Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1859-12-31


| government disappears from the country"
have been reluctantly led to the same opinion.
| eno, IN Justice to my countrymen who have suf-
| tered wrongs from Mexico, and who may still suf-
ier mem, feel bound to announce this conclusion
| to Congress.
The case presented, however, Is not merely n
case OF individual claims, although our just
claims against Mexico have reached a very large
amount Nor is II merely the case of protection
| 10 the lives and property of the few Americans
VINO may still remain In Mexico although the
life and property of every American citizen ought
| to be sacredy protected In every quarter of the
world. But is question which relates TO the
future as well as to the present and the past and
which involves, indirectly at least the whole SUBJ
l ect OF our duty to Mexico as negh0orng state.
Inc exercise OF the power of the United States in
that country to redress the wrongs and protect
the riShts Of our citizens is none the less to be
desired, because efficient and necessary aid may
thus DC rendered at the time to restore peace
| and order to Mexico itself. In the ACCOMPLISH
ment OF this result the people of the United
| states must necessarily feel q deep and earnest
| interest. Mexico ought to be rich and prosper
| Gus and powerful republic. She possesses an ex-
tensive territory fertile soil and an incalcuIabe
| store OF mineral wealth. She occupies an impor-
| tant POSITION between the gulf aud the OCEAN for
transit routes and for commerce. Is it possible
| that such country as this can he given up TO
anarchy and ruin without an effort from any
| quarter for its rescue and its sifety7 VIII the
| commercial nations of the world, which have so
| many interests connected with IT, remain wholly
| INDIFFERENT to such q resut2 Can the United
| states, especially, which ought TO share most
largely in Its commercial intercourse, allow their
immediate neghbor thus TO destroy itself and in
| jure them2 Yet, without SUPPORT from some
/ quarter, 1t is impossible TO perceive how Mexico
eau resume her position among nations and enter
| upon career which promises any good results.
| Inc aid which she requires, and which the inter-
| ests OF all commercial countries require that she
| should have, 1t belongs 10 this government to
render, not only by virtue of our neigbborbood
70 mexico. along whose territory we have a con-
tlnuous frontier Of nearly a thousand miles, but
| Dy virtue, also, OF our established policy, which
| Is inconsistent with the Intervention of any Euro.
| pean power In the domestic concerns of that re-
| public.
The wrongs which we have suffered from Next
CO are before the world and must deeply imp press
| every American citizen. A government which is
| either unable or unwilling TO redress such wrongs
Is derelct to us highest duties. Tue difficulty con.
| sists IN selecting aud enforcing the remedy We
| NAV in vain apply TO the constitutional govern.
m 'nt at Vera Cruz, although tits well disposed TO
| do us justice, Tor adequate redress. Whilst its au.
tnority IS acknowledged in all the important ports
and throughout the sea coasts Of the republic its
| power does not extend to the city of Mexico and
the states in its vicinity, where nearly all the re-
| ceut outrages have been committed on American
| o teens. We must penetrate into the interior he.
fore we can reach the offenders and this can ouly
De done by passing through tue territory in the
| occupation of the constitutional government. The
most acceptable aud least difficult mode of accom-
ptshipg the object will be to act in concert with
that government. Their consent and their aid
might, believe, be obtained, but If not our obi.
sauon TO protect our own citizens in their Just
rights, secured by treaty, would not be the less
imperative. For these reasons recommend to
Congress 10 pass law authorizing the president
under such conditions as they NAV deem expe.
dent to employ sufficient military force to en-
ter Mexico for the purpose Of obtaining iudemui.
ty for the past and security for the future Inur.
posely refrain from any suggestion as to whether
TINS force snail consist of regular troops or volun-
teers, or ooth. Inis question may be most appro-
o..
merely observe that, should volunteers be select
ed such force could be easily raised ia this couu.
| try among those who sympathize with tue suffer
lngs OF our unfortunate fellowcitizens in Mexico,
ana with the unhappy condition of that republic.
such au accession to tue forces of the constitu-
tlonal government would enable il soon TO reach
the city OF Mexico aud extend its power over the
whole republic. In that event there il no reason
TO DOUBT that the just claims of our citizens would
be satisfied and adequate redress obtained for the
| injuries inflicted upoa them. The constitutional
government have ever evlnced strong desire to
d. US Jusace, aud this might be secured in ad-
vance by preliminary treaty.
II may De said that these measures will, at least
lhdirecty, DO inconsistent with our wise and set
tied policy DOT to Interfere in the domestic con-
Germs OF foreign nations. But does not the pres
cut case fairly constitute an exception2 An adj
Joining republic is in a state Of anarchy and con.
fusion IRON which she has proved wholly unable
to eXtrcaie herself. She is entirely destitute Of
tue power TO maintain peace upon her borders or
TO prevent the Unconscious of bandit into our terri
tory. In her fate and in her fortune-in her now
or TO establish and mastain a settled government
we nave a lar deeper interest, socially CONNER
cially and politically, than any other nation She
is now wreck upon the ocean, drifting about as
she is impelied by different factions. As good
neignoor, shall we not ex'end to her helping
hand TO save her? Ii We do not, il would not be
surprising should some other nation undertake
tue task and thus force us to interfere at last uu-
der circumstances of increased difficulty for the
maintenance of our established policy.
MILITARY POSTS ON THE MEXICAN FRONTIERS.
repeat the recommendation contained in my
last annual message, that authority may be given
10 the president to establish one or more tempo.
rary military posts across the Mexican line in
Sonora aud chihuahua, where these may be me-
cessary to protect the lives and property of Amerl.
can and Mexican citizens against the incursons
and depredatons of the Indians, as well as Of law
less rovers In that remote region The establish.
ment OF one such post at point called Arispe,
IN m sonora IN country now almost depopuated
of the line would, 1t Is believed, have prevented
much injury and many cruelties during the past
season. A state Of lawessness and violence pro-
walls on that distant frontier. Life and property
are there wholly insecure. The population Of
Arizona, now numbering more than ten thousand
souls, are practically destitute of government, of
laws, or OF any regular administration of Justice.
/, Murder, rapiue, and other crimes are committed
with IMMUNITY. l therefore again call the atten-
ton of Congress TO the necessity for establishing
, q territorial government over Arizona.
} CENTRAL AMERICA.
} The treaty with Nicaragua Of the 10Th of Febru.
Q airy, 1857, to which l referred in my last annual
message, failed to receive the ratification of the
government of that republic, for reasons which |
need not enumerate. similar treaty has been
since concluded between the parties, bearing date
!, on the 18th March, 1859, which has already been
Y ratified by the Ncaraguan Congress. This will
= be Immediately submitted to the Senate for their
ratification. Its provisions cannot, think, fail to
Q be acceptable to the people of both countries.
4 Our claims against the governments of Costs
d RIGA and Nicaragua remain unredressed, though
Q they are pressed in an earnest manner, and moi
8 without hope of success.
= deem 1t to be my duty once more earnestly 10
Q recommend to Congress the passage of a law au
thorizng the president to employ the naval fore.
Il at his command tor the purpese of protecting the
l. lives and property Of American citizens passing
n in transit across the Panama, Nicaragua and Ts
huantepec routes, against sudden and lawless out
y breaks and depredations. | shall not repeat tn,
, arguments employed In former messages ia sup
" port OF this measure. Suffice IL to say that tn,
Il lives Of many of our people, and the security o
d vast amounts of treasure passing and repassinJ
10 over one or more of these routes between the At
% lantic and Pacific NAV be deeply involved in thu