Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-09-17
English view of the Fate of Mexico.

The Intelligence from Mexico Yesterday
shows that The movement of that republic to-
wards extinction is Increasing in a rapid
ratio. The reactionary government which
had succeeded to power after the overthrow
of ComOnfort by the intrigues of the ecclesi-
astical party has already evaporated. Al
though aided by contribution from the church,
and the efforts of the clergy in all parts of the
country, it never for a moment obtained any
general sway, and simply styled itself a gov
eminent from its having got possession of the
city of Mexico. The only seaport it ever
held was Tampico and not only has this now
been abandoned. but General Zuloaga. who
designated himself President, appears to have
fled from the capital. The news is vague and
from indirect sources, but there appears no
doubt of the main facts, and that supreme
authority had now been seized by a Don
Juan Jose Baz, formerly Governor of the
Federal district of Mexico under COmonfort,
and who at the date of the previous advices
was understood to have been thrown into
prison by Zuloaga. The political views of
this parsonage seem doubtful-he has been
supposed hitherto not to belong to the church
party, nor on the other hand has he gone the
full length of the liberals-but as he has
placed the army under Generals Parodi. Ran
gel and Traconia, who are more or less identi-
fled with the constitutional side, it is to be
presumed that the new revolution is to be re-
garded as in favor of that cause. it must
always be remembered. however, that none of
the watchwOrds assumed from time to time by
successful leaders in Mexico have any real
Significance, and that the sole object of ''dem-
ocrat, Liberal, '"constltutionalst,'' or die
tator," is to obtain control of the public
revenue, and sufficient recognition from
foreign Powers to enable him formally to
negotiate the sale of fresh portions of his
country to the United States, and divide the
plumber with his adherents. All parties
meanwhile impose upon popular ignorance
and bigotry, outlying each other i'll declara-
tons that it is their intention to perish with
the ruin of their country rather than to toll
crate for moment the loss of national indie
pendence. The sole distinction between them
is that the liberals in their various struggles
have accepted the sympathy and Indirect aid
OF America, and are, doubtless in a better
position than their opponents to facilitate the
approaching contamination. If ComOnfort
were recalled, probably all difficulties would
be rapidly smoothed, but under any circum-
stances the affair must naturally require deli
cate management, since, although the sus-
capabilities of Mexican nationality would
not be likely to bring forth Tell or a Bruce,
or to offer any impediment which nigh not
be removed by the presence of a single Amer
lean regiment and the iudicious outlay of
few thousand dollars, the views of other for
eign States and some decent outward observ-
ance of the requirements of public law need
to be attended to.
At home, likewise, although an extension
of territory is always universally welcome,
there is the necessity for managing il so as
not to increase the bitterness between the
slave States and the abolitionists, aud hence
has arisen the question as to a protectOrate
or annexation. The former might, perhaps,
cOnciliate majority on both sides, since, I'M
like annexation. it would not directly imply
an augmentation of Southern power; but
even in that respect nothing could be ven-
tured rashly. Thus although the fruit abso-
lutely seems ripe, and some immediate step
may be considered to be demanded in the
general interests of commerce and humanity,
delays may still occur during which the scene
of anarchy that is now reducing the republic
to the lowest depths, and the continuance of
which appears to reflect disgrace on all the
civilized nations of the earth, must perhaps
be tolerated for short further season. By
England the change. suppOsing il to be effect
ed by the United States with honor and dis
erection, can be anticipated only with salts
faction. There is no country that offers COM
paratively Il richer field for development. or
with which, if it We're in American hands.
our mercantile transactions would more rap
idly increase. Meanwhile, however it is the
duty of our government not to let these con-
induce them to look listlessly on
while large individual interests such as those
of the bondholders are being in any way en-
dangered. To see without protest the coun-
try being sold bit by bit unless q correspond
ing portion of the debt were provided for or
discharged, would be tacitly to sanction an
act of spoliation more mean than any in his
tory AT the same time it must be acknowl-
edged there seems no reason to apprehend
hut aIYehr 10 lafa cd
as regards the impending acquisition of the
country, or their views as to the obligations
which that acquisition would involve, have
the people of the United States thus far fallen
into single act or statement inconsistent
with good faith. Indeed, for several years in
their actual relations with each of the gov
ernments that have sprung up i'll Mexico they
have shown singular forbearance. which is the
more remarkable. looking at the provocation
to attack the weak and degraded ever offer
to the restless and powerful. and also at the
limited means of repression which the Cabi-
net at Washington can in such cases COM
mand. The Americans evidently have had
the sense to perceive that il was the misera-
ble destiny of the country. as fitting termi-
nation for her career of corruption and dis
honesty, to suffer the last shame of falling TO
a nation who would win her without blows
With regard to her debt, all the American
politicians who have advocated either "a pro-
tectorate or annexation appear to have spoken
fairly. 1t has been admitted that in the event
of a protectorate the United States wouid be
bound to see that the securities specially as
signed for the payment of the dividends, and
which under proper circumstances would be
ample, should be faithfully administered,
while in case of direct annexation there is
reason to infer there would not be the slight
est attempt to evade the full and proper re-
cognition of every existing claim.
Eo- The Hon. Robert J. Walker, when he