The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-03-25
BALTIMORE.
THURSDAY. MARCH IS. 1853.


tary Governor of the City of Mexico, strenuously
advocated the permanent occupation of that Repub
lie, of which the United States had acquired pos
session by right of conquest. The act was re-
garded as defensibe, the occasion proptious, and
the utter suppression of all possible opposition
placed beyond doubt by the brilliant series Of
victories, untarnished by single reverse, which
had been achieved by the gallant little army Of
regulars and volunteers under Major General
ScoTT
But though the advice rendered to his country
men by the gallant QUITMAN, with respect to the
future of Mexico met with popular acceptance in
the South and Southwest, and although President
Polk was for brief period inclined to adopt the
bold suggestion, the many and serious complica-
tons, both at home and abroad in which the
United States might have become involved, before
and during the process of extending her jurisdic-
ton over so large an expanse of territory, led to
the adoption of more moderate counses, and on the
I'd of February, ls4s, treaty of peace was signed
at Guadalupe, by Mr.. TRIsr, on the part of the
United States, and Messrs. CONT, ATRIsTAIN and
CUEvAs, on the part of Mexico
Though masters of the position"-to use a pop
ular phrase of the day-we took no ADVANTAGE
whatever of our feeble and defenceless enemy. We
paid the liberal sum- of twenty millions of dollars
for the additional territory we acquired-one hall
OF which is utterly worthless to ourselves, and all
OF which was of no possible advantage to Mexico
and Immediately the treaty was ratified we re.
stored all the public property Castles Cities, Forts
and munitions of war of which we held possession
oft tbo
eminent as they might deem best adapted to theil
local wants and the exigencies of their condition
VI the twenty millions of dollars paid by the
Government of the United States in accordance,
with the stipulations of the treaty-ffteen millions
passed into the exhausted treasury of Mexico
Placed thus by the generous GberaIity of the con-
queror, In condition superior in some respects to
what they were at the commencement of the war.
there was reason to hope that under firm pru-
dent and patriotic ruler, the factous spirit which
had so frequently convulsed the Mexican Republic
would be conciliated or suppressed But that
hope was not destined to be fulfilled. Three DAYS
after the forces of the United States left the Capital
of Mexico the standard of revolt was unflrled by
PAREDEs at Queretaro, and even after BUsrAMENTE,
an honest, high-minded and patriotic man, was
elevated to the Presidency, dsafection continued
to display itself in various Departments of the
Republic. Old feuds were revived-old iealousies.
suppressed during the progress of the war of in
vaslon, broke out with additional acrimony-the
most opposite plans of government were advocated
by the chiefs OF the various military factions and,
as usual the only solution of their differences was
to be found in an appeal to arms.
In 1871 apd II, fbo ,o;l,.
confusion thus produced General ARIsTA assumed
the reins of government but scarcely had he taken
the oath of office before pronunciamentos were
issued by CARvAJAL and CANALEs and the whole of
northern Mexico was in rebellion After MAIN
tanning his position under constantly increasing
difficulties throughout the year 1852 new Reyolu-
ton organized by the friends of General SAINT,
ANNA proved successful and ARIsTA resipnino the
position he was no longer capable of holding,
SANTA ANNA was recalled with enthusiasm
For three years this veteran soldier of the Re
public held with doubtful grasp the reins of Gov
ernment, now compelled to make uncertain head
against ALVAREZ in the south, and now turning his
forces with equally dubious result against VnAUR-
RI in the north. At length in 1857 he too was
compelled to succumb before the triumphant pro-
gress of the ''panther the South;' and while
SANTA ANNA was on his way to his old place of
exile General CoMoNFoRT sustained by the power
and influence of ALVAREZ was chosen President of
the Republic. The boldness and decision of Presi-
dent CoMoNFoRT exerted for a brief season an ap-
parenty salutary influence upon the wavering for
tunes of the Mexican Republic which even the con-
tinued opposition of VIDAuRRI in northern Mexico
did not. seriously affect. Finally however this
restless but enterprising chiefain gave in his adj
heslon to to the new ruler and for a season If an
peared possible that period of peace and indus
trial progress was at hand. But these appearances
were soon found to be Elusive.
powerful party supported by influences which
ooAoNFoRT had unwisely condemned and defed
suddenly issued its pronunciamentos, and after
short struggle obtained possession of the national
capital and compelled CoMoNFoRT to take REFUGE in
the United States AT the head of this last success
ful Revolution was ZULoAGA the present provision
al President of the Republic. But already new
complications have arisen. ALVAREZ is advancing
from the south; VIDAURRI is in arms in the north
while the partizans of SANTA ANNA are buslv in
trlgung for the return of that ambitious cheftain.
AL .hls present time Mexico is thoroughly disor-
ganized-the new government is powerless
treasury is empty-the roads are infested with han
dltt and life and property in the larger cities are
at the mercy of the leperos and other ruians. who
at all populous points ply their lawess trade almost
with IMMUNITY.
ZULoAGAs tenure of power is destined to be of
snort duration. But what chieftain will succeed
MN Whether SANTA ANNA, CoMoNFoRT, VI
DAuRRI or some new administration remains for the
present unknown
from this brief and imperfect statement of the
events that have TRANSFERRED in Mexico since the de-
parture OF the troops of the United States in ls48
ana Oh the deporabe condition towhich this distract
ed country has been reduced by a constant success
sion OF revolutions and counter revolutions. the
question becomes pertinent one as to what might
nave been its condition at the present day if the
suggestion of General QUITMAN in ls47 had been
adopted! That much good would have resulted to
the Mexican people from the permanent occunat;on
OF the country by the United States there cannot
De doubt, but whether this expansion of territory
might not have originated grave questions of nol;-
cy with which it would have been found d;a;cult
to cope is a problem which happily we have not
been called upon to solve