New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1860-01-03

belongs. For this reason Lieutenant General Scott
was dispatched On the I7th of September last TO
Washington Territory TO lake immediate command
of the United States forces on the Pacific coast,
should he deem this necessary.
4 The main object Of his mission was to carry out
the spirit Of the precautionary arrangement be-
tween the late Secretary of State and the British
Minister, and thss to preserve the peace and pre-
vent collision between the British and American
authorities pending the negotiations between the
| two governments. Entertaining no doubt of the
validity of our title, need scarcely add that, in
4 any event, American citizens were to be placed on
footing at least as favorable as that of British
subjects, it being understood that Capt. Pickett's
company should remain on the island IT is proper
to observe that, considering the distance from the
scene of action, and in ignorance OF what might
| have transpired on the spot before the Generals
arrival, it was necessary to leave much to his dis
erection. and am happy to state the event has
proven that this discretion could not have been ill.,
trusted to more competent hands.
Gen. Scott has recently returned from his mis-
sion, having successfully accomplished its objects
| and there is no longer any good reason to appre
| bend a collision between the forces of the two
countries during the pendency Of the existing ne
| gotiations
prevement in the aifairs Of Mexico since my last
| annual message aud am again obliged to ask the
earnest attention Of Congress to the unhappy CON
| dition of that republic.
| iourned on the 18th Of February. 1857, adopted
constitution and provided for a popular election
/ This took place in the following July, 1857, and
General Comonfort was chosen President, almost
/ without opposition. At the same election o new
/ Congress was chosen, whose first session COM
nlenced on the 10th Of September, 1857
By the constitution of 1857 the presidential term
was to begin on the LIST of December, 1857, and
continue for four years. On that day General
/ Comonfort appeared before the assembled Con-
gress in the city Of Mexico took the oath to sup
port the new constitution, and was duly inslugur-
ated as President. Within month afterwards he
had been driven from the capital and military
Il rebellion had assigned the supreme power of the
4 republic to General Zuloaga.
4 The Constitution provided that in the absence of
the President his office should devoye upon the
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, and, General
Comonfort having left the country, this function
airy, Gen. Juarez, proceeded to form at Gnanaiuato
a constitutional government. Before this Off
ciaiy known, however, Mt the capital, the Govern
ment of Iuoaga had been recognized by the entire
diplomatic corps, including the minister of the
United States, as the de facto Government Of
I Mexico.
The constitutional President. nevertheless main
! tanned his position with firmness, and was soon
established with his cabinet at Vera Cruz. Mean
while the Government Of Iuloaga was earnestly
resisted in many parts of the republic, and even in
the capital, portion Of the army having pronoun-
ced against it, its functions were declared termi-
mated and an assembly of citizens was invited for
/ the choice of a new President. This assembly
elected General Miramon, but that officer repudi.
ated the plan under which he was chosen, and Zu-
loaga was thus restored to his previous position.
He assumed it, however. only to withdraw from
| it, and Miramon, having become by his appoint
ment President Substitute, continues, with that
! title, at the head Of the insufgent party.
In my last annual message communicated to
4 Congress the circumstances under which the late
Minister of the United States suspended his official
| relations with the central government, and with
1 drew from the country. twas impossible to main
/ tain friendly intercourse with Government, like
that at the capital, under whose usurped authority
wrongs were constantly committed, but never re-
| dressed.
/ Had this been an established Government, with
its power extending by the consent Of the people,
over the whole of Mexico, a resort to hostilities
against it would have been quite iustifable and in
| deed 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 injurious to the United States This
success became so probable that in January last,
| employed reliable agent to visit Mexico and
report to me the actual condition and prospects
/ of the contending parties.
In consequence of his report, and from informa-
1 ton which reached me from other sources fayora-
BILE to the prospects of the constitutional cause
felt justified in appointing new Minister to Mexico,
who might embrace the earliest suitable opportu-
nifty of restoring diplomatic relations with that
republic. For this parpose distinguished citizen
4 of Maryland was setseted, who proceeded ON his
mission the sth or March last, with discretionary
authority to recognize the Government of President
Juarez if his arrival in Mexico he should find it
entitled to such recognition, according to the es-
/ tablished practice of the United States.
On the 18th of April following, Mr.. McLane pre-
scented his credentials to President Juarez, having
no hesitation Sin pronouncing the Government Of
4 Juarez to be the only existing Government of the
I Republic He was cordially received by the ali-
| thorites at Vera Cruz, and they have ever since
i manifested the most friendly disposition towards
i the United States ztlnhappily, however, the con-
sttutional government has not been able to estab-
lish its power over the whole republic 1t is sup
/ ported by large majority of the people and the
States but there important parts of the country
/ where it can enforce no obedience.
General Miram0n maintains himself at the
capital; and in some Of the distant provinces there
are military governors who pay little respect to the
DEGREES of either government. In the meantime the
] excuses which always attend upon civil war,
especially Mexico, are constantly recurring. Out
RACES Of the worst description are committed both
upon persons and property. There is scarcely any
form OF injury which has not been suffered by our
| citizens in Mexico during the last few years. 2
We have been nominally at peace with that re-
4 public, but $50 far as the interests of com
meree of our citizens who have visited the eoun-
try merchants. shpmasters, or in other capaci-
ties are concerned, we might as well have been at
i war;" Life has been insecure, property unpro.
tected, and trade impossible, except at risk oil
| loss which prudent men cannot be expected to
inenr. Important contracts, involving large expen-
| ditures, entered into by the central government
have been set at defiance by the local govern
| ments.
Peaceful American residents 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 not been safe from CONTROL and a
recent decree OF Miram0n permits the intervention
of government in all snts where either party is q
foreigner. Vessels Of the United States have been
| seized without law, and consular officer who pro.
i tested against such seizure has been fined and
! imprisoned for ilisrespect to the authorities
Military contributions have been levied in viola
ton Of every principle of right, and the American
1 who resisted the lawless demand has had his pro.
4 perty forcihfy taken away, and has been himself
banished. From conflict of authority in different
j parts Of the country tariff duties which have been
paid in one place have been exacted over again in
another place. Large numbers of our citizens have
4 been arrested and imprisoned without any form
| of examination or any opportunity for hearing
and even when released have only obtained their
liberty after much suffering and injury, without any
4 hope oil redress,
i The wholesale massacre of Crabhe and his asso.
4 ciates, without trial, in Sonora, well as the
4 seizure and murder of four sick Americans who
had taken shelter in the house of an American
4 upon the soil of the United States, was commune
Gated to Congress at its last session. Murders of
still mere atrocous character have been committed
in the very heart Of Mexico, under the authority Of
/ Miramon's Government, during the present year.
4 Some Of these were only worthy of barborols
age, and, II they had not been clearly proven
| would have seemed impossible in country which
claims to be civilized. OF this description was the
4 brutal massacre in April last by order OF Genera
4 Marquee OF three American physicians, who were
j seized in the hospital at Tacubaya while attending
upon the sick and dying OF both parties, and with
mt trim erin