, 1860-02-03


government and await their instructions.
This aspect Of the matter, in my opinion, dc.
manded serious attention. II would have been
great calamity for both nations, had they been
precipitated into acts Of hostility, not about the
question Of title to the island, but merely con-
cerning the intervening period whilst the two
Governments might be employed In settling the
question to which Of them It belongs. For this
reason, Lieutenant General Scott was despatched,
on the nth Of September last to Washington
Territory, to take immediate command Of the
United States forces on the Pacific Coast, should
he deem this necessary. The main object Of
his mission was to carry out the spirit Of
the precautionary arrangement between the
late Secretary Of State and the British Minister,
and thus to preserve the peace and prevent col
lision between British and American authorities
pending the negotiations between the two Gov
ernments. Entertaining no doubt Of the validity
Of our title need scarcely add that In any event
American citizens were to be placed on q footing
at least as favorable as that Of British subjects
it being understood that Capt Pickett's company
should remain on the island. It Is proper TO OBJ
serve that, considering the distance from the
scene Of action and ignorance Of what might
have transpired on the spot before the Generals
arrival, It was necessary to leave much TO his dis
cretion and am happy to state the event has
proven that this discretion could not have been
intrusted to more competent hands Gen. Scott
has recently returned from his mission, having
successfully accomplished its object and there
Is no longer any good reason TO apprehend .
collision between the forces Of the two countries
duriag the pendency Of the existing negotiations
There Is scarcely any form Of
injury which has not been suffered by our citi-
zens in Mexico during the last few years. We
have been nominally at peace with that Republics;
but SO far as the interests Of our commerce or
Of our citizens who have visited the country as
merchants, shipmasters, or In other capacities
are concerned, we nigh: as well have been at
war. Life has been insecure, property unpro-
tected, and trade impossible, except at risk Of
loss which prudent men cannot be expected to
incur. Important contracts, involving large ex-
penditures, entered into by the Central Govern
ment have been set at defiance by the local
Governments Peaceful American residents, oc-
cupying their rightful possessiOns have been
suddenly expelled from the country, In defiance
Of trIaties, and BY the mere force Of arbitrary
power. Even the course Of justice has not been
safe from control, and recent decree Of Presi-
dent Miramon permits the intervention Of the
Government in all suits where either party is .
foreigner. Vessels OF the United Stats have
been seized without law, and Consular officer
who protested against such seizure has been fined
and imprisoned for disTespect to the authorities.
Military contributions have been levied in vio-
lence Of every principle Of right; and the Amer
lean who resisted the lawless demand has had
his property forcibly taken away, and has been
himself banished. From conflict Of authority
In different parts Of the country, tariff duties
which have been paid in one place, have been ex.
acted over again in another place Large mum.
bers Of citizens have been arrested and impris-
Oned, without any form Of examination, or any
opportunity for . hearing, and even when re.
leased, have only obtained their liberty after
much suffering and injury, and without any hope
Of redress
The wholesale massacre Of Crabbe and his as
sociates without trial, In SonoFa, as well g the
seizure and murder Of four sick Americans, who
had taken shelter in the house OF an Amefiean,
upon the soil Of the United States, was com.
municated to Congress at its last session. MUIR
ders Of still more atrocious character have been
committed 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 II they had not
sible in q country which claims 10 be civilized
0f this description was the brutal massacre, in
April last, BY order Of Marques, Of three Amer
ican physicians who were seized in the hospital
Of Tacubaya, while attending the sick and dying
Of both parties, and who, without trial, were
hurried away 10 speedy execution.
Little less shocking was the recent fateof Or
mond Chase, who was shot in Teplc on the 7th
Of August last by order Of the same Mexican
General, not only without trial, but without any
conjecture by his friends Of the cause Of his ar
rest He is represented as young man Of good
character and Intelligence, who had made nu-
merous friends in Tepic, BY the courage and hu-
manity which he had displayed on several try
| ing occasions, and his death was as unexpected
as it was shocking TO the whole community.
Other outrages might be illustrated, but these
are sufficient to illustrate the wrctched 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
poweTless to make their demands effective.
Their testimony, in this respect, and in reference
to the only remedy, which in their Judgments
would meet the exgency, has been both Uniform
and emphatic, Nothing but manifestation Of
the Government Of the United States, wrote our
late Minister in 1856, "and Of It's purpose to
punish these wrongs, will avail l assure you
that the universal belief Is that there Is nothing
10 lie apprehended from the Government Of the
United States, and that local Mexican officials
can commit these outrages upon American citi-
zens with absolute impunity." e. hope the
President" wrote our present Minister In August
last, will feel authorized to ask from Congress
the power 10 enter Mexico with military forces
Of the United States, at the call Of the consttu
tiOnAl 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 other viii be respcctsd in the exist
ing state Of anarchy and disorder, and the out |
rages already Ierpetrated will never be chastisod;
and a. assured yOu in my No %. all these |
evils must increase until every vestigo Of order |
and government disappears non the country"
have been reluctantly led 10 the samo opinion;