Preble County Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1857-1859, 1858-12-16

Our position in relation to the indie
pendent States south of us on this con-
%tinent, and especially those within the
limits of North America. is of a pecu-
liar character. The northern boundary
of Mexico is coincident with our own
southern boun airy from ocean to ocean;
and VIC must necessarily feel a deep in
tcrest in all that concerns the we'll be
ing and the fate of so near a neighbor.
We have always cherished the kindcst
wishes for the success of that Republic,
and have INDUCED the hope that it
might at last, after all its trials, enjoy
peace aud prosperity under free and
stable government.
We have never hitherto interfcred,
directly or indirectly, with its internal
affairs, and it is a duty which We owe to
ourselves, to protect the integrity of its
territory az ainst the hostile interference
Of any other power. Orr geographical
position, our direct interest in all that
concerns Mexico, and our we'll settled
policy in regard to the North American
continent, rruder this an indispensable
duty.
/ Mexico has been in a stale of con-
slant revolution almost ever since it
achieved its Independence. One mill
tary leader after another has usurped
the government in rapid succession, and
the various constitutions, from time TO
nae@aannted- h-ye bees-s~ssugnt
almost as soon as they were proclaimed,
The successive governments have af-
fordcd no adequate protection either to
Mexican citizens or foreign residents
against lawless violence. Heretofore a
seisurc of the capitol by a military chief
tain has been generally followed by at
least the nominal submission of the
country to his rule for a brief period,
but not so at the present crisis of Mex
lean affairs.
\ civil wal has been raging for some
time throughout the republic. which
has cndeavored to subvert the constitu-
ton last framed by military power, and
those who maintain the authority of that
constitution. The antagonist parties
each hold possession of different States
of the Republic, and the fortunes of the
war are constantly changing.
Meanwhile, the most reprehens;ble
c have been employed by both par
ties to extort money from foreigners, as
we'll as natives, to carry on this ruin
Gus contest. The truth is, that this
fine country, blessed with a productive
soil and a benign climate, has been re-
ducod by civil d~issensions TO a condi-
ton of almost hopeless anarchy and i'm
bcc;lity. 1t would be vain for this
Government to attempt to enforce pay
ment in money of the claims of Amcri-
can citizens, now amounting to more
than ten millions dollars, against Next
co, because she is destitute of all pecu-
mary means to satisfy these demands.
Our late minister was furnished with
ample powers and instructions for the
adjustment of all pending questions
with the central government of Mexico,
and he performed his duty with zeal
and ability. The claims of some of our
citizens, some of them arising out of the
violation of an express provision of the
treaty ofGuadalupe Hi1algo, md others
from gross injuries to persons as we'll as
property, have remained unrcdressed
and even unnoticcd. demonstrates
against these grievances have been adj
dressed without effect to that govern
ncnt.
Meantime, in various parts of the re
public, instances have been numci Gus
of the murder, Imprisonment and plum.
der of our citizens, by different parties
claiming aud exercising a local juris.
diction; but the central government al,
though urged thereto, have made no eff.
fort either to punish the authors of these
outrages or. to prevent their recurrence.
No American citizen can now visit
Mexico on lawful business, without i'm,
ninent danger to his person and pro-
porty. There is no adequate protection
to either, and in this respect our treaty
with that republic is almost a dead
letter.
This state of affairs was brought to a
crisis in May last by the PRONUNCIATION
of a decree levying a contribution pro
rata upon all the cipital in the republic,
between certain specified amounts, whe-
Their held by Mexicans or foreigners
AIR. Forsyth, regarding this decree in
the light of a "foreed %loan," formally
protested against its application to his
countrymen, and advised them not to
pay the contributions, but to suffer it to
be forcibly ezaetcd.e
Acting upon this advice, IN Ameri-
can citizen refused to pay the contribu-
ton, and his property was seized by
armed men to satisfy the amount. Not
content with this, the government pro-
cecded still further and issued a decree
kbanishing him from the country. Our
minister Immediately notified them that
if this decrce should be carried into ex-
tecution he would feel it to be his duty
TO adopt '.the most decided measures
that belong to the powers and obliga-
tons of the representative Office" Not
withstanding this warming, the Danish
ment was enforced, aud Mr.. Forsyth
promptly announced to the government
the suspension of the political relations
OF his legation with them, until the plea
sure. of his own government should be
asccrt1ined.
This government did not regard the
contribution imposed by the decree of
tho 10Th May last to be, in strictness. a
forced loaned and as such prohibited
by the 10th article of the treaty of 1926
between Great Britain and Mexico, to
the benefits of which American citizens
are entitled by treaty: vet the imposi-