The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-06-21

of anbtinus aspirants for supreme power and the
successive civil wars which have been thus engen-
dered, have brought that magnificent country 10
the verge Of ruin. The commerce of the Gulf
Ports has been almost totally destroyed; whilst
in the South Western Provinces, the Indians in
their predatory incursions, have sacked the towns
and either murdered or driven off the inhabitants
We might point also to the organised system
of brigandage which prevails all over the country;
to the weakness and inefficiency of the police even
in the more populous cities, and to the mSrule and
corruption existing everywhere; but the story has
become SO trite, longer to bear recital;
whilst the prospect of any improvement in the ex-
is!ing condition of affairs seems more remote than
ever. The London Times still counsels the inter-
position of the UNITED STATES: and advocates an
immediate annexation of the whole country, from
the line of the ella to the Isthmus of Tehuantepec;
but behind and underlying this its advice, is the
desire for the redemption of the Britsh-Mexican
bonds. Apart, however, from objections to the pos
session of country, whose people differ essentially
from our own, in language, religion, habits, and,
with butfew exceptions, in intelligence, there would
vet remain to be solved the problem--how to gov
ern well and wisely mixed race, which has grown
up under misrule and anarchy. To extend over
Mexico a protectorate, would be to assume duties
onerous in the extreme without receiving cores
ponding equivalent. To erect that country into
a Pro-consulate, would involve us in an endless
succession of disputes, and, in all probability,
would necessitate the organization of standing
army to garrison its chief towns, and to suppress
insurrectionary movements; whilst to invest so
mongrel population with all the rights privi-
eges, and prerogatives of citizens of the UNITED
STATES, is manifestly not TO be thought of for
moment. There is only one way in which we can
acquire secure jurisdiction over Mexico without
endangering the integrity of our own institutions,
and that is, by the process of gradual absorption
by Americanizing the country by degrees. To
this mode of peaceful conquest, the nomadc habits
of people, their restlessness, and their indus
trial energy naturally incline them, and unless
events should transpire from without, which should
call for prompt and active measures on our part,
we can afford to wait TILL the migration Southwark
of American citizens makes US 'maser of the
situation" In the meantime, it is proper that
our Government should cultivate good under
standing with all parties in Mexico, and not aban
don without good cause its position of neutrality
Whether MIRAMoN Gusts ZULoAGA and snubs the
Church party, or whether ZULoAGA makes terms
with the soldiery, and so gets the better of
MIRAMoN, it is equally true policy to stand
aloof and bide our time. If, by any means,
whether through the exertion of a moral influence
on our part; or by something approximating to
unanimity on the part of the Mexicans themselves,
a Government capable of healing, or cvermasterng
existing feuds, should be organized its recognition
would be to us more advantageous than any
scheme of conquest or annexation in which we
may be disposed to indulge. We doubt the ca
pacity of the people of any of the South American
States to appreciate the value of Republican Inst
tutions for in the multitude of Republics they
have formed, there is not one in which the princi-
Piles of selfgovernment have been sufficiently well
understood to ensure quiet rotation in Office under
the laws, to afford protection in person and pro-
perty to the citizens. Even Chill, the best govern
ed of ALL is subject to periodical revolutions as
it is to volcanic eruptions. The Argentine Con-
federation is but mild Dictatorship, and wherever
we cast our eyes, we see continual changes of
Government by force of arms and n constant sue
cession of demands either for money, provisions
or compulsory service, made upon the people. But
although such things are it is not our province to
interfere with the concerns of our neighbors, so
long as our own Institutions and the safety of our
citizens are not imperilled thereby.