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

the success of the constitutional President
might lead to a condition of Kings less IN
furious to the United States. This success
became so probable that, in January last,
l employed a reliable agent to visit Mexico,
and report to me the actual condition and
prospects of the contending parties.
In consequence of his report, and from in
formation which reached me from other
sources, favorable to the prospects of the
constitutional cause, | felt justified in ap-
pointing a new minister to Mexico, who
might embrace the earliest opportunity of
restoring our diplomatic relations with that
republic. For this purpose a distinguished
citizen of Maryland was selected, who pro-
ceeded on his mission ON the Sth of March
last, with discretionary authority to recog-
nize the government OF President Juarcz, if
on his arrival in Mexico, he should find it
entitled TO such recognition, according to
the established practice of the United States
On the 18th of April following Mr.. McLane
presented his credentials to President Juarez,
having no hesitation in pronouncing the
government of Juarez to be the only exist
ing government of the Republic
lie was cordially received by the authori-
ties at Vera Cruz, and they have ever since
manifested the most friendly disposition to-
wards the United States. tnhappily, how
ever, the Constitutional Government has not
been able TO establish its power over the
whole Republic. 1t IS supported by Il large
majority of the people aud tte States but
there are important parts of the country
where it can enforce no obedience. Miramon
maintains himself ut 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 excuses which always at
tend upon civil war, especially in Mexico,
are constantly recurring. OutrageS of the
worst description are Dmmitted both upon
persons and property. There is scarcely amy
form of injury which has not been suffered
by our citizens in Mexico, during the las t
few years We have been nominally at
peace with that Republic, but $50 far as the
interests of our commerce or OF our citizens
who have visited the country as merchants,
shipmaSters, or in other capacities, are con
cerncd, we might rs well have been at
war Life has been Insecure, property un-
protected, and trade impossible, except ut Il
risk of loss which prudent men cannot be
expected to incur. Important contracts, in
yolving large expenditures, entered into by
the Central Government, have been set at
defiance 10y the local Governments. Peace
rightful possessions, have been suddenly cx-
PEELED the country, in defiance of treaties,
and by the mere force of arbitrary power
Even the course of Justice has not been safe
from control, and recent decree of Mira
mon permits the Intervention of Govern
ment in all suits where either party is n for
eigner. Vessels of the United States have
been seized without law. and a consular Of
ficer who protested against such seizure has
been fined and imprisoned for disrcspect to
the authorities.
Military contributions have been levied
in violation of every principle Of right, and
the American who resisted the lawlcss de-
mand has had his property forcibly taken
away, and has been himself banished-
From a conflict of authority in different
parts of the country, tariff duties which
have been paid in one place have been ex-
acted over again in another place. Large
numbers of our citizens have been arrested
and imprisoned without any form of exami-
nation, or any opportunity for a hearing,
and even when released, have only obtained
their liberty after much suffering and niu-
ry, and without any hope of redress. The
wholesale massacre of Crabbe and his asso-
ciates, without trial, in Sonora, as we'll as
the seizure and murder of four sick Ameri-
cans, who had taken shelter in the house of
an American, upon the soil of the United
States, was communicated to Congress at
its last session. Murders of Il still more
atrocious character have been committed in
the very heart of Mexico, under the author
ty of Miramon's government, during the
present year.
Some of these were only worthy Of
bserbarous age, and if they had not been
clearly proven, would have seemed imDossi-
bic in u country which claims to be civiiz-
ed. OF this description was the brutal mas
sacre in April last, by order of Gen. Mar
quez Of three American physicians, who
were seized in the hospital of Tacubaya,
while attending upon the sick and dying Of
both parties, and without trial, as without
crime, were hurried away to speedy cxecu-
ton. Little less shocking was the recent
fate of Ormond Chase, who was shot III Te-
pic, on the 9TH Of August by order Of the
same Mexican General, not only without
trial, but without any conjecture by his
friends of the cause of arrest. He is repre-
scented us young man of good character
and intelligence, who had made numerous
friends in Topic by the courage and human
ity which he had displayed on several trying
occasions and his death was rs unexpected
as it was shocking to the whole commune
ty. Other Outrages might be enumerated,
but these are sufficient to illstratc the
wretched state of the country and the un-
protected condition of the persons and prop
erty of our citizens in Mexico.
In all these cases, our ministers have been
constant and faithful in their demands for
redress, but both they and this Government,
which they have successfully represented,
have been wholly pcwerless to make their
demands effective. Their testimony in this
and in reference To the only remedy
which, in their judgments, would meet the
exigency, has been both uniform and en-
phafic - Nothing but n manifestation of
the power OF the Government of the United
States, (wrote our late minister in 1866,
and OF its purpose to punish these wrongs
viii avail / assure you that the universal
belief here is that there is nothing to be !
apprehended from the Government OF the /
L nited States, and that local Mexican Off |
Gals can commit these outrage5 upon Amer !
lean citizens with absolute impunity. - /
hope the President, (wrote our present /
minister in August last, "will feel aHthOr-
zed to ask from Congress tie power 10 en-
ter Mexico with the military forces of the