The eastern clarion. [volume] (Paulding, Miss.) 1837-1863, 1858-12-18

bavc been employed 10y both parties 70 |
cvtort money from foreigners. NJ well as |
natives. 10 carry on this ruinous contest. |
The truth l.. that this fine country, bless |
III with productive soil aud benign |
climate. has been reduced by civil di-~cn-
lion 10 q condition of almost hopeless
anarchy and imhccility. ltwould be vain
for This government to attempt to enforce |
pavmeut in money of the claims of Anne
rican citizens, now amounting TO more |
than ten millions Of dollars against Mex
leo. because she is destitute OF oil pccmia-
~ means 10 satisfy these demands.
our late minister was furnished with
annie powers and instructions for the adj
iustment Of all pending questions with the
central government of Mexico, and lac per
formed his duty with zeal and ability. The
claims Of our citizens. some ofthem arising
ont of the violation of an express Provi-
sion Of the treaty Of Guadalupe Hidalgo,
and others from gross injuries TO persons
a. wen ~ property, have remained unre-
dressed, and even unnouced kemon-
strances against these grievances, have
been addressed without effect to that
government. Meantime, in various parts
Of the republic, instance. have been
numerous of the murder, imprisonment
and plumber Of our citizens, 10y diter-
emit parties claiming and exercising a To-
cal jurisdictions but the central govern
mcnt. although repeatedly urged thereto.
have made no effort either to punish the
authors Of these outrages or to prevent
their recurrence. No American citizen
can now visit Mexico on lawful business,
without imminent danger to his person
and property. There is no adequate pro-
lection 10 either; and in this respect our
treaty with that republic Is almost dead
letter.
Rhis state Of affairs was brought to a
crisis IN May last by the PRONUNCIATION OF
"a decree levying a contribution pro r1'1
upon an the capital in the republic. be
tween certain specified amounts whether
hold bv Mcxicaus or foreigners. Mr.. For
syth. regarding this decree in the light Of
a "forced loan. formally protested against
its application to his countrymen, and adj
vised them not to pay the contribution,
but 90 suffer 10 30 b. iorciblY exacted. Act
| iue upon this advice. an American citizen
refused 90 pay the contribution, and his
| property was seized bv armed men to "a
ti.fY the amount. Not content with this.
the government proceeded still further.
and is-ugi o. dCcrcc banishing him from
tho country Our minister Immediately
notified them that 81 this decree should d.
carried into execution he would feel 10 To-
ho his duty to alopt "tho most Decided
measures that belong 70 the powers and
obligations Of the representative office"
Notwithstanding this warning. the bauish-
mems was enforced. md Mr. FORSYTH
promptly announced To- the government
the suspension Of the political relations
- ~. D a.. It'll al.
sure Of his own government should be as
cortained
The government did not yegard the con-
trihution imposed hy the decree Of the
10Th May last. 90 De in strictnc-s n "iorced
loan. and az such prohibited by the 10th
article Of the treaty OF lS2i between Great
Britain and Mexico. 10 the benefits of
which American citizens are entitled by
treaty: yet the imposition Of the contrihu-
ton upon foreigners was considered an
unjust and oppressive measure. Besides
internal factions in other parts Of the re-
public were nc the same time levving simi-
lar cXactions upon the property Of our CT
tizcns. and iuterrupting our commerce.
There had been an entire failure on the
part Of our minister. to secure redress for
the wrongs which our citizens had cndur-
w. INV ANiHAlAiNANAlA AAAN NN'lNfNN IlNE VI
forts And from the temper manifested
by the Mexican government, he had re-
pcatcdly assured IA that no favorable
change could be expected. until the Uni
ted States should give striking evidence
Of their will and power 20 protect their
citizens" and that severe chasteninc is
the only earthly remedy for our grew
anccs." From this statement Of facts. il
UUFtfI Nurs.. hon VII.
