The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-12-14
THE WEEKLY PIONEER AND DEMOCRAT.
NEW GRANADA,

NEW GRANADA.
The exchange of the notifications of the
Convention with the Republic of New Ora
NADIA, signed at Washington on the 10th of
September, 1857, has been long DELAYED
from accidental causes, for which neither
party is censurable. These notifications
were duly exchanged in this city on the 9Th
Of November last. Thus has a controversy
been amicably terminated, which had be-
come so serious at the period of my inaugu-
ration as to require me, on the 18th of
April, 1857, to direct our Minister to de-
mand his passports and return to the United
States. Under this condition, the govern
ment of New Granada has specially ac-
knowledged itself to be responsible to our
citizens for damages which were caused bv
the riot at Panama on the 18th April, 1856.
These claims, together with OF er claims
OF our citizens which had been long urged
IN vain, are referred for adjustment to a
Board of Commissioners. submit COPY
of the Convention to Congress, and recon-
mend the legislation necessary to carry it
into effect.
COSTA RIGA AND NICARAGUA.
Persevering efforts have been made for
the adjustment of the claims of American
citizens against the government of Costa
Rica, and am happy to inform you that
these have finally prevailed. A convention
was signed at the City of San Jose on the
I'd OF July last, between the Minister Resi-
dent of the United States in Costa RIGA. and
the Plenipotentiaries of that Republic. re-
ferring these claims to board of commits
sioners, and providing for payment of their
awards. This convention will be submitted
to the Senate for their constitutional action.
The claims of our citizens upon the Repub-
lie of Nicaragua have not yet been provided
for by treaty, although diligent efforts for
this purpose have been made by our Minis
ter Resident in that Republic. These are
still continued, with fair prospect of sue
cess
Our relations with Mexico remain in a
most unsatisfactory condition. In my two
last annual messages discussed extensively
the subject of these relations, and do not
now propose to repeat at length the facts
and arguments then presented They
proved conclusively that our citizens resid-
ing in Mexico, and our merchants trading
thereto. had suffered series of wrong and
outrages such as we have never patiently
borne from any nation. For these, our sue
cessive ministers, invoking the faith of trea
ties, had in the name of their country, per-
siStently demanded redress and indemnifi-
cation, but without the slightest effect. In.
deed, so confident had the Mexican author
tiles been, because of our patient endurance,
that they universally believed they might
commit their Outrages upon American citi-
zens with absolute impunity. Thus wrote
our Minister in 1856, and expressed the
opinion that nothing but manifestation of
the powers of the government and of its
purpose to punish these wrongs will avail.
Afterwards, in 1857, came the adoption of
the new Constitution for Mexico, the union
of President and Congress under its pro-
visions, and the Inauguration of President
within one short month. However, this
President was expelled from the Capital by
rebellion in the army, and the supreme
power of the Republic was assigned to Gen
ZolOaga This usurper was in his turn soon
compelled to retire from the place by Gen.
Miramon. Under the Constitution which
had thus been adopted, Gen. Juarez, as
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, became
the lawful President of the Republic, and
it was for the maintenance of the COnstitu-
ton, and his authority derived from it, that
the civil war commenced and still continues
to be prosecuted. Throughout the year
1858 the Constitutional party grew stron-
ger and stronger. In the previous history
OF Mexico successful military revolution at
the Capital had most universally been the
signal for submission throughout the Re-
public.
Not so on the present; majority of the
citizens persistently sustained the constitll-
tiOnal government When this was recon-
mended in April, 1859, by the government of
the United States, it's authority extended
over large majority of the Mexican States
and people, including Vera Cruz, and all the
important seapOrts Of the Republic. From
that period our commerce with Mexico began
to revive, and the constitutional government
has afforded it all the protection in their
power. Meanwhile the government of Mira
mon: still held sway at the Capitol and over
the surrounding country. and continued it's
outrages against the few American citizens
who still had the courage to remain within
it's power. To cap the climax after the bat
tie OF Tacubayv, in April 1859, Gen. Mar
xues ordered three citizens of the United
States, two of them physicians to be seized
at the hospital at that place, and shot with
out trial This was done Notwithstanding
our unfortunate cOuntrymen were at the
moment engaged in the holy cause of offer.
ing relief to the soldiers of both parties who
had been wounded in the battle, without ma
king any distinction between them. The
tt me had arrived, in my opinion, When this
Government was bound to exert it's power
to avenge and redress the wrongs of our citi-
zens and to afford them protection in Mexico
The interpOsing obstacle was, that the cOun-
try under the sway of Miramon, could not be
reached without naSSinp over the tprritoru
under the jurisdiction of the constitutional
Government.
Under these circumstances considered it
my duty to recommend to Congress in nv
last annual message, the employment of a
sufficient military force to penetrate into
the interior where the government of Mir
anon was to be found, with, or if need be,
without the consent of the Juarez govern
ment, though it was not doubted that his
consent could be obtained. Never have I
had clearer conviction on any subject than
l have OF the justice, as we'll as wisdom, of
such policy. No other alternative was
left, except the entire abandonment Of our
fellow citizens who had gone to Mexico I'M
der the faith of treaties to the systematic
injustice, cruelty and oppression of Mira
mons governments. Besides, it is certain
that a simple authority to employ this force
would of itself have accomplished all our
objects without striking single blow The
Constitutional government would then
have been established at the city of Mexico,
and would have been ready and willing, to
the extent of its ability, to do us Justice.
In addition, and deem this a most i'm
portant consideration, foreign governments