Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1860-01-05
Presidents Message.
FRor FIRST PAGE.

! employed reliable agent to visit Mexico,
and report to me the actual condition and
prospects of the contending parties. In con,
sequence of his report and from information
Hhch reached me from other sources favor
able to the prospects of the constitlonal cause,
felt justified in appointing new minister to
Mexico, who might embrace the earliest suit
able opportunity of restoring onr diplomatic
relations with that Republic For this pur-
pose distinguished citizen Of Maryland was
selected, who proceeded on his mission on the
9Th of March last, with discretionary authority
tn recognize the Government of President
Juarez, if on his arrival in Mexico he should
find it entitled to sneh recognition, according
to the established practice Of the U States.
On the 7th of April following; Mr. McLane
presented his credentials to President JuareZ
having no hesitaton "in pronounciDg the
Government of JuafeZ to be The only existing
Government of the republic" lie was cor
daily received by the authorities at Vera
Cruz, and they have ever since manifested the
most friendly disposition toward the United
States, UnhappiIy, hewever, the Constitution
al Government has not been able to establish
its power over the whole Republic It's sup
ported by large majority of the people and
she States, but there are important parts Of
the country where it can enforce no obedience
Gen Miramon maintains himself at the cap
ital and in some Of the distant provinces
there are military governors who pqy little
respect to the DEGREES of either government
In the mean time, the excesses which always
attend upon civil war, especially in Mexico,
are constantly recurring OutrageS of the
worst description are committed both upon
persons and property There is scarcely any
form Of injury v hich has not been suffered hy
our citizens in Mexico during the last few
wears. We have been nomiually at peace
with that Republic, but, so far as the inter
est of our commerce or of our citizens who
have visited the country as merchants, ship
masters, or in other capacities, are concerned,
we might as well have been at war" Life
has been insecure, property unprotected, and
trade impossible, except at the risk of loss
which prudent men cannot be expected to in
eur.
Important contracts, involving large expen-
dtures, entered into by the Central Govern
ment, have been set at defiance by the local
Government Peaceful American residents,
occupying their rightful possessions have been
suddenly expelled from the country, in de,
fance Of treaties and by the mere force Of
has not been safe from control and 4 recent
decree of Miramon permits the Intervention
of Government in all suits where either party
is a foreigner. Vessels of the United States
have been seized without law, and consular
officer, who protested against such seizure has
been fined aud imprisoned FOR disrespcct to the
authorities Military contributions have been
levied, in violation Of every principle Of right
and the Americans who resist the awlesS de-
fnand has had his property forcbiy taken
away, and has been himself banShcd From
a conflict Of authority in different parts Of the
country, tariff duties which have been paid
one place have been extracted over again in
another place Large numbers Of our citizens
have been arrested aud imprisoned, without
any form of examination, or any opportunity
for hearing, and, even when released have
only obtained their liberty after much suffer
ing and injury, ond without any hope Of re-
dress. The wholesale massacre of Crabbc and
his associates, without trial, in Sonora, as
well as the seizure and murler of four sick
Americans, who had taken shelter in the house
Of an American, upon the soil of the United
States, was communicated to Congress at its
last session Murders Of q still more atrociouS
character have been committed in the very
heart of Mexico, under the authority OF Mira
mons Government, during the present year.
Some Of these were only worthy Of a barbar-
ouS age, and, if they had not been clearly
proven, would have seemed impossible in
country which claims to be civilized.
Of this description Was the brutal massacre
in April last, by order of Gen. Marquee, Of
three American physicians, who were seized
in the hospital at Tacubaya while attending
apon the sick and the dying Of both parties,
and without trial. as without crime, were hur
ried away to speedy execution. Little less
shocking was the recent fate of Ormond Chase,
who was shot in Topic on the Tin of August,
by order Of the same Mexican general, not
only without a trial, but without any conjec-
ture by his friends Of the cause of his arrest.
lie is represented as Young man OF goo1
character and intelligence, who had made nu'
merous friends in Tepic 10y the courage and
humanity which he had displayed on several
trying occasions, and his death was as un.
expected as it was shocking to the whole com
munity. Other outrages might be enumerated
but these are sufficient to iIluStratethe wretch
ed state Of the country aud the unprotected
condition of the persons and property Of our
citizens in Mexico.
In all these cases our ministers have been
constant and faithful in their demands for re-
dress, but both they and this Government,
which they have successfully represented, have
been wholly powerless to make their demands
effective ThciF testimony in this respect, and
IN reference to the only remedy which, in their
judgments, would meet the exigency, has been
both uniform and emphatic. Nothing but
manifestation of the power of the Govern
rnent of the United States, (wrote our late
minister in 1866 and of its purpose to punish
these wrongs will avail assure you that
rLo universal belief here is that there is moth
ing to be apprehended from the Government