The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1858-12-17

y WoFanhs lUputtu uiHiIi9 W HtfN tI0I HINIII@
4 ing pecuniary EQUIVALENT for u h sesslon,
The publicity which has been given 70 oxs
4 former negotiations upon this suhjcct, and
0 the large appropriation which may be requIs-
| ed to effect The purpose, rsndeF u sxpedIsnsi
, before making another attempt to tenew the
negotiation, that ! should lay thsswhels sui
joel before Congress. This is sspscinlIy ne
cessary, as II may become indispensabie 70
success, that should be entfnsted with ths
means Of making mn advance 70 tho Spanish
government Immediately after tie signing of
the treaty, without awaiting the ratification
{ oft BY The Senate. lam encouraged 10 make
this suggestion, by the example Of Mr.. JEFF
ferson previous to the purchase of Louisiana
from France, and BY that Of Mr.. Polk in visw
Of the acquisition Of Territory from Mckee.
! refer the whole subject 10 Congress, and
commend it to their careful consideration. 2
Irepeat the Recommendation made 10 my
message of December last, in fnvor of nm np-
preparation "to be paid to The Spanish gov
.ernment for the purpose 4 disiIbp}joQ
President Polk frst made dirilSf recom-
mehdation in December, ls47, and IL was re-
peated by my immediate predecessor In De-
cefnber, 1853. entertain no doubt that in
! demnity is fairly due TO these olpiulants I'M
isder our treaty with Spain of the 27h Octo-
Der, 1875: and whilst demanding justice we
ought TO do justice. An appropriation
promptly made for this purpose, could not
fail 10 exert favorable influence on our. ne.
gotations with Spain. ,ss-.
Our position in relation to the independent
States south of us on this continent, and en-,
pecaly those within The limits of North .
America, is of peculiar character. The. north
ern boundary of Mexico Is coincident with
our own southern boundary from ocenn 10
ocean; and we must%necessnrily feel a deep
interest in all thai: cohcerlsItl, the well being
and the fate of so near p6ighbor. We have
always cherished the kipdest wishes Cor the
success of that republic, and have indnleed
the hope that il might at last, after all iis
trials, enjoy peace and prosperity under a free
and stable government. We have never
hitherto interiered, directly orindircctly, with
its internal affhrs, and it is duty which we
\ owe to ourselves, to protect the integrity Of
lis territory, against tfshosiile interference
of any other power. Our geographical posi.. !.
ton, our direct interest in all that concerns
Mexico, and our well settled policy in regafd
to the North American continent, render tliis
an indispensable duty. .,yR !
Mexico has been in state of constant rev.
olution, almost ever since il achieved It's in
dependence. One military leader another has
usurped the government in rapid succession;
and the various constitutions from lime TO
time adopted, have been set at nnugnt almost
as soon as they were proclaimed. .Ihe.sue-
cessve governments have afforded. no ads.
qunte protection, either to Mexican citizens
or foreign residents, against lawless violence.
Heretofore, seizure Of the capital by mill.
tary cheitnin, has been generally followed by
at least the nominal submission Of the coun,
fri tn MI fnr l,;a ind t.,,f.
ut the present crisis of Mexican uffairs. A
!, civil war has been raging for some tine
throughout the.republic between the csntral
government Mt The city of ., which has
T endeavored 10 subvcrt Tho {uficn- last
framed, bysiniltnry power, "d 'those who
maintain the authority OF that constitution.
The antagonist parties each hold possessicn
of different States of the republic, and the
fortunes of the war are constantly changing.
Meanwhile, the most reprehen-ible ueans
have been employed by both Parties to extort
money from foreigners, us well as natives, to
! carry on. this iunous contest. The truth Is,
that this fine country, blessed with produc-
tive ilsand benign climate, has been re-
dnced by civil dissension to acondition. Of al.
most hopeless anarchy and imbeclity.s 1t
would be vain for this government tonitempt
to enforce payment in money of tho claims
OF American citizens, now amounting to more
than ten million dollars, against Mexico, be-
cause ss9 is destitute Of all pecuniarys meaus
10 satisfy these demands.
Our late minister was furnished with am.
pie powers and instructions for the adjust-
ment of all pending questions with the CEN
trail government of Mexico, and he perform.
ed his duty with zeal and ability. The claims Of
our CITIZENS, some of them arising out Of the
violationof an express provision.of the treaty
of Guadalups lidalgo, and Others from gross
injuries to persons MS well us property, have
remained unrcdressed and even unn liced.-
Remonstrances against these grievances,
have been addressed without effect 10 that
government Meantime, in vmiOus parts of
the republic, instances have been numerous
OF the murder, imprisonment, and pIunder Of
our citizens, by different parties Ginning
and exercising local jurisdiction; but the
central government, although repeatedly ur-
ged thereto, have made no effort either TO
punish the authors Of these ou,rages or to
, prevent their recurrence. No American cit
iZen can now visit Mexico on lawful business,
J without imminent danger to his person and
property. There is no adequate protection
to either; and in this respect our treaty with
that republic is almost dead letter.
This state of affairs was brought TO crisis
| w hHy Iust, ny tnc pIoHlul lghtoh VI " uecfeo
, levying contribution pro rata upon all the
capital IN the republic, between certain spe-
Gifted amounts, whether held by Alexicans or
foreigners. Mr.. Forsyth, regarding this de-
cree in the light of "iorced loan," formally
protested against its application to his coun.
!rymcn, and advised them not To pay the con-
, tribution, but to suffer it to be torcibly ex-
acted. Acting upon this advice, an American
, citizen refused to pay the contribution, and
his property was seized by armed men to
satisfy the amount. Not content with this,
the government proceeded still further, and
; issued decree banishing him from the conn
! try. Our minister Immediately notified them
that If this decree should be carried into exc
cution he would feel it to be his duty TO adopt
'the most decided measures that belong 10
the powers and obligations of the representa-
: tive Office" Notwithstanding this warning,
tho baEishment was enforced, and Mr.. For
u syth promptly announced TO the government
2 the suspension Of the political relations OF his
: legation with them, until the pleasure Of his
y own government should be ascertained. 'sl'
This government did not regard the con.
e tribulion imposed by the decree Of the 18th
7, May last to be in strctness a "iorced loan,"
: and us such prohibited by the 10th article Of
: the treaty of 1926 between Great Britain and
e Mexico, to the benefits of which American
s.s- Al L.. t.-.--