The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1860-01-05

ARRIVAL 1t was necessary to leave much to hi.
discretion, and am happy to state the even
has proven that this discretion could not hav,
been entrusted to more competent hands,
General Scott has recently returned from hi
mission, having successfully ACCOMPLISHED it.
objects, and there Is no longer pny good rea
son to apprehend cuiision between tn,
forces OF the two countries during the pen
dency OF the existing negotiations.
AFFAIRS IN MEXICO.
regret to inform YOU that there h;p. beer
N" Improvement in the affairs of Mexico sine,
my last annual message, and am agar
obliged to ask the earnest atteation of Con
gress to the unhappy condition of that repub
lie The constituent Congress of Mexico
which adjourned on the r7th, of February
1857, adopted a consultation and provided fol
a popular election. Fhis took place in the
following July 1SrT), and General Comon-
fort was chosen President. almost without
opposition. Ar the same election new Con
gress was chosen, whose first session com
menced on the 18TH of September, 1857. BY
the constitution of 1857 the Presidential term
was to begin on the lst 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 support the new constitut on. and
was duly inaagurated as President Within
a north afterwards ire had been driven from
the capital, and military rebellion had as
signed the supreme power Of the republic to
Gen. Zuloaga. The con ,ttntion provided
that in the ab$e ice of the President his office
should devolve upon the Chief Justice of the
Supreme Court and Gen. Co,nprfort havin"
left the country, his timctionarv, Gen Jnarez,
proceeded to form, at G,,anajuato, a constitu-
al government Before this was officially
known, however, at the capital, the govern
ment of Zuloaga ha been recognized by the
entire diplomatic corps, including the Minis
ter of the United States, as the de f}trto GOV
eminent of Mexico. The constitutional
President, nevertheless, maintained his posi-
ton with firmness, and was soon established
with his cabinet at Vera Cruz Meanwhile
the government of Zuloaga was earnestly re-
sisted in many parts of tie republic, and even
in the capital, portion Of the army having
pronounced against, it its functions were de
cared terminated, and an assembly of citi-
zens was invited for the choice of y new Pres
ident This assembly selected General Mi
ramon, but that officer repudiated the plan
under which he was chosen, and Zuoaga
was thus restored to his previous position
He assumed it, however. only to withdraw
from it, an | Miramon having become by his
appointment president Substitute" contin-
ues, with that title, at the head of the insur-
gent party. -......
In my last annual message communica-
ted to Congress the circumstances under
which the late Minister of the United States
suspended his official relations with the
central government, and withdrew from the
country. 1t was impossible to maintain
friendly intercourse with government like
that at the capital, under whose usnrped
authority wrongs were constantly commit
ted, but never redressed. Had this been an
established government, with its power ex-
tending, by the consent of the people, over
the whole of Mexico a resort to hostilites
against ii would have been quite iustifiable,
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 condition of things less in
furious TO the United States This success
became so probable that, in January last, 1
employed reliable agent to visit Mexico,
and report to me the actual condition and
prospects eff the contending p,rties In
consequence of this report, an from infor-
nation which reached me from othersources,
favorable to the prospects Of the constitu-
tional cause, I felt justified in appointing
new mintsterto Mexico, who might embrace
the earliest suitable opportunity of restoring
our diplomatic relations with that republic.
For this purpose distinguished citizen of
Maryland was selected, who proceeded on
the Sth of March last, with discretionary
authority TO recognize the government of
Z wal 10
leo he should find it entitled to such recQsgs5
Or the United States. On the It'll Of April
following, Mr.. Mclean presented his Gre
dentials to President Juarez, having no
hesitation "in pronouucing the government
of Jnarez to he the only existing government
of the republic" lie was cordially received
by the authorities at Vera Cruz, and they
have ever since manifested the most friendly
disposition towards the United States. IN
happily, however, the constitutional govern
meHt has not been able to establishits power
over the whole republic 1, is supported by
large majority of the people and the States,
but there are important parts of the country
where it can enforce no obedience. Gen.
Miramon maintained himself at the capital
and in some Of the distant provinces there
are military governors who pay little re-
spect 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 property. There is scarcely
any form of injury which has not been suf-
fered by our citizens in Mexico during the
last few years We have been nominally at
peace with that republic but $50 far as the
interests Of our commerce or of our citizens
who have visited the country as merchants,
shipmasters, or in other capacities, are con-
csrned, we might az well have been at war"
Life has been insecure property unprotected,
and trade impossible, except ut a risk Ofloss
which prudent men cannot be expected to
incur. Important contracts, involving large
expenditures, entered iure by the central
government, have been set At de6a noe by the
local governments Peaceful American res
idents, occupying their rightful possessions,
have been suddenly expelled the country, in
defiance Of treaties, and by the mere force of
arbitrary power. Even the course Of Justice
has net been safe from control, end recent
decree of Miramon permits the intervention
of government in all suits where either
party is a foreigner. Vessels of the United
States have been seized without law, and
consular officer who protested against such
seizure has been fined and imprisoned for
disrespect to the authorities. military con-
tribu ions have been levied in violation OF
every principle of right, and the American