The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1859-12-28

placa sia.i.rayy Posr Was estettished At the
nn,,,h vasso % 1hat by The last return the whole
nsmDer "a M OF troops theE on the island syncnnte
Gu II ,ne aggregate to 0gf men
" niIst do not deem 1t proper On -. -.
ssns an. occasion TO 60 further into the suhiact
ana sn uiscuss the weight which ourft ~ ~ ~.
Mai sntHa.ss. me statements of the British colo
~ contesting the accuracv ~ ,h,
Information on which the raliant Sana.as ~ .ms
acseu, ~ was due TO him that i shonid ,,.al
to sssnt s ms own reasons for issuing the order
Ms ~t, Ilcketf From these 1t is uuite clasr
ms OBJECT was to prevent the British a,tSs.
.sss On vancouver's island from exerc;s; =;
island ss 8 over American residents on the
| ssalnst fheincursionscf OF the indians 'neln
Mucn excitement pfesailed for some t,r,o
| itH;usnout mat region, and serious danger of
Tha on n1:. Detween the parties was apprehended
cinitx. .ns nad large naval force in the vi
| 81 10y aHo II is put an act of simple iustice fr
| Ine ADMIRAL on that station to state that no
wisely and discreetly &brebore to commit .nv nv
| n9s!iie act, but deternaned to refer the whole
anaa ntr,; 70 ms governmeAt and await their in
This aspect of the matter, in my opinion do
| manded serious attention II would Ia 70
| peen agreat calamity fefhoth nations had they
been precipitated into acts of hostility not on
| the question OF title Id the island, but merely
caaesrRfng wba*sasouidb be its condition dur
ing the intervening period whilst the two
governments m ight be employed in settling
| the question to which of them it belongs For
| this reason Lieutenant Gene1al Scott was
| dispatched on the 18th September last to Wash
| ington Territory to take immediate command
OF the United States force on the Pacific coast
| should he deem this necessary. The main OBJ
| Ject OF his mission was to carry out the spirit
of the precautionary arrangement between
| the late Secretary ofState andthe British min
lister, and thus preserve the peace and prevent /
| collision between the British and American
authorities pending the negotiations between
| the two governments. Entertaining no doubt
of the validity Of our title, need scarcely add
hot rr,0 A Ntf vunr 10
be placed on a footing at least as favorable as
that of Bi itish subjects, it being understood
| that Captain Pickett's company should re-
main on the island. 1t is proper to observe
| that, considering the distance from the scene
| of action, and in ignorance of what might have
transpired on the spot before the Generals ar
rival, 1t was necessary to leave much to his
discretion, and am happy to state the event
been Intrusted tomore competenthands. Cen
eral Scott has recently returned from his mis-
sion, having successfully accomplished its OBJ
Jects, and there is no longer any good reason to
apprehend q collision between the forces of the
TWO countries during the pendency of the exist
ing negotiations.
regret TO inform you that there has been
no improvement in the affairs of Mexico since
my last annual message, and / am again
obliged TO ask the earnest attention of Con-
gress to the unhappy condition of that repub-
lie.
The constituent Congress of Mexico. which
adjourned on the 18th of February, 1857,
adopted constitution and provided for
popular election. This took place in the fol-
lowing July, t1S57,] and General Comonfort
was chosen President almost without oppo.
