M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1858-12-23

ItnaC DelOO8 10 tue powers anu OUllRd
tions of the representative ofice-"-
Notwithstanding this warning, tn
banishment was enforced and MI
Forsyth promptly announced to TIN
Government the suspension of tn
political relations OF his Legislation
with them, until the pleasure of hi
own Government should be ascertain
ed.
This government did not regard th
contribution imposed by the decree o
the 18th May lart to be in strictness
a "forced loan" and as such prohibit
ed by the tenth article of tho treaty o
1926 between Great Britain and Mex
leo, to the, benefits. of which Ameri
can citizens are entitled by treaty; ye
the imposition of the contribution up
on foreigners was considered an un
just and oppressive measure. Besides
internal factions in other parts of tho
Republic were at the same time levy
ing similar exactionS upon the prop,
erty of our citizens, and interruptiug
their commerce. There had been an
entire failure, on the pant of our min,
lister, to secure redress for the wrongs
which our citizens had endured, not
withstanding his persevering efforts
And from tho temper manifested by
| the Mexican Government, he had re-
peatedly assured us that no favorable
change could be expected, until the
United States should "give striking
evidence of their will and power to
protect their citizens" and that Use.
we're Christening is tho only earthly
remedy for our grievances" From
this statement Of facts, it would have
been worse than idle to direct Mr..
Forsyth toretrace his steps ard resume
diplomatic relations with that govern
ment; and it was, therefore, deemed
proper to sanction his withdrawal OF
the legation from the city Of Mexico
Abundant cause now undoubtedly
exists for a resort to hostilities against
the government still holding posses
sion of tho capital. Should they sue
ceed in subduing the constitutions
forces, all reasonable hopo will ther
have expired of a peaceful settlement
of our difficulties.
On the other hand, should the con.
stitutional party prevail, and their au.
thority be established over the Re,
public, there is reason to hope that
they will be animated by q less un,
friendly spirit, and may grant that re.
dress to American citizens which jus,
tice requires, so far as they may pos.
sess the means. But for this expecta,
| ton, | should at once have recon.
mcnded to Congress to grant the nee
essary power to the President to take
possession of sufficient portion Of
the remote and unsettled territory OF
Mexico, to be held in pledge until oul
injuries shall be redressed and ON
| just demands satisfied. We have al,
ready exhausted every milder means
Of obtaining justice. In such a case
this remedy of reprisals is recognized
by the law of nations not only as just
in itself, but as a means Of preventing
actual war.
But there is another view of our re.
lations with Mexico, arising from the
unhappy condition Of affairs along oul
southwestern frontier, which demands
immediate action. In that remote re-
gion, where there are but few white
inhabitants, large bands of hostile
and predatory Indians roam promis.
euously over the Mexican States oI
chihuahua and Sonora, and our ad-
! joining Territories. The local gov.
ernments of these States are perfect
ly helpless, and are kept in a state O.
constant alarm by the tudians. They
have not the power, if they possessed
the will, even to restrain lawless Mex
leans from passing the border ant
committing depredations on our re
mote settlers. A state of anarch,
and violence prevails throughout tina
distant frontier. The laws are deac
letter, and life and property are Who'll
| ly insecure. For this reason the set
tlement Of Arizona is arrested, willis
it is Of great importance that a chair
of inhabitants should extend all along
its southern border, sufficient for theil
own protection and that of the Unit
ed States mail passing to and from
California. Well-founded apprehen.
sions are now entertained that the In.
dians, and wandering Mexicans equal
Iy lawless, may break up the impor
tant stage and postal communication
recently established between our At.
lantic and Pacific possessions. Thi:
passes very near to the Mexican boun
diary, throughout the whole length o
Arizona. | can imagine no possible
remedy for these evils, and no mode
of restoring law and order on that re-
mote and unsettled frontier, but fol
the government of the United States
to assume a temporary protectorate
over the northern portions of Chihua