Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1860-01-03

u OF restoring our QlplomatC rclaCOnS Win lDt
republic. For this purpose distinguished cit
d zen of Maryland was selected, who proceeded Q
his mission on the 9th of March last, with di
tcretionary authority to recognize the governmer
lof PRECEDENT Juarez, if on his arrival in Mexic
he should find it entitled to such recognition
according to the established practice of the Un
ted States. On the 7th of April following, M
McLane presented lis credentials to PresideI
Juarez, having no hesitation sin pronouncin
the government of Juarez, to be the only exist
ing government OF the Republic He was col
ldialy received by the authorities of Vera Cru;
and they have ever since manifested the mos
friendly disposition towards the United States.
{ Unhappily, however, the constitutional gov
ernment has not beer able to establish its pow
over the whole republic. 1t is supported by
large majority of the people and the States, bu
there are important parts of the country wher
1T can enforce no obedience. Gen. Miramo
maintains himself at the capitol, and in some Q
the distant provinces there are military govern
ors who pay little respect to the DEGREES of eithe
government. In the meantime the excesse
which always attend upon civil war, especiall,
in Mexico, are constantly occurring. Outrage
Ut the worst description are committed both up
on persons and property. There is scarcely an,
form of injury which has not been suffered BY
our citizens in Mexico during the last few years
We have been nominally at peace with that re-
public, but $50 far as the interests of our com
merce or Of our citizens who have visited th,
country as merchants, shipmasters, or in othe
capacities, are concerned, we might as well hav,
been at war;" Life has been insecure, property
unprotected, and trade impossible except at
risk OF loss which prudent men cannot be ex
rectsd 60 incur. Important contracts, involving
large expenditures, entered into by the centra
government, have been set at defiance by the To-
cal governments. Peaceful American residents
occupying their rightful possessions, have beer
suddenly expelled from the country, in defance
| of treaties, and by the mere force of arbitrary
fpower. Even the course of justice has not beer
safe from control, and recent decree of Mira
mon, permits the Intervention of government in
all suits where either party is foreigner. Yes
sells of the United States have been seized with.
out law, and consular officer who protested O.
gainst such seizure has been fined and ilnprison-
ed for dsrespect to the authorities. Military
contributions have been levied in violation Of
every principle of right, and the American who
resisted the lawless demand has had his proper
ty forcibly taken away, and has been himself
banished. From conflict OF authority in differ
ent parts Of the country, tariff duties which have
been paid in one place have been exacted over
again in another place. Large numbers of our
cllizens have been arrested and imprisoned with
out any form of examination or any opportunity
| for a hearing. and even when released have only
obtained their liberty after much suffering and
| injury and without any hope of redress The
wholesale massacre of Crabbe and his associates
without trial in Sonora, ss we'll as the seizure
and murder of four sick AmericaIs who had ia
ken shelter in the house of an American, upon
the soil OF the United States, was communicated
to Congress at its last session. Murders of a
still more atrocious character have been com
United in the very heart of Mexico, under the
authority Of Miramon's government, during the
present year. Some of these were only worthy
OF barbarous age, and, if they had not been
clearly proven, would have seemed impossible in
a country which claims to be civilized. Of this
description was the brutal massacre in April
| last by order of Gen. Marquee, of three Ameri-
can physicians, who were seized in the hospital
at Tacubaya while attending upon the sick and
IGyipg OF both parties, and without trial. as with
out crime, were hurried away to speedy execu-
ton. Little less shocking was the recent fateoi
Ormond Chase, who .was shot ii Topic on the
7th OF ofsAugusL by order of the same Mexican gen
eral, not only without trial, but without any
conjecture by his friends of the cause of his ar
Fest. He is represented as a young man of good
character and intelligence, who had made nu-
merous friends in Topic by the courage and hu-
manity which he had displayed on several try
ing OCCASIONS, and bis death was as unexpected
rs il was knocking 10 s5ss whole colnnlani -
! lI3thar optragss might be 5namerated, bat these
fare sufficient to illustrate the wretched state OF
the country and the unprotected condition of the
4 persons aud property OF our citizens in Mexico.
! In all these cases our ministers have been con.
slant and faithful in their demands for redress,
but both tlsy and this government, which they
have success vely represented, have been wholly
powerless to make their demands effective
Their testlntny in this respect, and in reference
to the only remedy which, in their judgments,
would meet tie exigency, has been both uniform
and emphatic. "Nothing but manifestation OF
the power ofEthe Government of the United
States (wrote Cur late minister in 1860 and OF
It's purpose to punish these wrongs will avail.
assure you that he universal belief here is that
there Is nothing TO be app:ehended from the
Government OF tAe United States, aud that local
Mexican officials can commit these outrages up
on American citizens with absolute impanity' y
Il hope the President" (wrote our present niu-
ister III August las twill feel authorized to ask
from Congress the oower to enter Mexico with
the military forces Of the United States, at the
call OF the constltut pnal authorities, in order to
protect the citizens and the treaty rights of the
United States. Unkss such power is conferred
upon him, neither the one nor the otEer will be
respected In the existing state of anarchy and
disorder, ana the Outfages already perpetrated
will never be chastiset and, as assured you
IN my dispatch, No. %, all these evils must in
crease untll every vestge of order and govern
ment disappears from the country" | have
been reluctantly led to ihe same opinion, and
IN justice to my countrynen who have suffered
wrongs from Mexico, and who may still suffer
them, l feel bound to announce this conclusion
| to Congress.
The case presented, however, is not merely q
case ofindividual claims, although our just claims
against Mexico have reached very large a
mount. Nor is it merely the case of protection
to the lives and property of the few Americans
who may still remain in Mexico, although the
life and property of every American citizeI
ought to be sacredly protected in every quarter
of the world. But it is question which relates
to the future as well as to the present and the
past, and which involves, indirectly at least, th,
whole subject of our duty to Mexico as a neigh
boring State. The exercise of the power of th,
United states In that country to redress tbs
wrongs ana protect the rig. is of our oH,, CO
| zene IS none the less TO be desired. heca,;se
scteszary Al e snayss.,.s be sepde&S% a
the same time to restore poaee and u X t.
1 Mexico itself La the accomplishment o ..lis re-
suit the people of the United States must neces
sarily feel deep and earnest interest. Mexico
ought to be rich aud prosperous and powerful
republic. She possesses an extensive territory
fertile soil, and an ncalculable store of miner
al wealth. She occupies an important position
| between the Gulf and the ocean for transit routes