The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1858-12-13

lion commands the mouth Of the Mississippi river
md its immense and annually increasing trade,
bic river, now embracing half The sovereign States
ii the linton. With that is land m or the do
Ininion Of distant foreign pcwer, this trade, Of
vital importance 70 thee statss, 10 exposed to tbs
dang l16f bsiag destroyed in time OF war, and ii
has hitherto bean ubssted to perps,u.l injury and
annoyance Ia times OF Iears. Our relations with
Spain, which ought to be Of the most friendly
must always be placed In jeopardy,
whilst the existing colonial government over the
island shall remain in Its prea emit condition.
Whiist the possession OF the island would be OF I
vast Importance 10 the United States, it's value to
Spain 10 comparatively unimportant. Such was
the relative position OF the parties when tho great
Napoleon Transferred Louisiana to the United |
States jealous, ~ he ever vs., Of tbs national
honor and interests Of France, person through
cot the world has imputed blame to him for 40
csptins pseunary equivalent Tor this ces.ion
or negotiations upon this subject, and the large
appropriation which may Be REQ uirsd to eject he
purpose, render IL expsdient, before making an
other attempt to renew the negotiations, that /
sho Id lay the whole matter before Congress. This
10 especially nscessary, ~ - 1t may become in
dispcnsable to success, that should be iutrusted
with the means u making M advance 70 the span
ish government immediately after the signing sf
the treaty without awaiting the tifcation Of II
by the senate. / Am encouraged TO make this sug-
gssiion, by example OF Mr.. Jefferson previous 10
tho purchase OF Louisians from France, and by
that Of Mr.. Polk in view Of the acquisition Of TER
ritory from Mexico. l refe the whole subject 10
Congress nd commend 1t to their nj eonsid-
Grafton.
l repeat tho Recommendation made In my msss-
age OF December last, in favor Of an appropriation
to be pad TO the Spanish government for the pur-
pess Of distribution among the claimants in the
Amistad case President Polk Grst made . aim
liar Recommendation in December, lS46. and !
was repeated by my immsdiAt predecessor In De-
cembcr, 1883. ! entertain no doubt that indemni-
Ia fairly due to these claimants under treaty
with spain Of the 37th Of October, 1873 anu
whilst demanding lustiss We ought to do justice.
An appropriation promptly AIDE for this purpose,
could not fail to exert favorable II nuence in our
| negotiations With Spain.
Our pos itiou ia relation to the states
| south OF US on this ooatinent, and cspcci II ly
those within the limits Of North America, is Of
| peculiar character. The northern boundary az
4 Mexico 10 coincidsnt with our southern u.dsry
from ocean to ocean and We must necessarily feel
deep interest In al that concerns the weli-beinr
| and the fate Of 70 near nsishbor. We hAvs al
ways cherished the kindsst wishes for the success
| Of that republic, aud have INDUCED the hope that
IL might 1t last, after all its ta, enjoy psace and
prosperity under free and stable govvrnmsat.--
We have never heretofore interfsrsd, directly or
indisscaiy, with ts ntsrss a1airs, ard II 10 duty
We oursslves TO protect the integrity Of les
territory against the hostile interference Of any
other power. Our geographical positioa, our direct
ssstlsd policy In regard 70 tho North Americas
eontinen mt, render this IN indisp ensablo duty.
Mexico has been In . state Of constant revola.
ton, almost ever since IL achieved it, in6epcn-
dcnce. One military leader after smother hAs
usurped the government in rapid sussessios, and
the various cons tati0ns from time 10 tin adopt
ed have been set ct naught almost " soon ~ thsy
were proclaimed. The successive governments have
Afforded no adequate protection. either 70 Mexican
citizens foreign rssidenh, against lawisss vio
lence. Heretofore, the seizure VI the capital By
military chisftain has been generally followed b.
