The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1860-01-04

formation which reached me from other sour.
ces, favorable to the prospect OF the consti-
tutionsl cause, I felt justified in appointing
a new Minister 10 Mexico, who might EN-
brace the earliest suitable opportunity of re.
storing our diplomatic relations with that Re-
public. For this purpose distinguished
citizen Of Marylsnd was selected, who pro.
ceeded on his mission on the 9Th Of March
last, with discretionary authority TO recog.
nize the Government OF President Juarez, If,
on his arrival In Mexico, he should find il
entitled to such recognition, according to the
established practice of the United States..-
On the 7lh OF April following Mr.. McLane
present ed his credentialsto to President JuOrez,
having no hesitation "in pronouncing the
Government Of Juarez to be the only exist.
ing Government OF the Republic" He was
cordially 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 its power over the whole
Republic.
1t is supported by a large majority OF the
people OF the States, but there are important
parts OF the country where it can enforce no
obedience. General Miramon maintains
himself at the Capital and in some of the
distant provinces there are military Govern
ors who pay little respect 10 the DEGREES OF
either Government. In the meantime the
excesses which always attend upon civil war,
especially in Mexico, are constantly recur.
ring. Outrages OF the worst description are
committed both upon persons and property.
There is scarcely any form Of injury which
has not been suffered oy our citizens in Mex.
leo 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 cur citizens who have visited the coun-
try as merchants, shipmas ters or in other ca
pscities, are concerned ; we might as well
have been at war" Life has been insecure,
property unprotected, and trade impos, ible,
except at risk of loss which prudent men
cannot be expected to incur. Important con-
tracts, involving large expenditures, entered
into by the Central Government have been
set at defiance by the local governments
Peaceful American residents, occupying their
rightful possessions, have been suddenly ex.
PEELED from the country, in defiance of treat.
lee, and by the mere force of arbitrary pow.
er. Even the course Of justice has not been
safe from control, and a recent decree OF
Miramon permits the intervention of Gov.
ernments in oil 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 di-respect
TO the authorities. Military contributions
have been levied in violation Of every prin.
ciple of right, and the American who resist.
ed the Law less demand has had his properly
forcibly taken away, and has been himself
punished. From conflict of authority in
different parts of the country, tariff duties
which have been paid in one place have been
exacted over again in another place.
L"rge numbers of our cit zons have been
arrested and imprisoned without any form of
examination or any opportunity for hear
ing, and even when released have only oh
talned their liberty after much suffering and
injury, and without any hope of redress
The wholesale massacre Of Crabbe and his
associates, without trial in Sonora, as wei as
the seizure and murder of four sick Ameri-
cans who mad taken shelter in the house of
an American, upon the soil of the United
States, was communicated to Congress at its
last session. Murders of still more afro.
cous character have been committed in the
very heart OF Mexico, under the authority of
Mlramon's Government, during the present
year. Some of these were only worthy of a
barbarous age, and, if they had not been
clearly proven, would have seemed jmpossi
bic in country which claims to be civilized,
vi this description was the brutal massacre.
in April last, by order of Gen. Mprouex, of
three American physicians, who were seized
in the hospital nt TacIbaya while attending
upon the sick and dying OF both parties, and
without trial, as without crime, were hurried
away to speedy execution. Little less shock.
ing was the fate of Ormond Chase, who wa.
shot in Tepc on the 7th OF August by order
OF the same Mexican General, not otly with.
out trial, tut without any COZ lecture by his
friends OF the cause OF his arrest. He t.. rem,
resented as young man Of good character
and intelligence, who had msIe numerous
friends in Tepic by the courage and human.
ity which he had displayed On several irving
occasions, and his death was as uncxpected
as it was shocking to the whole community.
Other outrages might be enumerated, but
these are sufficient to illustrate the wr4tched
state of the country and the unprotected con.
dltIon o the persons and property of our citi.
zens in Mexico.
In all these cases our ministers have been
constant and faithful in their demands for
redress, but both they ard this Government,
which they have successfully represented,
have been wholly powerless to make their
demands effective. Their testimony in this
respect, and in reference TO the only remedy
which, In their judgment, would meet the
ex1geDcy has been both uniform and EN-.
ph"tlc. Nothing but manifestation of the
power of the Government of the United
states (wrote our late minister in 1860 and
ol us purpose 10 punish these wrongs will
'Vall. assure you lhSt The universal belief
mere is that there is nothing TO be opprehend.
ID from the Government OF the United States
and that local Mexican officials can com.
NIT these outrages upon American citizens
with absolute impunity." II hope the Pres.
dent' (wrote our present minister in August
asD "will feel authorized to ask from Con.
9ress the power to enter Mexico " ith the
military force Of The United States, It the
call OF the constitutional authorities, in or.
ler 70 protect the citizens and the treaty
lights Of the United States. Unless such
power is conferred upon him, neither the one
'or the therwiIl be respected in The existing
'ate of anarchy and disorder, end The outra.
!es ALREADY perpetrated will never be chas.
ised and, as | assured you in my No. %
III these evils must increase until everv ves-
,ge OF order and government disappears from
ne county" have been reluctantly led
o the same opinion, and in justice to nv
'ountrymen Who have suffered wrongs from
Mexico, and who may still suffer them, fee
'ound to announce this conclusion to Con.
,ress.
The case presented, however. is not mere.