Mr.. Forsyth to retrace his steps and re-
sumo diplomatic relations with that GOV
| ernmont. and it was. therefore deemed
proper to sanction his Withdrawal of the
| legation from the city Of Mexico.
Abundant cause now undoubtedly ex-
lists. for a resort to hostilities against the
government still holding possession of the
capital. Should they succeed in subduing
The constitutional forces. all reasonable
hope will then have expired Of peace
/ iul settlement of our difficulties.
On the other hand, should the constitu-
tional party prevail. and their authority
/ Doe established over the republic, there i
reason to hope that they will be animated
/ hy less uuiriendly spirit, and may grant
hat redress 10 American citizens which
i Justice requires. So far a. they may possess
I
/ should at once have recommended to Con-
/ .crss to grant the necessary power to the
/ President 90 take possession Of a sufficient
/ portion 81 the remote and unsettled ter
| utory Of Mexico to be held i'm pledge un-
| 90 our injuries shall hc rcdrcssed and our
! Just demands hc satisfied. We have al
! ready exhausted every milder means of
obtaining justice. In such case. this
| remedy ot rcpri-als is recognized by the
law Of nations not only a. just in itself.
but a. q means Of preventing actual war
Bat there Is another view of our rela-
tious with Mexico arising from the UNI
| happy condition Of affairs along our south
| western frontier, which demands immcdi-
ate action. In that rcmdtc region. where
there are but few white inhabitants. large
bands Of hostile and predatory Indians
! roam promiscuously over the Mexican
States Of Chihuahua and sonora. and our
adjoining Territories. The local govern
meuts of these States are perfectly help
loss, and are kept in state of constant
| alarm hy the Indians. They have not the
| power. ~ they possessed the will. even "a
restrain lawlcss Mcxicans from passing the
border and committing dcprCdations on
our remote settlers. A state Of anarchy
and violence prevails throughout that dis
t8nt frontier. The laws are a dead letter
and lie and property are wholly insecure
For this reason the settlement Of Arizonia
j. arrested, whilst il is of great importanc,
that q chain of inhabitants should extend
al along Co. southern border. sufficient
ior their own protection and that Of the
United States mail passing to and from
California. Well founded apprehension.
are now entertained. that the Indians, and
wandering Mcxicans equally lawless, mas
break up the important stage and posta
communication recently established be
| tween our Atlantic and Pacific possessions
| This passes very near to the Mexican houu
dairy. throughout the whole length Of Ari
zonia ! can imagine no possible remedy
ior these evils and no mode Of restoring
law and order on that remote and unset
tied frontier. but for the government oI
the United States 10 assume n temporary
protcctorato over the northern portions q
chihuahua and Sonora, and to establish
military posts within the samc-and this
earnestly recommend to Congress. Thi
protection may be withdrawn. as soon a.
local governments shall be established il
those Mexican States. capable Of perform
ing their duties 10 the United States. re
strainIng the lawlcss and preserving peac,
along the border.
do not doubt that this measure will b,
viewed in a friendly spirit By the govern
ments and people Of chihuahua and 80
d nora. rs 10 will prove equally efFectual fo
; the protection Of their citizens on that re
mote and lawlcss frontier, a. for citizens o
the United States
And in this connection. permit me {,
recall your attention to the condition o
Arizonia. The population of that Terri
tory numbering, rs is alleged. more thar
ten thousand souls. are practically with
out government. without laws and with
ont any regular administration of justice
Murder and other crimes are committe,
with impunity. This state Of things call
loudly for redress and I, Therefore, r.
peat my accommodation for the estat
iishmcnt Of a territorial government owe
Arizonia.
The political condition Of the narrov
isthmus OfCentral America through whicl
transit routes pass. between the Atlanti
and Pacific oceans, present q subject @
deep interest to al commercial nations
II i over these transits. that large pre-
portion Of the trade and travel between
the European and Asintic continents.
destined to pass. To the United State
these routes are Of incalculable Importance
b | a. Ia mems of communicative, hptyvepi