Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1859-12-29

M the rrpublic 70 General 1ulcaga.
Tho oonstitntion provided that In the absence
of tho President his Office should devolve upon
shs chief Justice Of the Supreme Court, aud,
Gen. Oouonfoft havipg lsh the country, this
funcsionasy, General Juarez, proceeded 70 lorm'
Al t(luaualaato, . constitutional government
Before this wac officially known, however, a.
the capital, the government of luloaga had been 4
recognised BY the entire diplomatic cerps, In
oiudinq the minister Of the Uuited States AZ
TIE de facto government of Mexico. The com
atitutiouai President, nevcrlheless, mainiained |
hfa uohition with hrmneas, and was soon estab- /
lished with hia cabinet At Vera Ornz. Means
while the government Of zuioaga was earnesis
y resisted In many parts Of the republic and
even In the capital, portion Of the army havs
ing pronounced against Il, its functions were
declared terminated, and an assembly Of oti-
Eona was invited fer the choice Of new Presi
dent. This assembly elected General Miramon,
but that officer rspudiated the plan under which
he was choosen, and Znloaea was thus restored
10 his previous position. He assumed H. how
ever, only 10 Withdrew from Il, and hifamon
having become, by his appointment "Pfesi
dent Substiiute," continues, with that title, at
the head Of the insurgent party.
In my last annual message communica-
ted 10 Congress the circumstances undor
which the late Minister Of the United States
suspended his official relations with tho
central government, and withdrew from the
country. Il was impossible 10 maintain
friendly intercourse with government like
that at the capital, under whose usurpod
authority wrongs were constantly commit
ted, but never redIessed. Had this been an
established government with its power ex'
tending, by the consent of the people, over
the whole Of Mexico, a resort TO hostlities
against it would have been quite justihable,
and indeed necessary. But the country was
q prey to civil war; and il was hoped that
the success Of the constitutional President
might lead to condition Of things less inju-
rious 10 the United States, This success
became so probable that, in January last
employed a reliable agent to visit Mexico,
and report 10 me the actual condition and
prospects Of the contending parties.
In consequence Of his report, and from inN
formation which reached me from other sources,
favorable 70 the prospects Of the constitution.
al cause, felt justified in appointing new
minister 10 Mexico, who might embrace the
earliest suitable opportunity Of restoring our
diplomatic relations with that republic. For
this purpose a distinguished citizen Of Nary
land was selected, who proceeded on his miss
sion 90 the 9Th Of March last, with discretionS
Ary authority TO recognize the government Of
President Juarez, IL on his arrival in Mexico
he should find it entitled to such recognition,
according 10 the established practice Of the
United States. On the 7th Of April following,
Mr. McLane presented his credentials to PresiN
dent JaureE having no hesitation Gin proDoun'
cling the government Of Jaurez to be the only
existing government Of the Republic" Hew
cordially received by the authorities at Vera
Oruz, and they have ever since mP nfested the
most friendly disposition towards the United
States.
Unhappily, however, the constitutional
government has not been able TO establish
its power oyer the whole empire 1t is
supported by large majority of the people
Of the States, but there are important parts
of the country where il can enforce no obe'
dience. General Miramon maintains himself
=, at tho capital; and in some OF the distant
provinces there are military governors who
pay little respect TO the DEGREES of either
government. In the mean time the exoesses
which always attend upon civil war, espe'
oially in Mexico are constantly recurring.
Outrages Of the worst description ale COM
mitted both persons and property. There is
scarcely any form Of injury which has not
been suffered by our citizens in Mexico du>
ring the last Eve years. We have been nom'
inally at peace with that republic, but $50
far as the interests Of our commerce or Of
no have visited the country as
pmasters, or in other capaci
med, we might as well have
Life has been insecure property unprotected
which prudent men cannot be expected to in'
cur. Important contracts, involving large ex
penditures, entered into by the central govern
ment. have been set at defiance by the local
government. Peaceful American residents, oc
cupyinR their nRhtful possessions, have been
suddenly expelled the country, in defiance o
treaties, md by the mere force Of arbitrary
power. Even the course Of justice has not been
safe from control, and q recent decree OF Mira
mon permits the Intervention of government
in all suits where either party is foreigner.-
Vessels Of the United States have been seized
without law and a consular officer who pro
tested against such seizure has been fined anc
imprisoned for disrespect to the authorities. -
Military contributions have been levied IN vlo
lation Of every principle OF right, and th'
American who resisted the lawless demand ha
had his property forcibly taken away, ant
has been himself banshed. From a conhic
Of authority in different parts Of the country
tariff duties which have been paid in one plac'
have been exacted over again in another place
Large numbers OF our citizens have beeI
arrested and imprisoned without any form
Of examination or any opportunity Tor
hearing, and even when released have only
obtained their liberty after much suffering
and injury, and without any hope of redress
The wholesale massacre Of Crabbe and hi
associates without trial in Sonora, as well a
the seizure and murder Of four sick Ameri
cans who had taken shelter in the house o
an American, upon the soil of the United
States, was communicated to Congress at 1t
last session. Murders Of a still more afro
cious character have qeen committed in tn
very heart Of Mexico, under the authority
Of Miramon's government, during the pres
ent year. Some of these were only worth,
Of barbarous age, and, if they had not beel
clearly proven, would have seemed impossi
Bile in q country which claims to be civilized
OF this description was the brutal massacr
in April last, by order of Gen. Marquee, 9
three American physicians, who were seize
in the hospital of Tacubaya, while attendin
upon the sick and the dying OF both parties
and without trial, or without crime, wer
hurried away to speedy execution.
Little less shocking was the recent fate
Ormond Chase, who was shot in Topic o
the 7th Of August by order of the same Me1
lean General, not only without trial, bu
without any conjecture by his friends Of tn
- sAuse Of his arrest. He is represented as
young man Of good character and INTEL
IN yence, who had made numerous friends
repic by the courage which he had displaye
IN several trying occasions, and his deaf
was as unexpected as it was shocking to q
whole community. Other outrages migl
% enumerated, but these are sufficient to
ustrate the wretched state Of the countr
md the unprotected condition of the persol
md property Of our citizens in Mexico.
In all these cases, our ministers have bee