Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1860-12-07

er claims Of our citizens which had been Ion
urged in vain, are referred for adjustment TO
BOARD of commissioners. I submit copy Of tn
convention to Congress, and recommend til
legislation necessary 10 carry it into effect.
| COSTA RIGA AND NICARAGUA.
Persevering efforts have been made for the ad
Justment Of the claims of American citizen
| against the government Of Costa Rica, and an
| happy to inform you that these have finally pre-
vailed. convention was signed at the city o
San Jose, on the % Of July last. between thu
minister resident Of the United States in Cost
hica and the plenipotentiaries of that republic
| referring these claims to a board OF commission
ers, and providing for the payment Of theiI
| awards. This convention will be submitted i'm
medlately 10 the Senate for their constitutional
action.
The claims Of our citizens upon the republic
OF Nicaragua have not yet been provided for by
treaty, although dilgent efforts for this purpose
have been made by cur minister resident at that
republic. These are still continued, with fair
prospect Of success.
MEXICO.
Our relations with Mexico remain in a most
unsatisfactory condition. In my last two an
nual messages | discussed extensively the cub
Ject OF these relations, and do not now propose
TO repeat, at length, the facts and arguments
then presented. They proved concluSiyely that
our citizens resident in Mexico and our merchants
trading thereto had suffered n series Of wron %
and outrages such as we have never patiently
borne from any other nation. For these our
successive ministers, invoking the faith Of tres-
ties, had. in the name of our country, persis-
tently demanded redress and Naturalization,
but without the slightest effect. Indeed, 50
confident had the Mexican authorities become
OF our patient endurance, that they universally
believed they might commit these outrages up
On American citizens with absolute impunity-
Thus wrote. our minister in 1856, and express
ed the opinion that q nothicg but manifesto
ton Of the power Of the government, and Of its
purpose to punish these wrongs viii avail"
Afterwards, in 1856, came the adoption Of a
new constitution for Mexico, the election of &
President and Congress under its provisions and
the inauguration of the President. Within
one short month, however, this President was
expelled from the Capitol by rebellion in the
army, and the supreme power Of the republic
was assigned to General Zuloagl. This usur-
per was, in his turn, soon compelled to retire
and give place to General Nliramon.
Under the constitution which had thus been
adopted, Senior Juarez, as chief justice Of the
Supreme Court, became the lawful President Of
the Republic; and it was for the maintenance OF
the constitution and his authority derived from
it that tho civil war commenced, and still con-
tinues to be prosecuted.
Throughout the year 1858, the constitutional
party grew stronger and stronger. 4 success
ful military revolution ut the capitol had almost
universally been the signal for submission thro'-
out the republic. Not 50 on the present occa-
sion. A majority Of the citizens Professionally
sustained the constitutional government When
this was recognized in April 1859 by the gov
eminent Of the United States, its authority ex-
tended over large majority Of the Mexican
States and people, including Vera Cruz and all
the other important sea ports Of the republic
From that period our commerce with Mexico
began to revive, an1 the constitutional govern
ment has afforded it al the protection in their
power.
Meanwhile, the Government Of Mramon still
held sway at the capital over the surrounding
country, and continued its Outrages against the
American citizens who still had the courage to re-
main within its power To cap the climax, after
tho battle of Tacubaya, in April, 1859, Gen. Mar
quez ordered three citizens Of the United States,
two Of them physicians 20 be seized in the hospital
at that place taken out and shot without orce ard
without trial. This was done, notwithstanding
our unfortunate c0untrymeu were at the moment
engaged in the holy cause Of afording relief %
the soldiers Of both parties who had been wounded
tween them.
The time had arrived, in NY opinion, when this
Government was bound TO exert its power to
avengo and redress the wrongs OF our citizens and
to afford them protection in Mexico. The inter
posing obstacle wa, that tie portion Of tho couu-
try under the sway Of Mirsmon could not be
reached without passing over territory uader the
jurisdiction Of the constitutional government.
