Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1860-01-06

as it was shocking to the whole community {
Other outrages might be enumerated, but these /
are sufficient to illustrate the wretched state of
the country and the unprotected condition of the /
persons and 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 they and this government, which they
have successfully represented, have been wholly
powerless to make their demands effective
Their 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 Government of the United
States (wrote our late minister in 1866 end of
its purpose to punish these wrongs will avail.
assure you that the universal belief here is that
there is nothing to be app-ehended from the
Government of the United States, and that local
Mexican officials can commit these outrages up
on American citizens with absolute impanity."
81 hope the President" (wrote our present min
lister in August las) twill feel authorized to ask
FROM Congress the power to enter Mexico with
the military forces of the United States, at the
call of the constitutional authorities, in order to
protect the citizens and the treaty rights of the
United States. Unless such power is conferred
upon him, neither the one nor the otEer will be
respected in the existing state of anarchy and
disorder, and the outrages already perpetrated
will never be chastised; and, as | assured you
in my dispatch, No. %, all these evils must in
crease until every vestige of order and govern
ment disappears from the country" | have
been reluctantly led to the same opinion, and,
in Justice to my countrymen who have suffered
wrongs from Mexico, and who may still suffer
them, | feel bound to announce this conclusion
to Congress
The case presented, however, is not merely a
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 citizen
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, the
whole subject of our duty to Mexico as neigh
boring State. The exercise of the power OF the
United States in that country to redress the
wrongs and protect the rights OF our own ctl-
zens is none the less to be desired, because etf-
Gent and necessary aid may thus be rendered at
the same time to restore peace and order TO
Mexico itself In the accomplishment OF this 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
n lie
al wealth. She occupies an important position
between the Gulf and the ocean for transit routes
and for commerce. ut possible that such
country as this can be iven up to anarchy an6
ruin without an effort from any quarter TOR 1T
rescue and its safety? Will the commercial ma
tions of the world which have so many inter
ests connected with it, remain wholly Indifferent
to such result? Can the United States, espe-
cially, which ought to share most largely in it
commercial intercourse, allow their immediate
neighbor thus to destroy itself and injure them
Yet, without support from some quarter, 1t Il
impossible to perceive how Mexico can resume
her position among the nations and enter upon {
career which promises any good results. The ai(
which she requires, and which the interests o
all commercial countries require that she shoult
have, it belongs to this Government to render
not only by virtue of our neighborhood to Mexi
co, along whose territory we have continuous
frontier of nearly thousand miles, but by vlr-
tue, also, of our established policy, which is in
consistent with the intervention of any Europe
an Power in the domestic concerns of that re
public. 49,,
The wrongs which we have suffered from Mex
leo are before the world, and must deeply i'm
press every American citizen. A government
which is either unable or unwilling to redres
such wrongs is derelict to its highest duties.-
The difficulty consists in selecting and enforcing
the remedy. We may in vain apply to the con
stitutional government at Vc... Cfnz, although
it is w.. disposed to do Us justice, for redress
Whilst its authority is acknowledged in all tn
important ports and throughout the sea-coastso
~ rep.o1c, ITS pow or does not extend to tn
Fly OF Mexico and the States in its vicinity
Where nearly all the recent outrages have bee
committed Oh American citizens. We mus
penetrate into the interior before we can reac
the offenders, and this can only be done by pass
ing through the territory in the occupation
the constitutional government. The most &C
ceptable and least difficult Eiode of accomplish
ing the object will be to act in concert with tina
government Their consent and their aid might
believe, De obtained but if not our oblga
ton to protect our own citizens in their jus
rights, secured by treaty, would not be the les
imperative. For these reasons, l recommend Il
Congress to pass law authorizing the Presi-
dent, under such conditions as they may deem
+ expedient to employ sufficient military force
to enter Mexico for the purpose of obtaining in
demnity for the past and security for the future
j p1rposely refrain from any suggestion as tt
whether this force shall consist of regular troops
or volunteers, or both. This question may b.
most appropriately left to the decision of Con
gress. | would merely observe that, should vol
unteers be selected, such force could be easily
IaiooV al Iuio OouuIiy anouS tuooo WIN y AuPd
thizeswith the sufferings Of our unfortunate fell
low citizens in Mexico, and with the unhappy
condition Of that republic. Such an accession t.
the forces of the constitutional government
would enable it soon to reach the city of Mexi
co and extend its power over the whole repub
lie. N that event there is no reason to doubt
that the just clain Ct our citizens would be
satisfied aad az egu~,s redress obtained for the
injuries int1ict. d uroa them. The constitutional
government ha ever iced st.cug desire te
do US justice, aud this eight be secured in ad-
vance by preliminary treaty.
1t may be said that these measures will, al
least indirectly, be inconsistent with cur wise
and settled policy not to interfere in tbs domestic
concerns OF foreign nations But does not the
present case fairly constitute an exception Al
adjoining republic is IN a state of anarchy and
confusion from which she has proved wholly
unable to extricate herself She is entirely des
ttute of the power to maintain peace upon hel
borders, or to prevent the incursions of banditt
into our territory. In her fate and in her for
tune-in her power to establish and maintain a
settled goyernment-we have a far deeper in
terest, socially, commercially and politically
than any other nation. She is now wreck up