sition. AT the same election a new Congress
was chosen, whose first session commenced
on the 10th of September, T1S57l BY the con-
stitution of 1857 the presidential term was to
begin on the ist of December. 1857, / and con-
tinue for four years. On that day General
Colnonfort appeared before the assembled
Congress in the city of Mexico. took the oath
to suppors the new constitution, and was duly
inaugurated as President Within a month
afterwards he had been driven from the capl-
tai, and military rebellion had assigned the
supreme power of the republic to General Zu-
loaga. The constitution provided that in the
absence of the President his office Should de-
yolve upon the Chief Justice of the Supreme
Court. and, Gen. Comonfort having left the
country, this functionary, General Juarez,
proceeded to form, at Guanaiuato, a constitu-
tional government. Before this was officially
known. however, at the capital, the govern
ment of Zuioaga had been recognized by the
entire diplomatic corps, including the minis
ter Of the United States, as the de focto govern
ment of Mexico. Unconstitutional Presi-
dent, nevertheless, maintained his position
with Grmness, ana was soon established with
his cabinet at Vera Cruz. Meanwhile, the
government of Zuloaga was earnestly resisted
in many parts of the republic, and even in the
capital a portion of the army having pro-
nounced against it, its functions were declared
terminated, and an assembly of citizens was
invited for the choice of new President
This assembly elected General Miramon but
that officer repudiated the plan under which
he was chosen, and Zuloaga was thus restored
to his previous position. He ass umed it. how
ever, only to Withdraw from it, and Miramon,
having become, by his appointment, "Presi-
dent Substitute continues, with that title
at the head of the insurgent .rarty.
In my last annual message communicated
to Congress the circums tances under which
the late minister of the United States -sus-
pended his official relations with the Central
government, and withdrew from the country
II was impossible 10 maintain friendly inter
course with a government, like that at the eap-
ital, under whose usurped authority wrongs
were constantly committed. but never re-
dressed. Had this been an established govern
meut with its power extending, by the con-
sent of the people, over the whole of Mexico, a
resort to hostilities against it would have been
quite Unsuitable, and indeed necessary. But
the country was prey to civil war, and it was
hoped that the success of the constitutional
President might lead to condition of things
less injurious to the United States. This sue
cess became SO probable that, in January last,
l employed reliable agent to visit Mexico,
and report to me the actual condition and
prospects OF the contending parties. In con-
sequence of his report, and from information
which reached me from other sources, fayora-
Bile to the prospects of the constitutional cause,
felt justified in appointing new minister to
Mexico, who might embrace the earliest suita-
bic opportunity of restoring our diploma tic
relations with that Republic. For this pur-
pose distinguished citizen of Maryland was
selected, who proceeded on his mission on the
s.h of March last, with discretionary authori-
ty to recognize the government of President
JuareZ il, on his arrival in Mexico he should
fpd it entitled to such recognition, according
to the established practice of the United
States. On the 7th of April following. Mr..
McLane presented his Credentials to Presi-
dent Juarez, having no hesitation sin pro.
nounclng the government of Juarez to be
the only existing government of the Re-
public" He was cordially received by
the authorities at Vera Cruz, and they have
ever since manifested the most friendly dispo-
sihon towards the United States. Unhaprily,
however, the constitutional government has
not been able to establish its power over the
whole republic. 1t is supported by large
majority OF the people and the States, but there
are important parts of the country where it
can enforce no obedience. General Miramoa
maintains himself at the capital and in some
of the distant provinces there are military
governors who pay little respect to the DEGREES
OF either government In the meantime the
excesses which always attend upon civil war
especially in Mexico, are constantly recurring
Outrages OF the worst description are commit
ted both upon persons and property. There
is scarcely any form of injury which has not
been suffered by onr citizens in Mexico during
the last few years. We have been nominally
at peace with that republic, but $50 far as the
interests OF our commerce or Of our citizens
VINO have visited the country as merchants
shipmasters, or in other capacities. are con-
cerned, we might as well have been at WARP
Life has been Insecure, property unprotected
ana trade impossible except at a risk of loss
which prudent men cannot be expected TO in
cur Important contracts, involving large
expenditures, en- tered into by the Central gov
ernmenf. have been set at defiance by the local
governments. Peaceful Amer lean residents oc-
cupying their rightfuI possessions have been
suddenly expelled the country, in defiance of
treaties and by the mere force OF arbitrary pow
er Even the course ofjustice has not been sa afe
from control, and a recent decree of Mirnmon
permits the Intervention of government in ali
suits where either party is foreigner. Yes
seis OF the United States have been seized