The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1858-12-16

hruCio VI tue uCuty VI AoSO eSeWSSu OiOu'
Britain and Mexico, to the benefits OF which
American citizens are entitled by treaty
vet the imposition Of the contribution upon
foreigners was considered an unjust and op.
pressive measure. Besides, internal factions
in other parts of the republic were, at the
same time, levying similar exactions upon
the. property Of our citizens, md interrupting
their commerce. There had been an entire
failure, on the part ofour minister, to secure
redress for the wrongs which our citizens
had endured, Notwithstanding his perseVering
efforts. And from the temper manifested by
the Mexican government, he had repeatedly
assured us that no favorable change could be
expected, until the United States should
"Rivs striking evidence of their will and pow.
sr 10 protecttbeir citizens" and that "severe
ehasteping is the only earthly remedy for ouI
grievsnces." From this statement of facts
it would have been worse than idle TO direct
Er. Forsyth TO retrace his steps and resume
diplomatic relations with that government
and 1t was therefore deemed proper 10 sane
tion his withdrawal OF the legation from the
city of Mexico.
Abundant cause now undoubtedly exists,
for a resort to hoslili,ies against the govern
ment still holding possession of the capital.
Should they succeed in subduing the consti-
tnional forces, ell reasonable hope will then
have expired of peaceful settlement of our
difficulties.
On the other hand, should the constitution.
al party prevail, and their authority be estab-
lished over the republic, there is reason TO
hope that they will be animated by less
unfriendly spirit, and may grant that redress
10 American citizens which justice requires,
so far as they msy possess the means. But
for this expectation, / should at once have
recommended to Congress to grant the nee.
essary power 10 the President to take pos
session of sufficient portion of the remote
and unsettled territory Of Mexico, TO be held
in pledge until our injuries shall be redress
cd, and cur just demands be satisfied. We
hare already exhausted every milder means
of obtaining justice. In such case, this
remedy of reprisals is recognized by the law
Of nations, not only as just in itself, but as
a means of preventing actual war.
But there is smother view OF our relations
with Mexico, arising from the unhappy con-
dition of affairs along our southwestern from
tier, " hich demsn immediate action. In
tudL ~ (RlOtt WhCIO lnCIV ubC Jul lew
white inhabitants, large bands of hostile and
predatory Indians roam promiscuously over
the Mexican States of chihuahua and Sono.
ra, and our adjoining territories. The local
governments of these States are perfectly
helpless, and are kept in a state of constant
alarm by the Indiane. They have not the
power, if they possessed the will, even to
RESTRAIN lawless Mexicans from passing the
border and committing depredations on our
remote settlers. A state of anarchy and vi.
olence prevails throughout that distant from
tier. The laws are dead letter, and life
and property are wholly insecure. For this
reason The settlement Of Arizona is arrested,
whilst it is of great importance that chain
of inhabitants should extend oil along its
southern border, sufficient for their own pro.
lection and that of the United States mail
passing to and from California. Well.foun.
ded npprehensions are now entertained, that
the Indians, and wandering Mexicans, equal
ly luwless, may break up the important
stege and postal communication recently
established between our Atlantic and Pacific
possessions. This passes very near to the
Mexican boundary throughout the whole
length Of Arizona. ] can imagine TO possi.
BILE remedy for these evils, and no mode Of
restoring law and order on that remote and
unsettled frontier but for the government of
the United States to assume q temporary
prCteCtorate ever the northern portions Of
chihuahua and Sonora, and to establish
military posts within the same-and this |
earnestly recommend TO Congress. This
protection may be Withdrawn as soon as To-.
cal governments shall be established in these
Mexican States capable of performing their
eutits to the United States, restraining the
lawless and preserving peace along the border
Go not doubt thtt this essure will be
viewed in friendly spirit by the govern
nents and people Of chihuahua and Sonora,
Cs it will prove equally ef1ectual for the pro
tecticn of their citizens on that remote and
lowless fro:.ticr, as TOR citizens of the United
States.
And in this connection, permit me to re-
cull your attention to the condition OF Arizo-
ma. The population of that territory, num-
bearing, as is alleged, more than ten thousand
souls, are practically without government,
without laws, ond without any regular ad-
ministration of Justice. Murder and other
crimes are committed with impunity. This
state of things calls loudly for redress and
i therefore repeat my recommendation for
the establishment OF territorial government
over Arizona.
81 The political condition of the narrow 18th.
nEs OF Central America, through which
transit routes pass between the Atlantic and
Poetic oceans, presents subject of deep
interest to all commercial nations. 1t is
over these transits that large proportion of
tie trtde aud travel between the European
and Asiatic continents is destined to pass.
To the United States these routes are of in
calculable importance, as means of com.
nunication between their Atlantic and Pa.
cifc possessions. The latter now extend
throughout seventeen degrees of latitude on
the Pacific coast, embracing the important,
State of California and the fourishiDg terri.
tories Of Oregon and Washington. All
commercial nations, therefore, have deep
and direct interest, that these communica-
tions shall be rendered secure from Interrupt
tion. II an arm Of the sea, connecting the
two oceans, penetrated through Nicaragua
and Costa Rlca, it could not be pretended
that these States would have the right to
arrest or retard its navigation, to the injury
Of other nations. The transit by land over
this narrow isthmus occupies nearly the same
position. II is a highway in which they
the mseives have little interest, when COM
7 ared with the vast interests of the rest of
the world. Whilst their rights OF sovereign
ty ought to be respected, it is the duty of
other nations to require that this important
passage shall not be interrupted by the civil
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