The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1858-03-20
An An ericar Protec,orate over Mexico.

!
| quite movement in favor of the idea start
ed month or two ago by Senator Houston
in the L. s. Senate. of protectorate on INe
! part OF the L. s. government over Mexico.
f. The leading advantages anticipated from
such step are that Mexico would be ena-
enabled to provide for the payment of her
crelitors. secure the development Of her
vast resources, and be placed beyond the
/ reach of those revolutions which have hiih.
erto rendered her progress and prosperity
impossible. An article in the Chicago Zri-
JUls thus condenses the arguments and
suggestions OF the papers alluded to OF this
subject:
The argument in favor OF these suggest
ions, set forth, that tine propo ed prOIecIo-
rate does not involve any further acquIs;-
ton OF territory, nor any change IN the dis
tributicn of political power in the United
States, nor viii it Introduce McxIcans into
the Senate or House Of Representatives,
al tina, IS sought is, simply matter Of adj
vice ard control. Thirty years experience
proves that Mexico is utterly incapable Of
governing herself Government there is
farce, revolution and anarchy; it is an in
cess.nt struggle between oontencing fact
ionS-miitary leaders end p-ics;s-;hc co;E-
mon object being plumber Of the people
The ", flare Of the people, the promotion of
industry, the increase of commerce, the es-
Enlistment of manufactures, are not con-
sidered in the least.
For the United States to annex Mexico
would brin. ruin upon ourselves. She wo'd
throw forty Senator'S and seventy Repre-
scuta,ives into Congress, speaking 4 for
eign language and holding principles iniInI-
cal 10 american institutions and freedom -
\ lT0tectoYatc would confer upon us all the
benefits of enlarged trade and commerce
that could possibly be gained by anneXa-
ton, while we would escape al the evils the
tier would iuAict.
The friends Of the prOtectorate scheme
sum up their arguments thus:
The Republic Of Mexico is dying. We
must either succor her,-lct her be sHccor-
ed by an European power upon terms disad-
vantaScoUs to our own interests,-or per-
NIT her to fall to pieces, and grab portion
Of her territory, which we don't war t, to sat
isiy our demands against her. We can sue
cor her only by 4 protcctorate, or by an ac-
QUESTION Of territory. The latter is impol
lite, to say the Least. The advantages o: the
protcctorate are these: First-!t would cost
Us nothing, because Mexico would pay all
It's expenses. Scc0Hd-It would give US the
desired good neighborhood without havin =
to purchase territory, and with it a national
partisan excitement IIir9-Thc payment
ofmoney for a purchase of territory, il made
would only afford temporary relief, and in
i few years we should be called upon just
a. imperatively FOR further aid, and the con-
diliOn Of Mexico will not have improved a
whit f0Hrh-Un der the protectOrate,
which would cost US ne more than the en-
dorfcment OF \. No. paper costs an cndOr-
ser, Mexico would be 50 developed as to be-
come TO US a great and profitable customer,
as well valued friend and ally"
1t is further stated, that so far from Eng.
land erterposirg objections, she is anxious
that the United States should take Mexico
under her protection. The latter owes Brit
ish Bondholders sixty millions Of dollars,
and is paying neither principle nor interest.
The London Times, the organ of British SEN
! timent, in a recent article upon this subject
used the fo.cwiog signiGccnt language in
regard 20 it.
''Mexico has now arrived at a point al
which any couvulsion may improve the
prospects of her foreign creditors. In the
present state Of things they can have &c
/ hope, and their great dread, therefore must
be lest il should perpetuated. Ii some new
military dictator were TO arise, or the country
were to be absorbed, without more delay
by the United States, their treatment could
not G worse, and It might, especially in the
latter case be much better. Lit the
United States, when they are finally pre-.
pared for it, enjoy ali the advantages aua
/ Responsibility Of ownership, and our mer-
chants at Liverpool and elsewhere viii be
quite content with the trade that will spring
out gift. Tie cahacity Of tie IeZiaan pop
uiaiiOn for aPPreoiatiug a constitutional rule
/ Is lot 50 remarkable that We should yolun'
{ t-cr to administer it,
/ We give tie foregoing as the views and
. arguIa Cnts of those who favor the project
. and reserve our own opinions for a suJSG.
queut occasion. The Tumor that Senator
Seward is preparing 4 speech III favor Of the
protec.orate scheme, W. hardly credit.