Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-12-06

Republic Of Nfcaraglia have not YET been pro
Wded for blythe treaty, although diligent Efforts
ter residenf 70 that Republic. These are still
eontinned, with 2 fair pospeet Of success.
MEXICO.
Our T-lations with Mexico remain IA a most un-
satisfactory condition. In my two last annual
messages ! discussed extensively the subject Of
these relations, and do not propose 70 rcpeaf a.
length the facts and arguments then urasent. thew
proved ooncinsively that our citizens residing IN
Mexico, and our merchants trading thereto had
suffered sefies Of wrongs and 0ufraaes such as We
have nesor patiently borne from any ration. FOr
tSae cur successive ministers, involving the faith
Of treaties. had In the name % their countrv per-
ssfently demanded redress and de1nnIecation,
bas without the slightest elect Indeed 50 confi-
dent had the Mexican authorities become 81 our
patient endurance, thas they universally believed
they might eoIaIait thsse outfages npon American
Citizens with absolute impunlty Thus wrofe
cur Minister in 1856, and expressed the opin-
hon that nothing but a manifestation q
the power q the Government, and OF
Its purpose 70 punish these wrongs, will
avail. Afterwards, In 1857, came the adoption
Of new Constitution for Hexico, the election
OF Prea-dent and Congress under is proyis-
Ions, aud the Inauguration Of the President
within one short month, however this Presi-
dent was expelled from the CapitaI ty rebel
lion IN The army, and the supreme power Oftbe
. Republic was assigned to General Eulueca.-
This usuFper was in his turn. soon compelled
/ to retire from the place in. favor Of General
sherman. Under the Constitution which had
thus been adopted, Senior Juarez, as CHIEF jus
ties OF the Supreme Court, became the lawful
President of the Republic and Il was for
the maintenance OF the Constitution and
his authority, derived from il, that the
ciyil war commenced, and stil confines
to be prosecuted. Throughout the yezr
1888 the Constitutional party grew strong.
I er and stronger. In the previous history
OF Mexico, q successful military revolution az
Car fflb
fer submission throughout tho Republic. NOT
50 on the present. A majority of the citizens
Persistently sustained the Constitutional Gov
eminent when this was recommended in April,
1883, BY the Government of the United States
Its authority extended over large portion ofthe
Mexican States and people, including Yeia Cruz
and all the other important seeports Of the Re
public. From that period our commerce. with
Mexico began to revive, ans the Constitutional
Government has afforded it all the protection In
their power Meanwhile the Government of
Miramon still held sway at the Capitol ami ever
the surrounding country, and continued its
outrages upon the few American cItizeDs
who stil had the courage to remain
within its power TO cap the Climax. after The
battle Of Taeubaya, IN April, 1859, Gen Mar
gres ordered three citizens the United States.
two OF them physicinns to be seized in the
hospital at that place, taken and shot without
trial. This was done, notwithstanding our url-
fortunate sountrymen were, at thai moment,
engaged in the holy eauSe OF Offering relief 10
the E0ldisrs OF both parties who had been
wounded in the battle, without making any
distinction between them. The time had ar
rived, in my opinion, when this Government
was bound 70 exert its powers 20 ayenge and
redress the wrongs Of our eitizens, and 70 afford
them protection IN Mexico. The interposing
obstacle was that the country under the sway OF
Miramon could not be reached without pass
ing over Territory ander the Jurisdiction Of the
Constitutional Government Under these cir
cumstances deemed il my duty to Recommend
to Congress, in my last annual message, the
employment Of a sufficient military force 10
penetrate into the interior, where the Govern
ment Of Miramon was 10 be found, with OF if
need be, without the consent Of the Juarez
Government, and though it was not doubted
that his consent colud be Obtainsd. Never have
Ihad clearer conviction on any subject than Of
the justice, as well as wisdom in such policy.
NoOther alternative was left except the entire
abandonment Of our fellowcifizens, who had
gone TO Mexico under the faith OF treaties, to the
systematic injustice, cruelty and oppression Of
Mir mons Government; besides, it is certain
that simple authority 10 employ the force would
OF itself have accomplished all our objects, with
ont striking single blow. The Constitution
al Government would then have been estab-
lisked at the City of Mexico, and would have
been ready and willing, TO the extent of its
ability, to dc US Justice lie addition; and deem
this a most important consideration Other
Governments would thus have been deprived
OF all pretext TO interfere in the territorial and
domestic concerns OF Mexico We should
thus have been relieved from tho obligaffos OF
resisting, even by force, should this become ne
eessary, any attempt BY these Governments TO
depriye our neig boring Republic of portions of
her territory, duty nom which we could not
shrink without abandoning the traditional and
established policy Of the American people |
am happy TO observe that firmly relying upon
the justice and good faith OF these Govern
menfs, there is no present danger that snch
contingency viii happen. Having discovered
that nv recommendations would not be us-
tanned BY Congress, the next alternative was 10
accomplish IN some degree, ifposslble, the same
objects by treaty stipulations with tho Conven-
tional Government. Such treaties were ac-
cOrdinely concluded by cur late able and excel
lent Minister TO Mexico. and on the 4th OF Jan
uary last, were submitted 10 the Senate for rat
ifeation. As these have lot received the final
action Of that body, il would be improper for
me to present detailed statement of their
prOyisions Sttll Imay be permitted 20 express
the opinion in advance that they are calculated
to promote the agricultural, manufacturing and
commercial interests OF the country, and 10
secure our inst influence with an adjoining
Reuublic as to whose fortune and fate we can
never feel Indifferent, whilst at the same time
they provide for the payment of considerable
amount towards the satisfaction of the claims
OF our injured fellow citizens.
