fiscal
question is the one that Mexican and all Spanish
American statesmen have failed in; and the
cause of their failure is nothing more than the
fact that none of them have based their policy
upon the golden rule that the public debt ought
to be provided for on the basis Of the contract
under which it was created
But while we leave President ComOnfort to
work out his own policy in this respect, there
are other points in the present condition of
Mexico which demand the earnest and i'm
mediate attention of our government. 1t is
we'll known that the power Of the federal
government of that republic is paralyzed in all
the portions of country distant from the capital,
nd hat ho lOffS nf HASA o,o
sort to every scheme to fill their Golfers.
Nothing presents fairer mark for their greed
than the increasing trade between our Pacific
ports and those of Mexico; and therefore,
under the most frivolous and unjust pretexts.
American vessels and cargoes have been con-
fiscated, until our flag has been nearly driven
from the coast. If the federal power cannot
make its authority effective in the extremities
of Mexico to enforce just protection to COM
merce, the nation has become dissolved in fact,
and might as well be in name. The seizure of
the schooners Curlew and AIDA are cases of
unmitigated villany, and the case of our Consul
at Mazatlan is one Of the most fragrant out
RACES upon our flag that it has ever been our
unwilling task to chronicle.
Wn"'efei iu0y VIC INC ieouA. VI INC HeW gov
eminent in Mexico, the duty Of immediate &C
ton in all of these cases is imperative upon our
government. A wholesome visit of some of our
men-ofwar to those ports might enforce upon
the Mexican officials greater respect and ODE
dience to their own government, and do Presi-
dent Comonfort service in his efforts to re-
establish the federal authority by making them
feel the necessity of its sanction and protection.
Such a visit would be of eminent service to our
own citizens and their interests.