Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1858-12-08
NO. 300.

republic is almost a dead letter.
This state of affairs brought to a crisis in
/ May last, by the prcmulgation Of decree levy
ing contribution pro r. tn upon all the capital in
| the republic, between certain specified amounts
1 whether held by Mexicans or foreigners Mr.
/ Forsyth, regarding thi> decree in the light OF a
! forced 'Oau," formally protested against its ap-
plication TO his eOuntrymeu, and advised them not
to pay the contribution, but to suffer it to be for
chilly exactsd. Acting upon this advice an Ameri-
can citizen refused to pay the contribution, and
4 his property was seized by armed men to satisfy
/ the amount. Not content with this, the gOyern>
ment proceeded still further, and issued decree
/ banishing him from the country. Our Minister i'm
meditely notified the mthat if this decree should
be carried into execution he would feel it to be his
/ duty to adopt "the most decided measures that
! belong to the powers and obligations Of the rep
resentative Office" Notwithstanding this warning
the Punishment was enforced, and Mr.. Forsyth
promptly announced to the government the sus-
| pension of the political relations of his legation
/ with them, until the pleasure Of his own govern
ment should be ascertainsd.
This government did not regard the contribu-
ton imposed by the decree of the 18th of May
last to be in strctness "fOrced loan, and as
such prohibited by the tenth article of the trea-
| ty of 1926 between Great Britain and Mexico,
to the benefits of which American citizens are
entitled BY treaty; yet the imposition of the
unjust and oppressive measure. Besides, in
ternal factions in other parts of the Republic
were at the same time levying similar exaetiOns
upon the property of our citizens, and inter
rupting their commerce. There had been an
entire failure on the part of our Minister to Sc
cure redress for the wrongs which our citizens
had endured, notwithstand ng his persevering
efforts And from the Temper manifested by
the Mexican government chad repeatedly as
sured us that no favorable change could be eI
pected until the United States should "give
striking evidence of their will and power to pro-
tect their citizens" and that "severe Christening
is the only earthly remedy for our grievances"
/ From this statement of facts it would have been
worse than idle to direct Mr.. FOrsythe to re-
trace his steps aud resume diplomatic relations
with that government; 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 possession of the capital. Should
they succeed in subduing the constitutional for
ces, all reasonable hope will then have expired
of peaceful settlement of our difficulties.
On the other hand, should the constitutional
party prevail, and their authority be established
over the republic, there IS reason to hope that
they will be animated by a less untnendly sPIr-
it, and may grant that redress to American citi-
zens which Justice requires, so far as they may
possess the means But for this expectation, l
should at once have recommended to Congress
to grant the necessary power to the President,
to take possession of a sufficient portion of the
remote and unsettled territory of Mexico, to be
held in pledge until our injuries shall be redress
/ ed and our Just demands be satisfied. We have
already exhausted every milder means of obtain
ing Justice In such a case, this remedy of re-
prisals is recognized by the law of natious, not
only as lust to itself, but as means of prevent
ing actual war.
But there is another view of our relations
with Mexico, arising from the unhappy condI-
, ton of affairs along our Southwestern frontier
which demands immediate action. In that re-
mote region, where there are but few white In
( habitants, large bands of hostile and predatory
, Indians roam promiscuously over the Mexican
J States of Chihuahua and Sonora and our ad
Joining Territories. The local governments oi
these States are perfectly helpless, and are kept
shtee ri 66q qRs powell IfF they he pc POSSESSED the
will even to restrain lawless Mexicans from
passing the border and committing depredatiOns
on our remote settlers. A state Of anarchy and
= violence prevails throughout that distant from
+; tier The laws are dead letter, and life and
! property are wholly insecure. For this reason
the settlement of Arizona is arrested, whilst i
E is of great importance that chain of mhabI
: tants should extend all along its southern Dor
der, sufficient for their own protection and tha
| ofthe United States mail passing to and from
: California Well founded apprehensions ART
| now entertained, that the Indians and wander
! ing NIexicans equally lawless, may break up tht
= important stage and postal communication re
Gently established between our Atlantic anC
Pacific possessions. This passes very near t.
q the Mexican boundary, throughout the who'll
e length of Arizona. l can imagine no possible
E remedy for those evils, and no mode of restorin!
| law and order on that remote and unsettlet
!. frontier, but for the government OF the Unite'
: States to assume a temporary proteetorate owe
h the northern portions of Chihuahua and Sonora
and to establish military posts within the same
and this is earnestly recommended to Congress
This protection may be Withdrawn, as soon a
) local governments shall be established in thes
= Mexican States, capable of performing their du
Y ties to the United States, restraining the law
a less, and preserving peace along the border
II 1 do not doubt that this measure will be view
/ ed in friendly spirit by the governments an,
II people of chihuahua and Sonora, as it vii
a prove equally eectual for the protection of thei
"a citizens on that remote and lawless frontier, a
le for citizens of the United States.
y And in this connection permit me to call you
, e attention to the condition of Arizona The pop
4 uIation of that Territory, numbering as it is a
II legged, more than ten thousand souls, are pract
/ cally without government, without laws, an
al without any regular administration of Justice
IS Murder and other crimes are committed wit
to impunity. This state of things calls loudly fC
/ redress; and /, therefore, repeat my reeommeI
dation for the establishment of Territorii
u government over Arizona.
= The political condition of the narrow isthmu
a of Central America through which transi
routes pass, between the Atlantic and Pacifi
" oceans, presents subject Of deep interest
Is all commercial nations. 1t is over these tram
to its that large proportion ofthe trade and traN
st ell between the European and Asiatic Cont
he neuts is destined to pass. To the United Stats
ly these routes are Of incalculable Importance,
OF a means of communication between their AtlaI
OF tic and Pacific possessions The latter now e.
a tend throughout seventeen degrees of latitud
!. Pacific coast, embracing the important State
- California and the fourishing Territories of d
- egon and Washington All commercial nation
# therefore have deep and direct interest, tn
IN these communications shall be rendered secul
ie. from interruption. If an arm of the sea, col
" Meeting the two oceans, penetrated thrOug
We Nicaragua and Costa Rica, it could not be pr
ey tended that these States would have the rigt
on to arrest or retard its navigation, to the Il
ne Jury of other nations The transit by lar
er over this narrow isthmus occupies nearly th
on same position. 1t is highway in which the
nt themselves have little interest, when eompart
~ with the interests of the rest of the world
~ Whilst their rights of sovereignty ought to
- respected, it is the duty of other nations to
to quire, that this important passage shall not
interrupted, by the civil wars and revolutiona
Die outbreaks, which have SO frequently occurr
ID in that region. The stake is too important
of be left at the mercy of rival companies, CLAN
nd ing to hold connecting contracts with Nicar
sm qua The commerce Of other nations is not
Is, stand still and await the adjustment of SUI