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

sition between the Gulf and the ocean for
transit routes and for commerce. Is II DOS
sible that such a country as this can be piv-
en- up to anarchy and ruin without an effort
from any quarter for its rescue and its safety
Will the commercial nations of the world I;
which have so many interests connected
with it, remain wholly Indifferent 10 such
result Can the United States especially,
which ought to share most largely in it's
commercial intercourse. allow their immedi-
ate neighbor thus TO destroy itself and injure
them Yet, without support from some
quarter. Il is impossible to perceive how
Mexico can resume her position among ma
tions and enter upon a career which promis-
es any good results. The aid which she re-
quires, and which the interests of ell com
mereia countries require that she should
have, it belongs TO this Government to rem
der, not only by virtue OF our neighborhood
to Mexico, along whose territory we have
continuous frontier OF nearly q thousand
miles, but by virtue also, of our established
policy, which is inconsistent with the inter-
Vention of any European power in the do
mestic concerns of that Republic.
! The wrongs which we have suffered from
Mexico are before the world, and must deep
ly impress every American citizen. A Gov
ernment which is either unable or unwilling
to redress euch wrongs is derelict to its high
est duties. The difficulty consists in select.
ing and enforcing the remedy. We may In
vsin apr ly to the Constitutional Government
at Vera Cruz, although it il well disposed to
do us Justice, Tor adequate redress. Whilst
its authority is acknowledged in all the i'm.
portant ports throughout the sesCoasts of the
republic, its power does net extend to the
City OF Mexico, and The States in its vicinity
where nearly all the recent outrages have
been committed on American citizens. We
must penetrate into the interior before we
can reach the offenders, and this can only be
done by pa9eing through the territory in the
occupatio OF the Constitutional Govern.
ment The most acceptable and least dtIi
cult mode of accomplishing the object will
be to act IN concert with that Government.
Their consent and their aid might. believe,
be obtained but it not, our obligation to
protect our own citizens in their just rights,
secured by treaty, would not be- the less i'm.
perative. For these reasons, recommend
TO Congress 10 pass q lew authorizing the
President, under such conditions rs they msy
deem expedient, 10 employ sufficient mill.
tary force to enter Mexico for the purpose of
obtninng indemnify for the past and security
for the future. | purposely refrain from
suggesting as to whether this force shall con.
sist oil regular troops or volunteers, or both.
This question may be most appropriately left
to the decision of Congress. would mere.
ly observe that should volunteers be select
ed, such force could be easily raised in this
country, among those who sympathize with
the sutferings Of our unfortunate fellow-ci,-
zens in Mexico. Such an accession to the
forces Of the Constitutional Government
would enable it soon to reach the City of
Mexico and extend its power over the whole
republic. In that event, there is no reason
to doubt that the Just coms of our citizens
would be soisfed oDd adequate redress OBJ
toioed for the injuries inflicted upon them.
The Constitutional Government have ever
evnced strong desire to do US justice, and
this might be secured in advance BY pre-
liminory treaty.
1t may be said that these measures will,
at least Indirectly, be inconsistent with cur
wise and settled policy net to interfere in
the domestic concerns of foreign nations
But does not the present case fairly consti.
tute on exception An adj lining Republic
is in state of anarchy and confusion from
which she has proved wholly unSble to ex.
tricTte herself. She Is entirely destitute OF
the power 10 maintain pence upon her Dor
ders, or to prevent the incursicns Of banditti
into our territory. In her fate and her for
tune-in her powerto tabliSh and muintain
settled goverDment-we have fer deeper
interest, socially. commercially, snd polite.
ally than any other nation. She is now
wreck upon the ocean, drifting about as she
ia m oil IaH hu Ioot A., 4
neighOor, shall we not extend to her q help
ing hnnd to save her! II we do not, it
would not be surprising shonld some other
nation undertake The task, and thus Iorce Us
TO interfere at last, under circumstances OF
increased difficulty, for the maintenance OF
our established policy.
/ | repeat the recommendation contained in
my last annual message that authority NAV
be given to the PRESIDE mt to establish one or
J more temporary military posts across the
| bl xcan line in Sonora and Chihuai ua,
where these may be necessary to protect the
lives and property o! American and Mexi-
can Citizens against the incursons and dep
red tions of the lndinns, as we'll as of the
Iawless rovers on thut remote region. The
estao lIshment OF one such post at a point
called Arispe, in Sonors in country now
almost depopulated by the hostile inroads o
the indians from our side of the line, would
IT is believed, have prevented much injury
and many crnel'es during the present sea
son. a state OF lawlessness and violence
prevails on th@t distant frontier. Life and
property are there wholly il secure. The |
population OF Arizona, now numbering more
than ten thousand souls, are practically des-
titule of government. Of Iaws or anv teon |
lar administration of justice. Murder, ra.
pine and other crimes are committed with
impunity. |, therefore, again call the atte n.
ton OF Congress to the necessity for estab-
fishing territorial government over Ariz ma.
The treaty with Nicaragua of the 18th
February, 1857, to which | referred in nv
last annual message, failed to receive the
ratification Of the Government of that Re.
public, for the reasons need not enumerate.
A similar treaty has been since concluded
between the parties bearing date on the 10Th
of March 1859, which has already been rat
flied by the Nicaragua Congress. This will
be Immediately submitted to the Senate for
their ratification. Its provisions cannot, |
think fail TO be acceptable to the people Of
both Countries.
Our claims against the Government of
Costa Rica and Nicaragua remain unre.
dressed, thongh they are pressed In an ear.
nest manner,and not without hope of success.
deem it to be my duty once more ear.
nestly to recommend to Congress the pass
age of law authorizing the President 10
employ the navel force at his commend for
the purpose OF protecting the lives and pro.
perty OF American citizens passing in transit {
across the Panama, Nicaragua and Tehsun.