The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1859-05-05

which We live, q the capitol OF Mexico
The civilized world is bound to ask
what was the action of Foreign Ministers
during all this tinel No reply, | may
say. The French Minister counselled
these disgracefu and uncivilized procee-
dings; the British Minister refused his
poaerful Official voice; and it alone re-
mained for our Consul, Mr.. Black, to en-
ter his protest and prayer to the British
Minister, in abe name of humanity and
justice" and begged Mr.. Otway to raise
the voice of bis great nation to stop the
massacros which were going on. This
letter Of our venerable Consul is so good
and tells so much of these atrocities. that
| give it to you entire, aud must express
the hope that the press, far and near, m a J
give it place, in justice to Mr.. Black,
and iu consideration of those who refused
to follow up his suggestion
Mr Blacks Letter for Eumanity's Sake.
"ConSulate Of the u States Of america, }
Merico, April la, 1850. !
"Slr:-I have just been Informed that
an Englishman b. the name of George
Selby, in the employ@ent of Mr.. George
l.. Hammeken, an American citizen, pro-
prietor of the Tacu5aya Railroad, has
been sentenced to be executed by militia
ry authority, having been apprehe at
Tacubaya under the pretext Of his hav-
ing joined the Constitutional party; but
| am assured his only crime is poverty:
that after the cars were stopped running
by order of the government, he was un-
der the necessity of finding other business.
aud undertook that of selling food to those
who offered: that be has been allowed no
defence, butts to be executed only to satisfy
the caprice, or unbridlcd vengeance OF
military despotisn.
"As consular representative of civ
iiized and friendly nation, take the lib
erty of addressing you in the name of hu-
manity and justice, as the diplom attic rep
rescntati,es of great and enlighted,
law and justice observing nation, and re-
quest that your Excelleney may be pleas
ed to address .he Mexican authorities,
and iDterposo your official remoustrarce,
in order that the lives of innocent persons
may not be sacrificed, and that these vlo-
lent atrocious and inhuman executions,
not only of foreigners. but of Mexicans,
without trial and the right Of defence,
may be prevented, as leaving an iudeli
HE stain not only on. those who commit
them, but on those who can look on with
aud not do all they can to re,
strain such wanton exercise of power, and
thus subserve the cause Of humanity and
justice, question in which the civilized
world is deeply interested. and to which
it cannot be Indifferent. fl have erred
in thus addressing your BxceIleucy. be it
assured it is an error of the head aud not
of the heart, as | am fully persuaded tits
my boundcn duty to cast my mite into
the scale Of humanity and justice.
Il have the honor to be, with great re-
spect,
Your most obedient servant,
(Sigucd) JOHN BLACK.
ITO his Excellcncy Lotus c Otway Esq,
G. b f. e and Minister Penipotenti-
ary of her Britannia Majesty, Mexico"
lu reply to this ereditable and proper
note, Mr.. Otway is said to have replied
that he could not officially interfere il be-
half of Mexicans. As to poor Selby he
was forced not only by Mr.. Blacks note,
but by the prayers of others, to make
some exertions, and Selby was saved. III
he had oxcrted himself a little more, 9th
srs might also have been rescued from the
lnbridlcd fury of the religious assassins
For this neglect on this melancholy oeca-
,asion he is certain to meet with the just
rebuko rot only of Americans, but of his
own countrymen. Every Engli,bman in
Mexico, Mr.. Otway excepted, felt as Mr..
Black did when he addressed that note.
On the 10th, the excquatur Of our con
'ul vas withdrawn, and he is now pack
ng up his traps preparatory to leaving
he country. The cause OF this withdraw
Il of Mr. Blacks exequatur, is the recog-
lition of Juarcz by the United States
So soon as Mr. Black had considered bis
position and made bis arrangemchts, be
equested the British Minister to receive
he American citizens in Nexico under
us protection, and the British Minister
,0S declsaet to accept Us until he consul's
lis government What can be the mea
ing of this To positively refuse such
ho*pitality, at such time, does not look
t all friendly. Can it be possible that
lr. O.s excuse of Constructions prevent
ne, can have any truth in It'll Certain
y it looks as if trouble was brewing a.
out Mexico The United States recoy.
ize Juares, and at the same time we find
he following circular coming from the
British Legation:
Circular Of the British Minister.
"BRITIsH LEGATION, Mexico, April 4.
e59-Sir From despatch which re-
eiyed from the Earl of Mamsbury, by
lst mail, it would appear that Her Ma
.sty's Government, weared out by their
,ultless exertions to obtain from the Gov
rnnent calling itself the Central Gov.
rnment of Mexico, settlement of the
utstandiag claims of British subjects.
nd unable to bring to bear upon that