Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1860-01-06


main on the island 1t is proper to observe
that, considering the distance from the scene
of action, and in ignorance of what might
have trarspirsd on the spot before the Gene
rats arrival it was necessary to leave much
to his discretion and | am happy to state
the event has proven that this discretion
cDuld not have been entrusted to more COM
retent hands General Scott has recently
returned from his mission, having success
fully accomplished its objects. and there is no
longer any good reason to apprehend a COLI
sion between the forces of the two countries
durinr the pendeucy of the existing negotla-
tons.
/ regret to inform you that there has been
nc 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.
| adopted a constitution and provided for a pO-
rular election. This took place IN t." F)l-
! lowing July QS57). and General Comonfort
was chosen President almost without OppO-
| sition At the same election new Congress
was chosen. whose first session commenced
on the 10th Of September. 1857. BY the
| constitution of 1857 the Presidential term
was to begin on the 1st of December, 1857.
and continue for four years. On that day
General COmOnfOrt appeared before the as
sembled Congress in the city of Mexico, took
the oath to supp rt the new constitution,
and was duly inaugurated as President.
| Within month afterwards he had been
driven from the capital, and a military re-
belIion has assigned the supreme power Of
the republic to Gen. Zuloaga The consti-
tuition provided that in the absence of the |
| President his office should devolve upon the |
| Chief Justice Of the Supreme Court. and. |
| Gen Cnlnonfort having lc't thc tIGntry, |
his functionary, General Juarcz, proce ded |
! to form at Guanajuato, constitutional gov |
! ernment
Before this was officially known, however.
at the capital, the government of Zuloaga
had been recognized by the entire diplomatic
corps including the Minister of the United
States. as the de facto government Of Mexico.
The constitution President, nevertheless
maintained his position with irmness, and
was soon established with his cabinet at
Vera Cruz VI luwhile, the government of
Zuloaga was ..nestly resisted in many parts
of the republic, and even in the capital,
portion Of the army having pronounced
against 1t, its functions were declared termina-
ted. and an assembly Of citizens was invited
for the choice of a new President. This as
sembly of citizeus was invited 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 t.
withdraw from it, and Miramon having be
come by his appointment President Substl-
tute continues. with that title, at the head
of the insurgent party.
In nv last annual message | communica-
ted to Congress the circumstances under
which the late Minister Of the United States
suspended his Official relations with the Cen
trail government and withdrew from the
country. 1t was impossible to maintain
friendly intercourse with government, like
that at the Capital, under whose usurped au-
thority wrongs were constantly committed,
but never redressed. Had this been an es
+obl;sbaJ .,,,,.,,. ..-:-L f..~. uAVvnu-
INC DY the consent of the people, over the |
whole of Mexico resort to hostilities
against her would have been quite justitable
and indeed necessary. But the country was
a prev to civil war and it was hoped that
the success Of the constitutional President
might lead to condition of things less in
furious to the United States. This success
became 50 probable that, in January last. |
|
and report to me the actual condition d
prospects of the contending parties. In con-
sequence of his report, and from information
which reached me from other sources, favor
able to the prospects OF the Constitutional |
cause, | felt justified in appointing new
minister % Mexico, who might embrace the
earliest suitable opportunity of restoring our
diplomatic relations with that republic.
For this purpose a distinguished citizen of
MARYLAND was Selrc.td, who proceeded on
his mission OF. the Ntl of March last, with
discretionary Authority to recognize the gov
ernment of Preside, Juarez, if on his arriv-
al in Mexico ,.e should find it entitled to
such recognition, according to the establish
ed practice of the United States. On the
7th of April following, Mr.. McLane present !
ed his credentials to President Juarez, hav
ing no hesitation "in prOnOun3lng the gov
ernment If Juarez to he the only existing
government of the republic. He was cor {
daily received by the authorities at Vera
Cruz, and they have ever since manifested {
the most friendly disposition towards the
United States. Unhappily, however, the '
constitutional government has not been able | &
to establish it's power over the whole repub- {
lie 1t is supported by large majority of i
the people and the States, but there are i'm !
!
force no obedience. General Miramon main I
taiaS himself at the capitol; and in some of i
tine distant prov Dces there ARE military gov
ernors who pay little respect to the DEGREES 1
Of either government. {
In the meantime the excesses which al c
ways attend upon civil war, especially in {
Mexico, are C instantly recurring. Outrages
of the worst description are committed both 7
upon persons and property. There is scarce q
" any form of inurv which has not been =
suffered by our citIz, s. in Mexico during the I
last few years. We have been nominally at 9
peace with that republic, but $50 far as the '
interests of our commerce or OF our citizens r
who have visited the country as merchants, |
shipmasters, or in other capacities, are con- c
cerned, we might well have been ut war" g
Life has been insecure, property unprotect- \
ed, and trade impossible except at risk of +
loss which prudent men cannot be expected
to incur. Imp ,rtlnt contracts, involving
large expenditures, entered into by the CEN .
tral government, have been set at defiance by
the local governments. Peaceful American
residents, occupying their rightfu posses
sionS, have been suddenly expelled the coun-
try, in defiance of treaties, and by the mere =.
force of arbitrary power Even the course of
justice has not been safe from control and re-
cent decree OF MlramOn permits the interven-
ton of government in all suits where either !
party is foreigner q
Vessels OF the United States have been +
seized without law, and consular officer who I
protested against such seizure has been fined e
and imprisoned for disrespect to the author t
tiles. Military contributions have been levied j
IN violation OF every principle of right, and
the American who resisted the lawless demand |.
h IS had his property forciby taken away, v
and has been himself banished. From 4
conflict OF authority in different parts of the d
country, tariff duties, which have been paid a
IN one place have been exacted over again in =
another place. y
Large numbers of our citizens have S
been arrested and imprisoned without any t
f'rm oi examination OF any opportunity for {