The weekly pioneer and Democrat., 1859-12-09

gestion of the French Minister, is to open
Alvarado as a port Of entry, and at the
same time attack Vera Cruz, is absurd.
Miramon has more than his hands full in
attending to his own private affairs and his
personal safety. The French Minister has
no power or authority to influence or aid the
Monarchist Party to blockade any port.
The French debt is paid. Mexico owes
France nothing.
Eighteen months ago, it was a prominent
point in the policy of Louis Napoleon to
gain foothold in the Spanish.American
countries, especially Mexico and Central
America, and probably nothing but more
weighty matters nearer home has caused the
Emperor to withdraw bis attention from
this quarter for the present. Mons. De
Gabriac is apparently left to inflict such
petty annoyances on the Liberals as his in
genuity can devise. With no claims on
Mexico, repudiated and despised by his own
countrymen, the French Minister in Mexico
is worthy of no sort of consideration on the
part of the American Government in treat
ing with that country.
The report of the defeat of Dorlado and
the capture of Qaaca by Cobos, Of the
Church forces, is more likely to prove untrue
than otherwise; but even if it should prove
to be we'll founded, it will rather aid than
hinder Mr.. McLane in his negotiations with
the Liberal Party.
Meantime the intelligence from the
Northern provinces is of considerable inter-
est. 1t was stated some days since in our
correspondence from that region that Capt.
Ewell, the officer in comman d at Fort Bu-
chanan, Arizona, had been commissioned by
the President of the United tates to pro
ceed to Sonora and inform Gov. Pesquiera
that he must allow Capt. Stone and his
party to survey the public lands of the State
of Sonora, as the Government of the United
States had determined to sustain the con-
tract under which the survey was commen-
ced. To-day, we publish telegraphic dis
patch from St. Louis, to the effect that the
United States sloop of war, St. Marys, had
entered the harbor of Guaymas, and Capt.
Porter, on finding that Col. Alden, the act
ing United States consul in the absence of
Judge Rose, was not recognized, and that
the American flag was not allowed to be
hoisted, insisted that the Prefect should res
pect the Consuls authority and permit the
American flag to float over his affice. 1t
was supposed that Capt. Porter would be
present with Capt. Ewell to aid him in
adjusting the difficulties with Pesqueira.
Toese proceedings have so much Importance
that we give the facts upon which they are
based.
Commonfort, during his administration,
and not long before he fled from Mexico,
granted to the firm of Jecker & Co., bank
ers in the City of Mexico, all the public
lands in Sonora and one or two other Mex
ican States, in consideration of certain
moneys which that firm advanced him.
Jecker & Co., contracted with Capt. j. B.
G. Isham to survey the public lands thus
granted and retain certain portion of the
lands surveyed. Capt. Isham accordingly
formed company, and this company en-
ployed Capt. Stone to carry out the pio-
posed survey. The result of all this has been
the expulsion of Capt. Stone and his party
by the Sonorians, who, as we understand,
declare that Commonfort had no right to
thus convey away the public lands Of the
State without the sanction of its executive.
Whether the grant made by Commonfort to
Jecker & Co. conflicts with the existing laws
OF Sonora is not a matter for US to decide
We are informed that Gov. Pesquiera de-
clares that it does, and gives this as one of
the principal reasons why he opposes the
survey.
1t would doubtless be an advantage for
American interests that the enterprise should
be carried out, provided there were any ex-
tensive and valuable public lands to be found
in Sonora sufficient to warrant a large outlay
and extensive operations for colonization
purposes. We should also be glad to see
those men who have taken the matter in
hand entirely successful but the matter
assumes degree ofpublic Importance which
renders it necessary for our Government to
examine thoroughly into its merits, and
ascertain how far it is authorised to assume
the responsibility ofsustaining the Common
fort contract, more especially as the main
interest in it lies with capitalists in the City
OF Mexico, who, at this critical period of our
negotiations with that country are doing all
in their power to thwart Mr.. McLane at Vera
Cruz, and sustain the church faction whose
deadly animosity to every thing American
has been too often and too fatally proved.
AS to the Consulate at Guaymas, that
and its incidents have not of late years
brought much credit to the American name
throughout Sonora. Indeed, it may be said
that we have had no Consul there for more
than two years. Judge Rose went out last
January, it was supposed to act as Consul,
but as the fees of office would not support
man Of ordinary capacity on jerked beet
and friowls, the Judge doubtless concluded
it was no place for man of talent, and
therefore took his departure. But Judge
R. never was Consul legally; be never re.
ceived any commission from the United
States Government He had no authority
to do consular act, and no power to ap.
point a successor, who now appears under
the title of Col. Alden. The Mexican off.
cials are right in requiring COL Alden to
present the papers under which he acts as
Consul, as a condition of his recognition.
A correct understanding is important to
both countries, that the friendly relations
Low existing on the Sonora frontier should
not be needlessly interrupted.-N. Y. Times,
Nou. %.
A PRIZE of 1900 francs has been awarded
to Professor BUsCHMANN, Of Berlin, by the
French Academy of Inscriptions, for his