Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1860-01-06
OLD SERIES. VOLUME 27, NO 7.


pended his Official relations with the central
government, and whdre~ from the country.
Il was impossible TO rnaintain friendly inter-
cnurse with government. like that st tho
capital, under whose usarped authority
wruuR, were constantly committed. but never
redfessed. Had this been ab established gov.
eminent, with It's Poser extending by tho
consent ol the people, over the ~hole Of
Mexico. a resort 10 hosiililies against 10
would have been quite jasii6able. aud indeed
necessary. bot the couniry WAS q prey 10
civil war: aod u was hoped thai the success
Of the eoostiiuli"nal President nigh, lead 10
= condition oi things lsss Injurious 90 tho
United States. Thi. sacee., became 90
probable that, in January last, employeda q
reliable agent 10 wait Mexico, and report 10
the the actual condition and prospects Of tho
coniending parties Ia Consequence Of his
repoil, aud from Information which reached
me from other sources, favorable To the pro.-
poets Of Ih7 constitutional cause, | felt JUS
lIhed IN appointing q new minister 10 MeIi-
60. who might embrace the earliest suitable
opportunity of restoring oar diplomatic rels-
,ion. with that repsblic. 70, this purpose
a Distinguished cltinen Of MARYLAND Was se.
lrred, ~ho proceeded on his mission on The
slh OF March last. with discretionary suihor.
ity 10 recognize the government of President
Juarcz, II on his arrival in Mexico he should
find IL entitled TO such recognition. according
lo the established practice Of the United
States. On the 7ih Of April following. Mr..
Mclhne presshtet his credentials lo Presi-
dent Juares. having no hesitation IN pro-
n0unring the government Of Juarts To DO
the only existing government Of the r.psb-
lie" llr VS. cordially received by the au-
ihoIiiie. at Vera CruI. and they have ever
since manifested the NEST friendly disposition
towards The United States.
Unhsppily. hoseys,, The constitutional
government has not been able 10 establi.L its
poser u'rr ibc whole repuhlis II !. sup
pur'ei nv large majoTity Of ihe people nod
the States. but there are important pats OF
the country she'- n eau enforce no Obedi-
enee. Gsuoul Minmon maintains himself
al the capital aud IN some Of The distant
pro'incrs there are military governors who
pay little respect 10 the drcrees VI either
government. IN the meantime the t,ce,sss
which alsay' attend upon civil var sspseislly
In Mexico. ARE constantly recurring. Out
iagts oi the worst description are committed
both upon per'o0s and properly There 10
,csr,ly any lorm Of ibjury pheh has not
been suffered by oar citizens in Mexico dur
ine the last few years We h,ye been nom.
.nally IT peace With that republic. bot $50
faT a. the interests of our commetcs or Of
our cilitens sho have 'i,ii'd the country as
merchants, shipmaslefs. or 10 other cspsei-
ties, ATE concerned, we might a, we'll hs,e
been ~ war" Lie hss been insecure, prop.
erty unprotected. and irsde impossible, except
a. u risk oi loss shich PRUDENT men cannot
he expected ~ incur. Important contracts,
in'ol'ing large expenditures. entered into by
the central government. have been set nj de-
hlnee ny the local governments Pesceful,
American residents. oc;Upyine their rightful
possessions. lave been suddenly expelled from
the country. In defiance Jf treaties, snd by
The mere force Of arbitrary posst Even
the course Of justice ha. not h,en safe from
control. and recent decree Of Mramon per.
nit. the Intervention IL government In all
suits whsie either party iss foreigner. Yes.
sells of The United States have been seized
without law, and consular officer who pro-
tested against such SEIZURE has been fined
and imprisoned Tor disrespect 10 the autbor-
ities Military contributions h,,e been
levied IN violation Of s'ery principle Of right,
and the Anerioah who resisted the laNless
demand has had his property i0TeIbly taken
away aud has heen himself bsnished. From
a conflict oi authority IN different paris Of
the country. iarlH dutie. which have beeu
paid m una place have heen ekacied over
again IN Sno'hsr place. Large numbers OF
our citizens have been arrested and impfis-
ontd without any torn OF examination OF any
npPouuhi'y ior hearing. and even when re-.
lra,ed have only obtained their liberty after
much suffering aud injury. and without any
hope of Iedre,s The ~hols.aie massacre
Of Crlbbe and his associates without triAl in
Sonora. a. veil as the seizure and murder Of
ionr sick Americans Who had taken shelter
IN the house of an American, upon the soil
~ the United States. was communicated to
CongIess az the last session. Murders OF q
sill more alrocIOus character have been CON.
mllted 10 the ,erv heart oi Mexico, under
the nuthoriiy Of MiIamon's government, duT-
iug the prcseni year. Some Of these were
only worthy of a barbaroas age, and, II they
had not been clearly proven. wOold have
seemed impossible 10 4 country which claims
10 h. civilized.
OF this ds.cription WAS The brutal mas
sscie it April last, by order of Gen Msrqoer,
OF three American physicians. Who were
seized in the hospital at Taeubaya while al
tending upon the sick and dying Of both
parties. WI ~ilhout trial a, without crime.
we're hurried away 20 speedy execution,
l.lItle lees shocking wa. the recent fate OF
O'mood Chase. Who vas shot IN Tepic on
the dh oi August. by order OF The SANE
Mexican general, noi only WITHOUT irisl, but
sfl l.. A - =.
cause uf his arrest. lie is represented rs a
young man Of gocS character and intelligence,
Who had made Numerous friend. in 1epio
b, the cour,ge End humanity which he had
displayed on several trying occasions, and
bis death was a. unexpected % IL va. shock
ing 20 tie whole community. Other out.
Dres might he enumerated. bot these are
suiiicien, to illustrate the wretched condition
OF The country and The unprotected condition
Of The person. and property sf our citizens
In Mexico.
In all these eases our Ministers have been
constant aud faithful in their demands for
redress, bot both they and ibis government.
which they have sncces,i'ely represented,
have been wholly po~erle.. % make their
demands effective. Their testimony In tbi,
respect. and In reference to the only remedy
WI len. in their judgments, would meet The
exigency. has been both uniform and sm.
phatic. Nothing bot a manife.taiion OF
the Government Of the United Ststes," wro,e
our late Minister IN 1856, sbd Of its puI-
pose to punish these wrongs, will avail. I
assure you that The universal belief hero 10
thai there 10 nothing 10 be apprebendsd from
The Government OF the United States, and
thai local Mexican officials can eomm;, H..
outrages upon American citizens with ab.o-
lutte impuniy.'. 81 hope the Pre.ideni."
wrote our present Minister in AuRosi last,