The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-08-24

leaving their orders at the Counting-room during
the day.
It is great pity that the treaty negotiated with
the Constitutional Government of Mexico, by Mr.
MoLANE should have been rejected in the Senate
through the hostility of the Republicans TO the
measure. The treaty not only rendered TO us
commercial advantages which were of the very
highest importance, but it would also have estab-
lished the Liberal party in Mexico upon firmer
basis, and would have assured 10 the multitude OF
Americans who are there engaged in mercantile,
manufacturing and mining pursuits degree OF
protection which, it is needless to say, they do
not now enjoy. If it were not for the fact that
the European Powers have found it necessary to
direct their attention almost exclusively TO the
affairs of Italy, and to those events in the Orient
which point, at no distant day, to the complete
disintegration of the Turkish Empire we should
have been called on ere this to either adopt our
selves some decided line of policy towards Mexico
or to quietly permit foreign Intervention. That
the Mexican question has never been vigorously
pressed by us 10 some positive adjustment arises
from the radical difference of opinion between the
North and the South, with respect to one point
which they really have no right TO consider at
all The North refuses to NEEDLE with the matter
on the plea that our interpositon must necessarily
result in territorial ACKNOWLEDGMENT, and in the
consequent extension of the area of slavery. The
South, on the other hand, by its votes in Congress,
has more than once asserted its conviction that
slavery can never be established in that country
because in che first place, it would come into con-
lict with the existing system of Peonage, and, for
the still more valid reason, that the great bulk of
the population consists of mixed breeds, pure
blooded Indians, and free negroes, none of whom
arc regarded with prejudice by the whites, and
all of whom, socially considered, are upon an
equal footing. But why should this point of view
be regarded as the only one worthy of considera-
ton? 1t is certainly quite possible to maintain
neighborIy relations with Mexico without enter
tanning the idea of devouring her. 1t is also as
suredly far more to our interest that we should
seek, by legitimate and just means, TO sustain and
consolidate strong native government in that
distracted Republic, allied to us by commercial
ties and loyal to us because relying upon our fos
terng care in preference to standing aloof until
the two opposing factions have destroyed each
other, and then stepping in and taking possession.
If this latter policy were judicous now, it would
have been equally so in 1913, when our occupation
of the Mexican capital and the utter rout of the ar
mics of the Republic, left us at liberty to retain or
abandon our conquest At that time not only did
General QUITMAN strongly advocate the annexa-
ton of Mexico to the UNITED STATEs--a scheme
which met with the concurrence of many disn-
guished Mexicans, and, among others, of the
patriot HERRERA-but the proposition was ac-
tually sanctioned by the administration at Wash
ington, and would have been carried out had it not
been for the opposition of influential Democratic
Senators TO the measure. Prominent among those
Senators was Mr.. CALHOUN, who opposed the in
corporation of Mexico with the Union on the
ground that it "woud be departure from the
''setted policy Of the government, in conflict with
Its character and genius and subversive, in the
lend, of our free and popular institutions" With
this ayowed repugnance, both North and South,
to the acquisition of any part of Mexico, it seems
strange that the MCLANE-OcAMpo treaty should |
have bcn ANONYMOUSLY rejected. That treaty did
not require of President JUAREz any concession Of
new territory unless the provision which was made
for securing the right Of way across Mexico to the
Pacific could be so considered; and yet Republican
Senators voted it down because as they commended
1t would lead TO fresh territorial acquisitions, and
In the face of the recorded votes of Southern Sena
Tors drectJ in opposition to any such extension of
our limits southwark The refusal to sanction the
ratification of that treaty was a golden opportu-
nifty lost. 1t weakened the arm of the Liberals; it
revived the waning courage of the Reactioniss; it
left our countrymen in Mexico at the mercy of the
chiefs of either action it precuded the possibility
of a successful extension of our commerce with the
Gulf and Pacific ports of that Republic and it has
placed us in that position of indiflerentism which,
if maintained much longer, will unquestionably
encourage foreign Intervention. By the last ad
vices from Vera Cruz we learn that Spain has
peremporily demanded the release of the schooner
Noria C0ncepcon, which was captured as belong
ing to the MARIN expedition; the liberation of her
crew and indemnity for the seizure to the amount
OF one hundred thousand dollars Other demands
are made upon the Reactionsts, and in default of
an amicablc adjustment, the commander of the
Spanish Squadron has orders it is said, to bonn
bard the city Of Vera Cruz. The right of Spain or
Of any other power TO protect the interests of her
citizens abroad is unquestonable, and whether the
claims which are now made upon JUAREz are just
Va
Republic remains in a state of anarchy, outrages
upon foreign residents will be committed, either
upon the sea-board or in the interior, and as Vera
Cruz is the chief port of entry it is there that repa-
ration will be insisted on. If, through obstnacy
or inability, the Constitutional Government, which
has its seat there, fails to meet the requision which
may be made npon it, and is forcbly expelled, the
Liberal cause is crushed from that instant for
apart from the popular sentiment in its favor its
main source of strength lies in the possession of
Vera Cruz. We do not know how far the SPANISH
Government really intends TO push the matter at
the present time but we infer that there is some
cause for serious alarm from the fact that President
JUAIEz asks from our government an explicit |
statement ofis course of policy in of foreign
Had the MCLANE-OcAMpo treaty |
been ratified by the Senate, our policy would have
been too clearly defined TO have admitted of any
doubt upon the subject
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