The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1860-12-05

Under this convention the government Of New Gra-
NADIA has specially acknowledged ITSELF to be responsible
on 5 p
together with other claims Of our citizens which had
long urged in van are referred for to
board OF commissioners. submit . copy of the con.
venton to Congress- and recommend the legislation
cessary to carry it into effect.
COSTA AND NICARAGUA.
Persevering efforts have been made for the adjustment
OF the claims Of American citizens against the
ment Of Costa Rica and am happy to inform that
these have finally prevailed convention wa. signed
the minister resident Of the United States in Costa Rica
and the plenpotentaries Of that Republic, referring
for the payment Of their awards This convention viii
be submitted to the Senate for their csns
The claims Of citizens upon the republic Of Mica
ragua have not been provided for treaty, although
for 1s have been made By
tinued, with fair prospect Of success.
NrxIoo.
Our relations with Mexico ramain in a most unsatis
discussed extensively the subject Of these relations and
do not propose to repeat at length the facts and
gument then They proved conclusively that
our citizens residing in Mexico and our merchants trading
thereto had suffered series Of wrongs and outages such
have patiently borne from any other nation.
treaties bad in the Of their country perss tenty
demanded redress and ndemnifcation without the
Mexican
authorities become Of our patient endurance that they
universally believed they might commit these outrages
n Thu;
nothng but manifestation Of the power Of the Govern
ment and Of its purpose to punish these wrongs will
avail"
Afterwards, in 1857, the adoption Of new con.
stitution for Mexico, the election Of President and
the President Within one short month tbis
President expelled from the capital by . rebellion in
the army, and the supreme power Of republic Was as.
signed General Zuioaga This usurpsr was in his turn
compelled to retire and give place to General Mira
Under the constitution which has thus been adopted
Senior Juarez chief justice Of the Supreme Court be-
came the lawful President of the Republic;
the maintenance of the constitution and his authority
derived from that the civil war commenced, and still
continues to be prosecuted.
stonge and stronger In the previous history Of Mex
leo successful military revolution capital had
through ut the republic. Not so On the present occa
SION majority of the citizens persistently sustained
missed in April 1885, by the Government Of the United
States, its authority extended large majority of
the Mexican States and people including Vera Cruz
the other important sea ports of the republic From
period commerce with Mexico began to revive,
and the constitutional government has afforded ali
| the protection in their power.
Meanwhile, the government Of Miramon still held sway
at the capital and the surrounding country and
continued its outrages against the few American citizens
who still had the courage to remain within its power.
To cap the climax: After the battle Of Tacubaya, in
April 1859, Gen. Marquee ordered three citizens
United two of them ply scans be seized
hospital at that place. taken out and shot, without crime
and without trial This was DONE Notwithstanding our
in the holy Of aording relief to the soldiers o
both parties who had been wounded in the battle with
out making any distinction between them.
| The time had arrived, in my opinion, when this Gov
ernment was bound exert its to avenge and
lection in Mexico. The interposing obstacle was thai
the portion Of the country under the Miramor
Issshsd without vi no passing territory
Under these circumstances deemed 1t my duty to re
commend to Congress- in my last annual message, the
into the interior whsre the Of Mramon wa
to be found with, need be- without the consent
the Juarez government, though it doubted tina
this consent could be obtained. Never have had
clearer conviction on any subject than Of the justice
well wisdom of such apolicy. No other alternative
citizens who had gone to Mexico under the faith Of
ties to the systematic Injustice cruelty and oppression
Of Miramons government. Besides, il is almes certain
that the simple authority to employ this force would
itself have accomplished all objects without striking
then this have been established at the city of Mexico
and would have been ready and willing, to the extent
4 In additon-and deem this a most important con-
sideraton-European governments would have been de
domestic of Mexico. We should thus have
relieved from the obligation Of resisting by force
ernmsnts to deprive our neghboring republic Of portion
of her territory; duty from which could not shrn
without abandoning the traditional and established polie
Of the American people. am happy to observe, thst
firmly relying upon the justice and good faith of thes
governments there is present danger that such
Having discovered that my recommended ors wou
not be sustained by Congress- the next alternative
to accomplish, in degree il possible, the oh
ecs by treaty stipuatons with the constitutional gov
ernment Such treaties accordingly concluded b.
our late able and excellent minister to Mexico and OF
the 4h Of January last were submitted to the Senate
ratification. As these have not yet received the fna
action of that body, would be improper for to pre-
sent detailed statement of their provisions. Still
be permitted express the opinion in advance, that
calculated the agricultural manufactur
just influence with adjoining republic as
whose fortunes and fate we can never feel Indifferent
whilst at the same time they provide for the
considerable amount towards the satisfaction of tn
claims Of our injured fellow citizens.
q KANSAS AND UTAH.
At the period of my Inauguration was confronted
what is called the Topeka constitution. Its avowe
object to subdue the territorial by fore
to naugurste what was called the Topeka govern
in its stead. To accomplish this object exensiN
military organization formed and its command
trusted the violent revolutionary leaders.
der these circumstances, it became imperative du
to prevent the Of civil from again raging
Kansas, which, in the excited state Of the public
u both North and South, might have extended into Il
. neighboring States.
o The hostile parties in Kansas had been infamed
the south, to degree malignity without parallel
u history. To prevent actual collision, and to asst
the civil magistrates in enforcing the laws strong
of the army stationed in the Territor
ready aid the marshal and his deputies, when lawful
called npon posse comtatus in the execution Of ci
IL anu CRIMINAL process.
still the troubles in Kansas could have been pc
manenty settled without election by the people,
ballet the surest arber Of disputes among fre
men. Under this conviction, every proper effort was e
poyed to induce the hostile parties to vote at the elec
of delegates frame State constitutions and aferwar
of the election decide whether Kansas should be
le slave free State The insurgent party refused
vote at either lest this might be considered recog
tion their part Of the territorial government esta
lished by Congress. better spirit, however,
after prevail and the parties met face ia
at the third election, held the first Monday Of ia
uary, 1S56 for members of the legislature and State
fcers under the Lecompton constitution. The rest
al the triumph Of the ntisavery party at the poll
This decision of the baotbox proved clearly that Il
party were in the majority, and removed the danger
civil From that time have heard little not
ing Of the Topeka government and all serious dangt
ofrevolutiontonary troubles in Kansas was then at
at end
The Lecompon constitution, which had been thus
ticai parties in Kansas transmitted to with
request that should present it to Congress- This
could not have refused to do without violating ces
est and strongest convictions Of duty The consttuto
l. and all the proceedings which preceded and followed
It formations fair and regular on their face tn
believed experience has proved that the interests
the people of Kansas would have been best consulted
nt its admission as into the Union especially
" majority, within brief period could have amended
fraud existed in all of these proceedings,
for the President but for Congress- to nvestiga
and determine the question of fraud and what ought
D. be its consequences IT, at the two first elections
majority refused to vote, cannot be pretended tn
exercise the ele cve franchise could
c. validate election fairly held under lawful authorit
if they had not subsequently voted at the thi