Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1860-12-07

luton at the capital had most universally
been the signalfor submission throughout the
Republic
Not so on the present; q majority of the
citizens persistently sustained the constitu
tional government When this was recon-
meaded in April, 1859, by the Government
of the United States, its authority extended
over large m ajority of the Mexican States
aud people, including Vera Cruz. and all
the important Sc aports of the Republic.
From that period our commerce with Mexi-
CO began to revive, and the con stitutional
government has afforded it all the protee-
ton In their power. Meanwhile the gov
ernment of Miramon still held sway at the
Capital, and over the surrounding country,
and continued its outrages against the fe "
American citizens who still had the courage
to remain within its power. To esp the eli
max, after the battle of Tacubaya, in April.
1853, Gen. Marquee ordered three citizens
of the United States, two of them physicians.
to be seized in the hospital at that place.
and shot without trial. This was dene, not
withstanding our unfortunate countrymeu
were at the moment engaged in the holy
cause of offering relief 10 the soldiers o.
both parties who had been wounded in the
battle, without making any distinction be
| tween them. The time had arrived, in my
opinion, when this Government was bound
to exert its power TO ayenge and redres:
the wrongs of our citizens, aud to afford
them protection in Mexico. The interpos.
ing obstacle was, that the country under this
sway of Miramon could not be reached with
out passing over territory under the juris
dietion of the Constitutional Government
Under these circumstances, | deemed it my
duty to recommend to Congress in my lasi
annual message, the employment Of a sufn
Gent military force TO penetrate into the in
terror where the government Of MiramOr
was to be found, with, or if need be, with
out, the consent of the Juarez government,
though it was not doubted that his cons nj
could be obtained
Never have had 4 clearer conviction any sub
ject than have OF the Justice as well rs wisdom
of such policy No other alternative was len. ex
cept the entire abandonment Of our felOwcitiz liens
who had gone 10 Mexico under the faith of treaties
the systematic injustice, cruelty and oppression Of
AiIahohs Government Resides 1t l. certain that q
simple authority to employ this force would OF itSe
nave accomplished all our objects without striking
siusie oioW- Inc Constitutional Government would
then have been established at the city of Mexico and
would have been ready and willing the extent Of
Its ability, TO do Justice. IL addition ana deem
TINS most important consideration, Foreign Govern
ments would have been deprived Of all pretext in
teriere IN the territorial and domestic concerns OF
Mexico We should thus have been relived from the
obligation of resisting even by force should this be
come necessary any attempt by these governments
deprive our neigbboring Republic OF portions OF hel
territory, a duty from which we could not shrink
without abandoning the traditional and established
policy of the American people.
l am happy 10 observe that, firmly relying upon tht
Justice and good faith Of these Governments there
no present danger that such contingency viii hap
PEN Having discovered that my Recommendation:
would not be stained by Clngress, the aiterna
tive was TO accomplish in some degree, If possible
the objects, by treaty spulaiions with the con
stitutonal government. Such treaties were accord
ingly concluded by our late able and lent Minister
TO Mexico, and the fourth of January last wer,
Submitted to the Senate for ratification. As they have
not received the final action Of that body, &c ould b.
improper for me TO present detailed statement o
their provisions. Still NAV be permitted u EXPIRE 5
the opinion, in advance, that they Cal ulated I,
promote the agricultural, manufacturing and CONNER
ciai interests Of the country, aud to secure s.
influence TIA an adj joining Republic to whose for
tunes aud fate we can never feel frent whilst q
the same time they provide for the payment Of con
siderable amount towards the satisfaction of the
of our injured fellow citizens.
KANSAS AND UTAH.
At the period of my Inauguration I was
confronted in Kansas by 4 revolutionary
Government, existing under what was called
the Topeka Constitution. The aVowed OBJ
ject was to subdue the Territorial Govern
ment by force, and to inaugarate what was
called the Topeka Government in its stead
To accomplish this object, an extensive mill
tary organization was formed, and Its com
mand entrusted to the most vio ent revolu-
tionary leaders. Under these circumstances
it became my imperative duty to exert the
whole Constitutional power of the Executive
to prevent the flames of civil war from ra-
ging in Kansas, which the excited state OF
the public mind both North and South might
have extended into the neighhoriug States.
The hostile parties in Kansas had been in
hamed against each other by emissaries both
from the North and South, to a degree of ma
Lightly without parallel in our history. To
prevent eventual collision, and to resist the
civil magistrates in enforcing the laws, a
strong detachment of the army was station
ed in the Territory, ready to aid the Marshal
and his deputies when officially called upon
as posse commitatus in the execution vi
civil and criminal process. Still the troubles
in Kansas could not have been permanently
settled without an election by the people. the
ballOt-boX being the sureSt arbitrator of dis
putes among freemen. Under this conviction
every proper effort was employed to induce
the hoStilei parties to vote at the election OF
delegates to frame State Constitution, and
afterwards at the election to decide whether
Kansas should be a slave or free State. The
insurgent party refused to vote at either lest
this might os consider a recognition on their
part of the Territorial government estab-
lished by Congress. a better spirit. how
ever, seemed soon after to prevail, and the
two parties met face TO face in the election,
held the first Monday of January, 1858, foT
members of the Legislature and State Off
GERS. under the Lecompton Constitution. The
result was the triumph Of the anti-Slavery
party at the polls This decision of the bal
lot-bex proved clearly that this party were
in the majority, and removed the danger OF
civil war. From that time We have heard
nothing of the Topeka government, and all
serious danger of revolutionary troubles in
I ION
Constitution which had been thus recognized
at this State election, by the votes OF both
political parties in Kansas, was transmitted
with the request that should present it t.
Congress. This l could not have refused IL
do, without violating my clearest and strong
est convictions of duty.
The laws, and all The proceedings which
proceeded and followed its formation, were
fair and regular on their face and what then
believed and expressed, has proven true, the
interest of the people of Kansas would have
been best consulted by its admission as
State into the Union, especially as the ma
jority within a brief period, could have
amended the constitution according to theii
will and pleasure. If fraud existed in any OF
all OF these proceedings, it was not for the
President but for Congress to investigate and
determine the question of fraud. and what
ought to be the consequences. Ii at the two
first elections the majority refused to vote, il
cannot be pretended that this refusal to ex,
ercise the electoral franchise could invalidale
an ell ction fairly held under lawful authority
even if they had not subsequently, voted al
the third election. 1t is true that the whole
Constitution had not been submitted TO the
people as l always desired, but the prece-
dents are numerous of the admission of States
INTO the Union without such submission. 1t
would not eomport with my present purpose
to review the proceedings of Congress upon
the Lecompton Constitution. 1t is sufficient
to observe that their final action has removed
the last vestige of serious revolutionary trou-
bles. The desperate band recently assembled
under notorious outlaw in the Southern
portion of the Tei ritory to resist the execu-
lion of the laws and 10 plumber peaceable