Under these circumstances 1 deemed it my duty to
recommend to Congress in my last annual message,
the employment of a sufficient military force 20
penetrate into the interior where the Government
Of MiTamor was TO be found, with, or, if need be,
without the consent Of the Juarez Government.
though IL was not doubted that this consent could
be obtained. Ne.er have I had a clearer convjc-
ton any subject than Of tho justice rs well as
wisdom Of such policy \ % other alternative
was left. except the entire Abandonment Of our
fellow citizens who bad gone 20 Mexico, under the
faith Of treaties T. the Systematic injustice ruoty,
ami oppression of MTamon5 Government. Be
sides, it is almost certain that the simple auth0ri
ty to employ this force would Of itself have accom-
plishel all our objects without striking single
blow. The Constitutional Government would
then, this have been established at the city Of
Mckee, and would have been ready and willing,
20 the extent Of its ability, to do US justice.
In addition-and 1 deem this a most important
oasideration-European governments would have
been deprived of all preteyt interfere in the ter
ritorial and domestic Concerns O. Mexico. We
should thus have been relieved from the litigation
Of resisting, even by force, should this become
cessary, any attempt by these governments to de-
prve our nciChboring republic Of portions Of her
territory duty from which we could not shriok
without abandoning the traditional and established
policy OF the American people. I am happy 20
observe that, firmly relying upon tho justice and
good faith Of these governments, there : present
danger that such q contingency viii happen.
Having discovered that my recommendations
would not be sustained by Congress, the next al
Tentative was to accomplish, in some degree, If
possible, the same objects by treaty stipulations
with the constitutional Government. Such trea-
ties were accordingly concluded by our lato able
and excsllent Minister 10 Mexico, and on tho ith
January last were submitted 20 the Senate Cor rat
ihcation. As these have not yet received the final
action e that body. it would be improper for ne
to present detailed statement q their provisions.
still, l may be permitted to express the opinion
in advance, that they are calculated 70 promote
the agricultural. manufacturing, and commercial!
interest Of the country, and 20 secure our just ia
fuerce with "a adjoining Republic, &c 70 whose
fortunes and fate We can never feel indifferent
whilst at the time, they provide for the pay
ment OF considerable amount towards the salts
faction Of the claims Of injured feloN-sitEons.
KANSAS AND UTAH.
At the period OF my inauguration I was
confronted IN Kansas by revolutionary govern
ment, existing under what is called the Topeka
Constitution. It's svowed object was TO subdue
the Territorial Government by force, and to IN
augurate what was called tho Topeka Government
in its stead. TO accomplish this object IN extcn-
sive military organization was formed and its
command entrusted to the most violent revolution
sry leaders. Under these circumstances, il be-
came my imi erative DUTY to exert the whole Con
stitutional power of the Executive TO prevent the
flames Of civil war from sgBin raging in Kansas
which, in the excited state of the public mind
both North ard South, might have extended into
the neighboring States.
The hostile parties in haEsas had been inaalned
against each other by emissaries both from the
North and the South, to a degree Of malignity
without parallel in our history. To prevent ac-
tual collision and to assist the civil magistrates
IN enforcing the laws, a strong detachment of the
army was stationed in the Territory, ready to aid
the marshal and his deputies, when lawfully called
upon as posse co7itatts in the execution Of civil
and criminal process.
Still, the troubles in Ksn,as could not have
been permanently settled without election by
the people. The ballot-box is the surest arbiter
of disputes among f-oemen. Under this convic-
ton every proper effort was employed to induce
the cstie parties to vote at the election of dole
gates to frame a State Constitution, and after
wards at the election to decide whether Kansas
should DO Slave or Free State. The insurgent
party refused to vote at either lest this might be
considered a recognition their part of the Ter
ritorisl Government established by Congress. A
better spirit, however, seemed after to pre-
vail. and tho DzrtIes face 10 face the