The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-06-19
BALTIMORE.
SATURDAY, JUNE 10, 1858.

It is almost impossible, in the present chaotic
condition of Mexico, to ascertain with any degree
of precision, what progress the civil is making
in that Republic, or to form any conclusion with
respect to the period when it will be drawn to a
close. All that we really know is that the Pro-
visional Government holds possession of the Val
ley of Mexico, and that the Constituencies,
and the independent cheftains, exercise full sway
in the frontier Departments. In the centre ZULoAGA
retains the sembance of power; while, at the
circumference his authority is successfully defed.
But If there is manifest weakness in the govern
ment, there is also concert of action among the
leaders of the opposition, while the only vigor dis
played, is by the numerous guerilla bands that in
fest the great highways, or from their mountain
Businesses descend upon some isolated town. or
hamlet, to levy contributions upon the unprotected
inhabitants The old Welsh war-song, says:
"The mountain sheep are sweeter,
But the valley sheep are fatter;
Therefore deemed IL
To carry off the latter;n
and in this opinion at least if in no other the Mexi
can Guerittds coincide. Unlike most of the preyi-
Gus revolutions in Mexico-and their number is
legion-the present struggle for supremacy is not
between two distinct and well marked parties. but
is sort of free fight between some half n dozen
separate factions grouped round some half a dozen
aspiring leaders. Thus, we have the ZULoAGA fac
ton, sustained by the Church. and supported from
It's revenues; the CoMoNFORT faction, opposed bv
the Church, for the reason that it confiscated 10
the State large portion of the Church property;
the JUAREz faction, known as the Constitutional
lists; the Santdnnistas, who claim, we believe to be
Federalists; the VIDAURRI faction which maintains
an almost undisputed sway over Northern Mexico,
from the Rio Grande to Monterey or Saltillo: and
in addition to these, there are numerous rowing
bands of Indians and Guerillas. In such disor-
gained state of affairs, it is quite natural that there
should be a constant variety of incident and con-
slant change of fortune; that the victory of to-day
should be followed by the defeat of tomorrow
that the government forces under OsoLLos and MI
RAMON, should be fastening to San Luis Potos for
the purpose of checking the triumphant progress of
VDAURRI in the Northern Departments; while the
people Of Morelia, chihuahua, and Durango. are
being plundered by the factonists and massacred
by the Indians. Bands of Federalists roam unmo
Tested over the States of Jalisco and Colima rob-
bling and sacking at their pleasure. Two thousand
Idqui Indians have burned the villages around
Guaymas, and murdered their inhabitants. At
Santa Cruz de Mayo, they entered the town, killed
every man there was in it, drove all the women
and children to their usual place of refuge, the
church in the Plaza set fire to it, and then burned
the rest of the town. Similar excuses have been
committed IN 4ucatan. EcHEAGARAY, weary of
menacing Vera Cruz, is falling back upon the CITY
of Mexico, leaving the Guerrilero SALCEDo. in the
interest of the government, to protect the noun
tain passes between the National Bridge and Jalapa.
All commercial operations being thus suspended,
merchandise to the value of seven millions of dol
lars, has accumulated within the walls of tsthe
ever faithful city, of Vera Cruz. Deprived of the
customary revenues, the government of ZULoAGA
is hard pressed for want of funds. To meet the
exgency of the occasion, an arbitrary decree has
been issued imposing tax of one per cent. on all
capitals, exceeding S., 900 and not exceeding ST.
100000. As this contributions, as it is delicate
~ termed though eXacted ostensibly upon all pro-
ductve labor, does not include the productive prop
erty of the Church, the American Minister. Mr..
FORSYTH, at the instance of his fellow-citzens re-
siding in Mexico, has protested against its obvious
Partially and injustice. The British Consul at
San Luis Potos has also issued q similar pro
foot against the subjects of Queen VICTORIA beino
forced to submit to so onerous an impost. Tn tbe
meanwhile, his Excellency Don ANTONIO LOPEZ DE
oANTA ANNA, looms up out of the fog OCCASION
ally, to give the world assurance of his where
aoouts. From his halting place, in the Danish
West India Island of st. Thomas, he has recently
issued manifesto to his fellow-ctizens, recount
ing his exploits and defending himself from the
charges brought against him by his enemies
Having lost one leg--a vital part of him-at Vera
Cruz, and another leg-the wooden substitute for
the lost member-at Cerro Gordo, he has a double
claim upon the sympathies of the Mexican people
But his magnoquent appeal will scarcely obtain
hearing amidst the din and clamor of contend
ing factions, and although he closes his address
with the patriotic hope ''that the Mexican people
may be happy, and that their children may have
country" it is difficult to conceive how happi-
ness can be possible so long as restless military
oLgarchy continues to convulse the Republic with
constant succession of internecine feuds: or how
country can be worth possessing, whose defence
less inhabitants are subjected to worse miser;es
than plague, pestilence and famine, in the three
fold ysitations of Yaqui Indians, Guerilla marau-
ders, and the forces of the contendine factions.