The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1859-12-30

4
and which involves, indirectly at least, the
whole subject of our duty to Mexico as a
neighboring State. The exercise of the
power of the United States in that country
to redress the wrongs and protect the rights
Of our citizens is none the less to be desired.
because efficient and necessary aid may thus
be rendered at the same time to restore
peace and order to Mexico itself In the
accomplishment of this result the people of
the United States must necessarily feel a
deep and earnest interest. Mexico ought to
be a rich and prosperous and powerful re-
public. She possesses an extensive territory,
Il fertile soil. and an incalculable store OF
mineral wealth. She occupies an important
position between the gulf and the ocean for
transit routes and for commerce.
Is it possible that such a country as this
can be given up to anarchy and ruin with
out an effort from any quarter for its res
cue and its safety? Will the commercial
nations of the world, which have SO many
interests connected with it, remain wholly
Indifferent to such a reSult2 Can the Uni
ted States, especially, which ought to share
most largely in its commercial intercourse
allow their immediate neighbor thus to des-
troy itself and injure them? Yet without
support from some quarter it is impossible
to perceive how Mexico can resume her Do
sition among nations and enter upon a
career which promises any good results
The aid which she requires, and which the
interests ot all commercial countries require
that she should have, it belongs to this gov
eminent TO render, not only by virtue of our
neighborhood to Mexico, along whose terri.
tory we have - continuous frontier of nearly
a thousand miles, but by virture, ALSO of our
established policy, which is inconsistent
with the Intervention of any European
power in the domestic concerns of that
Republic.
The wrongs which We have suffered from
Mexico are before the world, and must deep
ly impress every American citizen. gov
ernmcnt which is either unable or unwil-
ling to redress such wrongs is derelict TO
its highest duties. Tie difficulty consists
in selecting and enforcing the remedy
We may in vain apply o the constitutional
Government AT Vera Cruz although it is
well disposed 10 DO us Justice for adequate
redress. While its authority is acknowledged
in all the important ports and throughout
the sea coasts Of the republic, its power does
not extend t0 the city Of Mexico aud the
States III It's vicinity, where nearly all the
recent outrages have been committed on
American citizens We must penetrate into
the interior before can reach the offend
ers, and this can only he done 10y passing
through the territory in the occupation OF
the constitutional government. The most
acceptable and least difficult mode of ac-
complshing the object viii he to act in CON
cert with that government. Their consent
and their aid might, believe, be obtained
but if not, our obligation to protect our
own citizens in thcif just rights, secured by
treaty, would not be the less imperative
For these reasons | recommend to Con-
gross to pass a law authorizing the Presi-
dent, under such conditions us they may
deem eXpedent, to employ sufficient mil
itary force to enter Mexico for the purpose of
obtaining indemnity for the past and secu-
rity for the future. / purposely refrain
from any suggestion rs to whether this
force shall consist of regular troops or vol
unteers, or both. This question may be
most appropriately left to the decision of
Congress. | would merely observe that,
should volunteers be selected, such force
could be easily raised in this country among
those who sympathise with the suff'erings
of our unfortunate lcllow-citiZens in Mexico.
and with the unhappy condition of that re-
public. Such an accession to the forces of
the constitutional government would en-
able it soon to reach the city of Mexico and
extend its power over the whole republic.
In that event there is no reason to doubt
tLsbL AAlt u5t CisllliS Oi our ClllLenS HOulu DC
satisfied and adequate redress obtained for
the injuries inflicted upon them. The con-
stitutional government have ever evinced
strong desire to do us justice, and this night
be secured IN advance by a preliminary
treaty.
1t may be said that these measures viii.
at least indirectly, be inconsistent with our
wise and settled policy not to interfere in
the domestic concerns or foreign nations.-
But docs not the present case fairly cOnsli-
TUE an exception? An adjoining republic is
i'll state Of anarchy and confusion, from
which she has proved wholly unable to ex-
tricate herself She is entirely destitute of
the power to maintain peace upon her bor-
ders, or to prevent the incursions of band
ditti into our territory. In her fate and in
her fortune-in her power to establish and
maintain "a settled governmeut-we have a
far deeper interest, socially, commercially,
and politically, than any other nation. She
Is now wreck upon the ocean, drifting
about she is impelied by different factions
As good neighbOT, shall we not extend
helping hand to save her If we do not,
it would not lie surprising should some
other nation undertake the task, and thus
force us to interfere at last, under crcum-
stances of increased difficulty, for the MAIN
tenance of our established policy.
] repeat the Recommendation contained in
my last annual message that authority may
b given 10 the President to establish one or
more temporary military posts across the
Mexican line in Sonora and Chihuahua,
where these may be necessary to protect the
lives and property Of American and Mexi-
,an citizens against the incursions and dep
relations of the ludians, as we'll as of law
ess rOyers in that remote region. The es-
adjustment OF one such post at point call
al Arispe IA Sonora, in a country now
almost depopulated by the hostile inroads of
he Indians from Our side OF tue line would.
/ Is beliercd, have prevented much injury
md many crueltes during the past season.
4 state of lawlessness and violence prevails
IN that distant frontier. Life and property
here are wholly insecure. The population
# Arizona, now numbering more than ten
thousand souls, practically Destitute OF
government, Of laws, or of any regular adj
nin'stratiun Of justice. Murder, rapine and
ther crimes are committed with impunity
therefore araiu call the attentiCn Of Con