~ least tina nominal submssiou Of the country q
his rule for brief period but not 70 It the prsssn
crisis VI Mexican a1airs. A civil var hAs beer
raging for some throughout the republic, bctwess
the central government 81 the city of Mexico
which Aae sndsAvorsd 10 subvert the nststutios
last framed BY military power, and those wh.
maintain ths authority ef that constitution. TIL
antagonist parties sach hold possession Of dsren
States Of the republic, and the fortunes u war m
constantly changing Meanwhile, the most repre-
honsibls means have bssn employed By both pArtie
TO extort money from foreigners - we'll ~ natives
70 carry On this ruinous contest. The truth il
that this fine country, pleased with . productive
soil and d benign climate, has been reduced BY civ
IL disssnaion 70 conditi OF almost hopeless an
! archy and imbeciiity. II would ke vain for thi
1 governments TO attempt TO cnforee psy nent in mo
nsy Of tho claims Of Amsrioan citizens now amount
: ing TO more than ten millions Of dollars agains
Mexico, because she Is dsstitate Of all pecuniar
means TO satisfy these claims.
!. Our late minister was furnished with ample pow
. and uetions for the Adjustnent Of all pend
: ing questions with The central government Of ex
loo, and As per1ormsd his duty With zeal anA Abi
~. The claims Of O0r eitissns, some Of them ssi
; sing out pf the violation OF express provision
: Of the treaty Of Guadalupe HidaiEo, and other
frou grops injuries 70 persons - we'll property
!. have TsmAised anrsdresssd, and evan unsoticsd.-
+ kemonsttances against these grievances have BEE
d addressed without eject TO ths Government Asan
= tims in various parts Of the republic, instance
have been nsnsrons Of the murdsr, impsisoumen
J, and plumber Of our citisens, BY different partis
claiming aad sxercising Iocsl jurisdistion; bu
y thereto, have made no effort either 10 panish III
: authors OF these outYag - or 70 prevent their =,
= currence. No American citizen can now visit Ne,
Y loo on lawful busines without imminent danger
= his person and property There u adequate pre-
lection to either; and in this respect our treaty vii
4 the republic 10 almost dead letter.
!, This state Of Affairs was brought to . crisis
: Nay last by the promulgatiou Of decree levin
: contribution pro ystS upon all the capital In II
republic, between certain specified amounts. whetl
|. or held by MexicAns or forsigaers. Mr.. Forsyth
regarding this decree 10 the light Of forced loan
q formally protested sgsinst IL application to 81
countr ymcn, and advised them not 10 pay he cor
tribution bat 70 su1sr II to Be forcibly exscted.-
!. Acting upon this advice, Americas eitissn n
fased 10 pay the contribution, ind hrs property VI
i seized b. armed non 70 sAlisfy The sm>apt. NJ
: farther, and issued decree banishing him frol
Il the cousiry. Our hiaistm innsdiaesly motifs
v them that II this decree was carried iuto cxAeuto
hs would feel II to b his duty 70 adopt "ths no
. decided measures that tslong b ~ Do~sn ~ 81
,fI legations Of the representative Once" Notwitl
!. standing this warning. the banishnspt vas :,
d forced, and Mr.. Rossyth very promptly annouuel
: to the government the Suspension u the polit
cal rslasions Of his lsgston With them, until q
!. pleasure Of his own government should BE- ases
J. tanned.
D. This government did not regard the sontributie
impased by the dseres Of tho 18th Of Nay last 70
y in strictnses "f0reed loan, and - such psohh
OF ted ~ the tsnth article Of the treaty Of i016
70 tween Great Britain and Mexico, to the beneats
y which Americas eitissns are entitled by treat,
n vet the impostion Of the CONFEDERATION upou "a
ID sixner Was considered an unjust and oppressi
N msasurs Besides, internal factions In other par
Of the republic were at the same time levyinR sis
liar exAetoAs spoa ths prupsfty Of eitisss
In interrupting their commerce. There had been ,
entire failure the part OF our minister 10 sscu
redress for the wrongs which our citisens had d
lr dared. notwithstanding Ais psrssvEise efforts.
y And from tbs temper manifested BY the Mexiol
- government, be had repeatedly assured 10 that
q favorable change cesld b. sxpsctsd uatii The Uni
States should 'givs striking evidence Of their VI
= and power to protect their eitisens, and that u
we're chastisement 10 the only earthly remedy 4
i our grievances" From this statement OF facts
% would have been than idle to direct Mr. Pc
% syth TO retrsss his steps anI rssams Aplomasic
y lations with that g0vsfpment; aud II was, Tier
\ fore, deemed proper 10 sanction his withdrawal
tha fsvatian frow the ciky Of MexicD