KANSAS 4xD rT4H.
AT the period al my Inauguration was conffont-
ed in Kansas by revolutionary government, sx.
sting under what Is called the Topeka Consultation.
Its avoWed object was TO subdue the Territorial
Government by force, and 10 inaugmAte what was
called tile Topeka GOysTnment 10 IT'S stead. To &C
oomplsh this object, extensive military organi-
zsti,n vas formed, and its command entrusted to
The most vtolent revolutionary leaders. Under
these circumstances il became my imperative duty
10 sNsrt the whole Constitutional power Of the
Executive TO prrveut the naines Of civil war from
raging in Kansas, which, frUm the e&isting state of
tn public mind 10th North and South, might have
extended intn the nsighboriny States The hostile
parties in Kansas had been inhamed against each
other iyenissaTies both from the North and South
10 derr.s Of agnuie without parallel 10 our his
tory To prevent eventual COLLISION and t0 assist The
civil magistrates IN eufnrcing the laws, strong de-
tachmeut II the army wa stationed 10 the Territory
ready u aid the Marshais and their Deputies while
officially called upon p0sl c,a.i.ads and In the
execution of civil and criminal process Still
the troubles IN Kansas could not have been
performed without an election By the people
The ballot box Is the suresf arOiief OF dispute
among freemen Under this conviction every
proper effort WAS employed TO induce the hos
tile parties to vote at the election of delegates
to frame State Constitution, and afterW ards
the election 10 decide whether Kansas should
be A slave or free State. The insurgent party
refused to vote at either, lest this might Dc
considered recognition On their part Of the
Territorial Government established by Con
srrcss A better spirit, however, seemed soon
after to prevail, and the two parties met, face
to face, In the election held the fret Monday
OF January, 1858, for members Of the Legisla-
ture and State officers under the LecOmptOn
Constitution. The result was triumph OF the
anti-slayery party at the polls TINS decision
of the ballot nox proved clearly that this paIty
were IN the majority. and removed the danger
OF civil war From that time we have heard
nothing or the Topeka Government, and all e
riOus danger Of revolutionary troubles ia Kan
sas were then at an end
The Leeompton Constitution, which had been
thus recognized at this State election Sy the
votes of both political parties in Kansas, was
transmitted with the request that should pre-
sent ii 10 Congress- This / could not have re
fused to do without violating my cleaFPst and
strongest convictions Of duty. The Constitu-
ton and all the proceedings which preceded
and followed its formation we're far and regu-
lar on their face, and then believed aud ex-
perience has proved, that the interests Of the
people Of Kansas would have been best con
suited BY its admission as a state into the
Union, especially as the majority within brief
period could have amended tho Constitution
according 70 their will and pleasure II frand
existed In any or all Of these proceedings, it
was not for the President, but for Congress, to
investigate and determine the question of
fraud, and what ought to be It's consequences
II at the two first elections the majority refused
10 vote il cannot be pretended that his refusal
TO exercise the electoral franchise could inyali
date an election fairly held, under lawful an
thority, even II they had not subsequently voted
at the third election. Ii is true that the whole
Constitution had not been submitted to the
people as always desired, but the precedents
are numerous of the admission Of states into
the Union without such submission. IT would
III comport with my present purpose to review
the proceedings Of Congress upon the Lecomp-
ton Constitution. II is sufficient TO observe
hat their anal action has removed the last yes
tige Of serious revolutionary trOnbles. The
desperate band recently assembled under
notorious outlaw in the Southern portion ofthe
Territory, to resist the execution Of the laws
and to plumber peaceful citizens, will, /
doubt not, be speedily suhdued aud brought to
iustice Had treated the LecOmptOn COnsti-
tuition as q nullity, and refused to transmit it to
Congress, it is difficult TO imagine, whilst real
izing the position Of the country at that mo-
menf, what would have been the disastrous con-
sequences, both in and out Of the Territory,
from such dereliction Of duty on the part of the
Executive Peace has also been restored with
In the Territory Of Utah, which at the COM
mencement of my administration was In a state
of open rebellion. This was the more danger
Gus and the people, animated bya fanaticai
spirit, and intrenched within their distant
mountain foftresses, might have made long
and formidabl resistance. Cost what 1t might,
It was necessary 10 bring them into subiugation
to the Constitution and the laws. Sound pol
lev, therefore, as well as humanity, required
that this object should. If possible, be aecoia-
pfished without the shusion OF blood. This