Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1858-12-10

repeat the recommendation made in nv mes-
sage of December last, in favor Of an appropria-
ton "to be pail To the Spanish government for
the purpose If distribution among the claimants
in the Armistad case President Polk first made
a similar Recommendation in December, 1871 and
1T was repeated by my immediate predecessor in
December. 1873 entertain no doubt tLa; iudeHi-
nifty is fairly due to these claimants under our
treaty with Spain Of the 27th of Oct Der 1875 and
whilst demanding justice ought {, do justice
An appropriation promptly made for this purpose,
could not fail 10 exert favorable influence our
, negotiations with Spain.
Our position in relation to the Independent
States south o Us on this continent. and e-pe-
cially those within the limits Of North America,
is Of peculiar character. The northern boun-
Diary Of Mexico is coincident with our own
southern boundary from ocean To ocean: and
We must necessarily feel a deep interest in all
that concerns the well being and the fate of so
near Il ugighbor. We have always cherished
the kindc,' wishes for the success Of that re-
public and have indu!ged the hope that il
might at last. after al its trials. enjoy peace
and prosperity under free anu stable govern
meni
We have never heretofore iuterferel, directly
or Indirectly. with it, internal affairs and il is
a duty which we owe TO ourselves 20 protect
the integrity of its territory, against the hostile
iufcrfcncc Of any other power our gcographi-
cal It~ll4Ils Nl Itlttl liltt4 all si lllti
Germs Mexico. and our weli-setilei policy in
regard to the North american continent, render
this an inlipcusAb!e duty.
Mexico has been in state Of constant reyo-
lurlun almost ever since II achieved its indie
ueuIeuce. One military leader after another
has usurpel the government IN rapid success
sion: and the various constitutions from time
10 time adopted have been set at naugL' al-
most a. soon a they were proclaimed. Tie
successive governments have attorl,. LI l.-
quatc protection, either 20 Mexican citiz.a- .r
foreign residents, against lawlcss violence
Heretofore, seizure Of tLe capital hy Mill
tary chicaain, has been generally followed By
al least the nominal submission Of the country
to his rule for a brief period, but not 50 at The
present crisis OF Mexican affairs.
\ civil war has been raging Tor some time
throughout the republic. which has enIeavoreI
10 subvert the constitution last framed, BY
military power. and those who maintain the
authority Of that constitution. The antag0-
mist parties hold possession of different State
Of the republic, and the fortunes Of the war
are constantly changing
Meanwhile. the most repreheusible mems
have been employed by both parties to extort
money fsom foreigners, as well as natives. 10
carry On This ruiaous Mt 81. The truth ia,
that this fiue country, blessed with productive
soil aul a benign climate. has been reduced BIZ
civil di.seuscn 20 q condition Of almost hopeless
anarchy and imbecility. II would be vain f5r
tbs government % attempt to enforce payment
in IL uey II the claims of American citizens,
now amo uniting 10 m re than ten millions dol
lars, against Mexico, because she Is destitute
OF All Ie,uri-ry means e. SATISFY these demands.
Our ll'c minister WIS furnished with ample
powers and instructions for the adjustment Of
all pending questions with il,, oreuiral gov
crnmeut Of Mexico. and he performed his duty
with zeal and ability. The claims Of some of
our citizens. some OF them arising out uf the
violation of au express provision of the treaty
Of ualaluTe li!nlgo. and others from gross
injuries 20 persons as well pr VerJy. have
remained uurcIryss-l AMI even uunufice,l.
"Reminiscences against these eriyv4uecs, have
been addressed without cGeu, r1 the govern
mtut-
Nelntine. in various parts ~ the republic,
instances have been numerous OF the murder,
Imprisonment and plumber II uur citizens. by
different parties claiming AMI exercising To-
sal iur!sl! zion: hut JLe central government.
aith0uCn rrpc1trrriy rt=.-. -4------. - --l-
10 effort either To punish the authors ot these
ou'ra-es or 20 prevent their recurrence. No
American citizen can now visit Mexico On law
tul business. without imminent danger TO his
person and property There is NJ adequate
projection 90 either. ami in this respect our
treaty with that republic j. almost a dead let
ter.
This state Of rfairs was brought to a crisis in
May A-r. by the pronlu, cation os decree levyin-
contribution pro rata upon all the capital in the
r,r'Gne, between certain specified amounts. wheth
Ct -elI 'y H,Ni-'hs or i.'eisneTs Mr. Forsyth.
.,'.' a. ~ 'ue 1-ht ~ a ioIeei !"l
''+'N.I'! PC, u '-"','' 'He 'IlH'au'h q LIS
triburiSn fnt to .- il f fr;{,I pay - ,L
Acting urou tfis advice. an A,r,rir.,r III
fused to pav decentralization. ana his rr,rsr-rvs
seized by armed men 10 satisfy th- amount. n.
content with this, the government proceeded .-iI
further, and issued decree bauishilg him from
IN country. Our minister Immediately zptaei
mem 'hat II 'ht> leeIre should be carried into ex-
su.''n ne I'u'u ly.' % 'e DIS aN'y To- ad'p'ia'
n-5 oII;a,; ,.' rS.S 70 Ihe p'we,S
vitb.t,r7j;,,. +fs ,r,r,ir, 49, t,.t. W ~
enforced. and Mr.. r.v.5 Tr,1,, Iy a,1,-c, ~
the government the suspension 81 the ralitieal re-
latiaps of his LEGATION virb ,bem M, N tts -
sure of lis own -eyc-r u.sI- D. 'I be bea>csrtaued.
The government l.l not rc-arI lie contrihu-
tiOn imposed by the decree of the 10Th OF Nav
last To he. in Strictnc-s. forced loan ouI
as such prohibited by the IHih article of nh,
treaty of I>-6 between Grea, Britain and Mex
Ic, I, tho h.pc.ifs .f which A,,.r...',, .-....,
are entitled by treaty: vet the ir,la,f,i.n Of