The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-12-28

While we see no reason for believing that
emssaries from the UNITED STATES have been
actively engaged in exciting the instruction
which, it is reported, has broken out in Sonora
there can be no doubt, whatever, that the Ameri-
cans residing in Arizona warmly sympathise in
the movement, and that the hope has been formed
of its resulting finally in the extension of our juris-
diction over that Mexican province. The PREs-
DENT has suggested to Congress the propriety of
authorizing the establishment of temporary
protectorae over the Northern parts of Sonora and
chihuahua not only for the protection of the
territories of the UNITED STATES, which border
upon Mexico, but also as q material guarantee for
the payment Of those claims of American citizens
against Mexico, which the PRESIDENT alleges "she
sis destitute of the pecuniary means to satisfy
This recommendation of the PRESIDENT is chiefly
based upon the fact that slarge bands of hostile
Sand predatory Indians roam promiscuously over'
these Mexican States "and our adjoining terri
those States perfectly helpless; and that, more
over, their weakness is such that "they have not
''the power if they possess the will, even to re-
"stran awless Mexicans from passing the border
''and committing depredations on our remote
"settlers." Approximations are entertained lest
these rowing bands of Indians and Mexicans may
break up "the stage and postal communication
"recently established between our Atlantic and
''Paciic possessions, and which passes very near
''the Mexican boundary throughout the whole
'length of Arizona" The question commends
itself to public Observation-Disclosures measure, such
as that proposed, would be either just or polite.
hoo do fbof
Sonora and chihuahua means nothing less in point
of fact than permanent occupation of those
provinces, and that the chain of military posts de-
signed to protect the settlers from the inroads of
the savages would have the effect of defeating any
attempt on the part of the Government of Mexico
to recover possession of the country. If it was
simply necessary to protect the inhabitants of
Arizona from the predatory incursions of the
Apaches, or if the preservation of the postal COM
municaton across Arizona, was the only object
in view, in either or both of these cases. the pro-
lection required could be much more effectively
rendered by establishing the chain of posts along
our own boundary-line and in the vicinity of the
mail-route which traverses its whole length, than
by military occupation of Sonora and chihuahua.
The inroads of the Apaches are from the
North and West, and not from the South, and
it is therefore to the North and West of
the boundary-line that garrisons are needed -
But who questions our ability to send suffi-
Gent number of troops into Arizona, to secure
the ma-route from interruption, and the safety of
the lives and property of our citizens on that re-
mote frontier? 1t may be suggested, however,
that the Apaches have no fixed home that their
habits are nomadic and that occasionally they
sweep round from the Southwark and disappear
with their plumber among the mountain ranges of
Sonora. Such does not appear to be the fact We
have the authority of the Washington Union, for
tilted by that of army officers, for stating that the
haunts of these savages are north of the ella river
and that they have to pass through our territory
in their forays upon the inhabitants of Sonora.
But even supposing it were true that they some
times enter Arizona from the SOUTH our best secu-
rity against their encroachments would still con-
slst In succession of block-houses along the from
tier, such as were in use during the border wars
in Kentucky, Ohio and Tennessee If to these, a
competent patrol was added, nothing more would
be needed. Mexico has not solicited us to protect
Sonora and Chihuahua against the incursions
OF the savages, and to voluntarily undertake a
duty which, by the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
we consented to perform, but from which, in the
GADsDEN Treaty, we paid good round sum to be
released-woud be a work of supererogation In
plain words, this proposed protectorate over Sono-
ra and chihuahua, means nothing more nor less
than the annexation to the UNITED STATES of over
one-fourth of the territory now embraced within
the limits of Mexico. The PRESIDENT alludes to
this military occupation as merely temporary ex.
pedent, by which portion of the territory of
Mexico is ''to be held in pledge until our injuries
''are redressed and our just demands are satisfied;
but in the concession that the Mexican treasury is
bankrupt, and that it would be idle to attempt to
enforce the payment in money-of the claims of
our citizens against that Government-amounting
to twelve millions of dolars-there is an omission
that this temporary occupation" WILL in the end
amount to permanent possession. Were it, how
ever, seriously designed to restore chihuahua and
Sonora to Mexico-if the latter should, at any
time satisfactorily arrange for the payment of the
claims against her-it would be impossible to make
the transfer. If the Protectorate was continued
but for two years-so great would be the influx
into those provinces of American emigrants from
the Southwest and from California, that any at
tempt the part of Mexico to extend her authori-
ty over the possessions she had redeemed by the
liquidation of her Indebtedness, would be met by
revolutionary movement that would result, as in
the case of Texas, in Declaration of4hdepen-
dence DESTROYS of obtaining possession of Sono-
IA, our Government authorized our Minister to
Mexico, Mr. FORSYTH, to purchase tiff it
could be had for ten millions of dollars; but as
provision, contained in the New Constitution of
Mexico, expressly prohibits the alienation of any
more of the territory of the Republic,-his offer
was declined. The proposition of the PRESIDENT
now contemplates the seizure of the territory, and
ofsetting the purchase money by the claims of
American citizens against the Government of
Mexico; in brief-to take it first by the strong
hand, and to pay for it afterwards. If Congress
consents to act upon this suggestion the provinces
thus taken Gin pledge" will never be permitted
to revert to Mexico; and while we admit that
chihuahua and Sonora would be valuable terrific
rial acquisitions, if brought under our jurisdiction,
with the consent of Mexico and by legitimate
means, we should regret to record their military
occupation in the manner proposed, not only be-
cause measure so harsh and arbitrary would lay
us open to the censure of other nations, but be-
cause it might encourage Foreign Powers TO pro-
coed to dismember Mexico in similar manner
justfyng their acts by our example.