The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-12-29


that Captain Picketts company should remain
on the island. 1t is proper to observe that.
considering the distance from the scene OF
action, and in ignorance of what might have
transpired on the 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 intrusted 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 apprehend collision between the forces OF
the two countries during the tendency OF the
existing negotiations.
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 the
unhappy condition of that Republic.
The constituent Congress of Mexico, which
adjourned on the 18th of February, 1857, adopt
ed Constitution and provided for popular
election. This took place in the following
July, 1851, and General Comonfort was cho-
sen President, almost without opposition. At
the same election new Conuress was chosen,
whose first session commenced ON the 10th of
September, 1851 By the Constitution of
| 1851 the Presidential term was to begin on the
lst of December, 1857, and continue for four
| years. On that day General Comonfort APP
peared before the assembled Congress in the
city of Mexico took the oath to support the
new Constitution, and was duly inaugurated as
/ President. Within month afterwards he had
been driven from the capital, and military re-
| belion had assigned the supreme power of the
Republic to General Zuloaga. The Constitu-
ton provided that in the absence Of the Presi-
dent his Office should devolve upon the Chief
Justice of the Supreme Court and, General
| Comonfort having left the country, this func-
tionary, General Juarez, proceeded to form, at
! Guanaiuato, a constitutional Government. Be-
fore this was officially known, however, at the
capital, the Government of Zuloaga had been
recognised by the entire diplomatic corps, in-
| Guiding the minister of the United States, as the
de f1ctO Government of Mexico. The constitu-
tional President nevertheless, maintained his
position with firmness, and was soon established
with his Cabinet at Vera Cruz. Meanwhile, the
| Government of Zuloaga was earnestly resisted
in many parts of the Republic, and even in the
capital a portion of the army having pro-
nounced against it, its functions were declared
terminated, and an assembly of citizens was in
vted for the choice of a new President. 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. He assumed it, however,
only to withdraw from it, and Miramon, having
|
stitute," continues, with that title, at the head
Of the insurgent party.
In my last animal message | communicated
! to Congress the circumstances under which the
! late minister 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
a Government like that at the capital, under
whose usurped authority wrongs were constant
| " committed, but never redressed. Had this
been an established Government, with its power
extending, by the consent Of the people, over
the whole of Mexico, resort to hostilities
against it would have been quite justi6able,
and indeed necessary. But the country was
prey to civil 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 success became so
probable that, in January last, | employed a
| reliable agent to visit Mexico, and report to me
the actual condition aud prospects of the con-
tending parties. In consequence of his report,
and from information which reached me from
other sources, favorable to the prospects of the
constitutional cause, l felt justified in appoint
| ing new minister to Mexico, who might en-
brace the earliest suitable opportunity of restor-
ing our diplomatic relations with that Republic.
For this purpose a distinguished citizen of
Maryland was selected. who proceeded on his
mission on the Sth OF March last. with discre-
tiOnary authority to recognise the Government
Of President Juarez 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 It'll of April following,
| Mr.. McLane presented his credentials to Presi-
dent Juarez, having no hesitation in pro-
nouncing the Government of Juaraz to be the
only existing Government Of the Republic"
II, Toll x,oI 4ba OF
! Vera Cruz, and they have ever since manifested
the most friendly disposition towards the Uni
ted States. Unhappily, however, the constitu-
tional Government has not been able to estab-
lish its power over the whole Republic. 1t is
supported by large ma ority 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 cap
ital 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 excuses which always attend upon
civil war, especially in Mexico, are constantly
recurring. Outrages of the worst description
are committed both upon persons and proper
ty. There is scarcely any form of injury which
has not been suffered by our citizens in Mexico
during the lastfew years. We have been uom-
inally at peace with that Republic, but, " so far
as the interests of our commerce or of our citi-
zens who have visited the country as merchants,
shipmasters, or in other capacities, are con-
cerned, we might as well 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 in
cur. Important contracts, involving large ex-
penditures, entered into by the Central Govern
ment, have been set at defiance by the local
Governments. Peaceful American residents,
occupying their rightful possessions, have been
suddenly expelled from the country, in def
ance Of treaties, and by the mere force of ar
bitrary power.
Even the course of justice has not been safe
from control, and a recent decree of Mramon
permits the Intervention of Government in all
suits where either party is a foreigner. Yes
sells of the United States have been seized
without law, and consular officer, who pro-
tested against such seizure, has been fined and
| imprisoned for disrespect to the authorities.
Military contributions have been levied, in VIC
laton of every principle of right, and the
| American who resisted the lawless demand has
had his property forcibly taken away, and has
been himself banished. From a conflict of au-
thority in different parts of the country, tariff
duties which have been paid in one place have
| been exacted over again in another place.
Large numbers of our citizens have been ar
rested and imprisoned without any form of ex-
animation or any opportunity for hearing,
and, even when released, have only obtained
their liberty after much suffering and injury,
and without any hope of redress. The whole
sale massacre of Crabbe and his associates,
without trial. in Sonora, as well as the seizure
and murder of four sick Americans who had
taken shelter in the house of an American,
upon the soil of the United States, was commu-