Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-12-29

collision between the pafies was epprehendnd,
Tho British hal large naval force W tho vicin
ity; aud it's an act Of simple justice TO The
admiral on that station to state that he witely
aud discrecty forborc 60 commit any hostile act,
but determined TO refer the whole affair 20 his
government aud await their instructions.
This aspect Of the latter, u my opinion, demanded
serious attention 10 would have been q great
calamity tor botn nutions had they been precipi-
tated into acts 0f hostility not on the question OF
title 10 the island bat merely concerning what
should be ils condition duriug The intervening pc
riod whilst the two governments might be employ
I'd in settling the question to which OF them Il be
longs. For this reason Ieutenaut General Scott
was despatched on the l7th Of Sep ember last TO
Washington Territory to take immediate command
OF the United States forces on the Pacific coast
should he deem this necessary. The ma object
Of his mission was g. carry ont the spirit Ofthe pre-
cautonary Arrangement bets, the late Secretary
Of state and the British Minister, and thus to pre-
serve the peace aud prevent collision between The
british and American authorities pending the ne
gOtations between the two governments Enter
tanng no doubt Of the validity Of our title, need
scarcely add thar in any event American citizens
were to be placed on a Ootng at least as favOra.
bic a. that Of British Subjects 1t being understood
that Captain Pickett's company should remain on
the island. II Is proper TO serve that, consid
eTing the distance from the scene o action, and in
ignorance Of what might have trauspired on tue
spot before The Generals arrival. It was necessary
to leave much to his discretion, and am happy TO
state the event has proven that this discretion
could not have been entrusted to more competent
hands General Scott has recently returned from
his mission, having successfully accomplished its
objects, and there Is no longer any good reason to
apprenend collision be ween the forces Of thetwO
countries during the pendency OF the existing ne
gotiations.
l 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 Congress to tue unhappy con
ditiOn Of that republic.
The constituent Congress Of Mexico, which ad
journed on the 18th Of February, 1857 adopted a
constitution and provided for popular election
This took place in the following July, 1857, and
General Comonfort was chosen President, almost
without opposition At the same election a new
Congress was chosen, whose first session cOmmens
ced Op the 10th oil September, 1857. By the con-
stitulion OF 1857, the Presidential term was to
begin on the LIST Of December, 1857, and continue
for our years. On that day General COmonfort
appeared before the assembled Congress n the city
| Of Mexico, took oath to support the new cODstitu
ton, and was duly inaugurated as President
Within a month afterwards he had been driven
| from the capital, and military rebellion had as
| signed the supreme power of the republic to Gen.
| Iuloaga. he constitution provided that in the
absence of the President his office should devolve
upon the 6hief Justice OF the Suppme Court, and
| General CnmOntort hav ng left the country, his
functionary General Juarez, proceededto form at
| GuanaiuatO, constitutional government
Before this was officially known, however, at
the capital, the government of Zuloaga had been
recop missed by the entire diplomatic corps, in
cluding the Minister of the United States, as
the de facto government of Mexico. The con
stitutiona President, nevertheless, maintained
his position with irmness, and was soon estab.
lshed with his cabinet at Vera Cruz Mean.
while, the government of ZuloagR was earnest
ly resisted in many parts of this republic, and
even in the capital, portion of the army hav
ing pronounced against it, its functions we're
declared terminated, and an assembly of citi-
zen9 was invited for the choice of new Press
ident. 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. lie assumed it,
however, only to withdraw from it, and Mira
mon having become by his appointment "Pres-
ident Subs titute," continues, with that title,
at the head of the insurgent party.
In my last annual message l communicated
to Congress the circumstances under which the
late Mini eter of the United States suspended
his official relations with the central govern.
ment and withdrew from the country. 1t was
| impossible to maintain friendly intercourse with
government, like that at the capital, under
whose usurped authority wrongs were constant
| y committed but never redressed. Had this been
an estab ished government, with its power ex.
| JtuulDgt ny bub COuhSlh VI Tue ptupltt over lllb
whole of Mexico, resort to hostilities against
it would have been iite justifable, aud indeed
necessary. But the country was prey OF civ~
| il war and it was hoped that the success of
the constitutional President might lead to a
condition of things less Injurious to the United
| States This sucC ess became 50 probable that
in January last, employed a reliable agent to
visit Mexico, and report to me the actual con-
dtion and prospects of the contending parties.
| In consequence OF his report, and from infor-
nation which reached me from other sources,
favorable to the prospects of the constitutional
cause, l felt justified in appointing a new Min.
lister to Mexico, Hho might embrace tho CARL.
est suitable opportunity Of restoring our diplo,
| matte relations with that republic. For this
purpose a distinguished citizen Of Maryland
was S, lected, who proceeded ON his mission on
the sth Of March last, with discretionary au-
thority to recognize the government Of Presi.
dent JuaTez, If on his arrival in Mexico ne
should find it entitled to such recognition, ac-
corJing to the established practice Of the Uni.
ted States. On the 9TH of April following, Mr.
McLane presented his credentials to President
Juarez having no hesitation sin pronouncing
the government of Juarez to the only existing
government of the repIbo." He was cordially
received by the authorities at Vera Cruz, and
they have ever since manifested the most friends
ly disposition towards the United States
Unhapply, however, the constitutional govern
ment has not been able to establish its power
over the whole republic II is supported by a
large majority of the people and the States,
but there are important parts OF the country
where it can enforce no obedience. General
Miramon maintains himself at the capital; and
IN some Of the distant provinces there are mil
itary governors who pay little respect to the
DEGREES Of either government. In the mean.
time the excesses which always attend upon
civil war, especially in Mexico, are constantly
I recurring. Outrages Of the worst description
are committed both upon persons and property.
There is scarcely a y form Of injury which has
not been suffered by our citizens in Mexico
during the last few years. We have been
[ nounnsliy at legce with that republic, but $50
| iJt as the Interests OF our commerce or of our
citizens who haye visited the country as mer-
chants, shipmastsrs, or in other capacities are
concerned, we might as we'll have been at war
Life has been insecure, property unprotected
and trade impossible except at a risk OF loss
which prudent men cannot be expected to incur
Important contracts, involving large expendi.
lures, ,ente ed into by the central government
have set at defiance by the local governments
Peaceful American residents, occupying theil
: Tightfu possessions, have been suddenly ex
PEELED the country, in defiance of treaties
and by the mere force of arbitrary power. Even
the course ofjusiice has not been safe from con
|, troll, and recent decree of Miramon permits
/ tho intervention of Government in all suits
where either party isa foreigner, Vessels Of the U
2 States have been seized without law and consu.
lar officer who protested against such seizure ha
e been fined and imprisoned for dsrospeot 10 the au
, thorties. Military contributions have been leye,
3 in violation Of every principle Of right and thl
4 American who resisted the lawless demand has haI
b. his property fofciby taken away, and has beel
n himse ( banished. From conflict OF authority il
a different parts OF the country tariff duties whcl
, | have haAn maid in oue nlapa lava baan avanta,