Wabash express., 1860-01-04

from the scene of action, and In ignorance
Of what might have transpired on the spot
before the Generals arrival. it was neces-
sary to leave much to his discretion, and
am happy to state the event has proven
that this decretion could not have been in
trusted to more competent hands. Gener-
al Scott has recently returned from his
mission, having successfully accomplished
it's objects, aud there is no longer any good
reason to apprehend a collision between
the forces OF the two countries during the
pendency Of the existing negotiations.
regret to inform you that there has
been no improvement in the affairs OF Mex
leo since my last annual message, and am
again obliged TO ask the earnest attention
OF Congress to the unhappy condition Of
that republic
The constituent Congress of Mexico.
which adjourned on the 18th Of February,
1857, adopted constitution and provided
for popular election. This took place in
the following July, 1857, and General
Comenfort was chosen President, almost
without opposition. At the same election
a new Congress was chosen, whose first
session commenced on the 18th Of Septem
Der, 1857. BY the constitution of 1857 the
Residential term was to begin on the lst
oil Demberber 1857. and continue for four
Years, On that day General Comon.
Tort appeared before the assembled Con-
gress in the City Of Mexico, took the oath
to support the new constitution, and was
duly inaugurated as President. Within
month afterwards he had been driven
from the capital. and military rebellion
had assigned the supreme power of the Re-
public to General Zuloaga The constitu-
ton provided that in the absence of the
President his Office should devolye upon
the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court,
and, General Comonfort having left the
country, this functonary. General Juarez,
proceeded to form, at Guansjuato, a con-
stitutional government. Before this was
officially known, however, at the capital,
the government of Zuloaga had been rec
ognized by the entire diplomatic corps, in
cluding the Minister Of the United States,
as the de facto' government Of Mexico
The constitutional President. nevertheless,
maintained his position with firmness, and
was soon established with his cabinet at
Vera Cruz. Meanwhile, the government
of Zuloaga was earnestly resisted in many
parts of the republic, and even in the cap.
ital, portion Of the army having p.onounc-
ed against it, its functions were declared
terminated, aud an assembly of citizens
was invited for the choice of new President
This assembly elected Gen. Miramon, but
that officer repudiated the plan under
which be was chosen, and Zuloago was
thus restored 10 his previous position. He
assumed it, however, only to withdraw
from it, and MiramoD. having become, by
his appointment, President Substitute"
continues, with that title, at tie head ofthe
insurgent party.
Iu my last annual message | communi-
Gated to Congress the circumstances under
which the late Minister Of the United
States suspended his official relations with
the central government, and withdrew from
the country. II was impossible to main
tain friendly intercourse with govern
ment, like that at the capital, under whose
usurped authority wrongs were constantly
committed, but never redressed. Had this
been an established government. with its
power extending, by the consent of the
people, over the whole of Mexico, resort
to hostilities against il would have been
quiet Justifiatle, and indeed necessary
But the country was prey to civil war;
aud 1t was hoped that the success Of the
I constitutional President might lead TO a
condition OF things less injurious TO the
United States. This success became so
/ probable that, in January last, employed
reliable agent to visit Mexico, and report
to me the actual condition and pospects of
the contending parties. In consequence
of his report, and from information which
reached me from other sources, favorable to
the prospects of the constitutional cause,
felt justified in appointing a new minis.
ter to Mexico, who might embrace the ear
liest suitable opportunity of restoring our
diplomatic relations with that republic -
For this purpose distinguished citizen of
Maryland was selected, who proceeded on
his mission on the 9th of March last, with
discretionary authority 10 recognize the
| government of President Juarez, if on his
arrival in Mexico he should find it entitled
to such recognition, according to the es-
tablished practice of the United State
On the 7th Of April following, Mr. McLane
presented his credentials to President Ju-
arez, having no hesitation in pronouucing
the government of Jusrez to be the only
existing government of the Republic" He
was cordially received by the authorities
at Vera Cruz, and they have since mani.
tested the most friendly disposition toward
the United States. Unhappily, however.
the constitutional government has not been
able 10 establish its power over the whcle
republic. IL is supported by large ma
jority of the people and the States, but
there are important parts of the country
where it can enforce 20 obedience Gen.
( Miramon maintains himself at the capital:
and in some of the distant provinces there
are military governors who pay little re-
spect to the degrees of either government
Iu the meantime the excesses which always
attend upon civil war, especially in Mexico,
are constantly recurring Oulrages of the
worst description are committed both upon
persons and property. There is scarcely
any form Of injury which has not been suf-
fered by our citizens in Mexico during the
last few years.
We have been nominally at peace with
that republic, but $50 far as the interests
of our commerce or OF our citizens who
have visited the country as merchants,
shipmasters, or in other capacities, are con-
cerned we might as well have been at war"
Life has been insecure, property unprotect-
ed, and trade impossible except at a risk
of loss which prudent men cannot be ex-
pected to incur. Important contracts. in
volving large expenditures, entered into
, by the central government. have been set at
defiance BIZ the local governments. Peace
full American residents, occupying their
; rightful possessions, have been sudd d.nly
P expelled from the country. in defiance ol
TREATIES, auQ Oy the Luetc AotCc VI a. oiti oi y
! power. Even the course Of justice has moi
been safe from control, and recent de-
= cree Of Miramon permits the intervention
Of government in all suits where eithel
, party is a foreigner.
Vessels of the United States have beer
seized without law, and consular office
who protested against such seizure ha
been fined aud imprisoned for disrespec
TO the authorities. Military contribu
e tious have been levied in violation Of ev
: cry principle of right, and the American
s who resisted the lawless demand has hat
: his property forcibly taken away, aud ha
n been himself banished. From conflict o
Il authority in different parts of the country
: tariff duties which have been paid in on
t place, have been exacted over again in an
s other place. Large numbers OF our citi
zens have been arrested and imprisoned
!. without any form of examination or an
d opportunity for a hearing, aud even whel
Is released have only obtained their libert
J. after much suffering and injury and with
;. out any hope of redress. The wholesal
d massacre of Crabbe aud his associate
g without trial in Sonora. as well as the seiz