Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1860-01-05

Americans who may still remain in Mexico,
although the life asd property of every Amer
lean citizen ought to be sacredly protected in
every quarter of the world But it is ques-
ton which relates to the future as we'll as to
the present aud the past. aud which involves,
indirectly at least, the whole subject Of our
duty to Mexico as neighboring State. The
exercise Of the power Of the United States
in that country to redress the wrongs and pro-
tect the ri 1hts Of our own citizens is none the
less to be desired, because efficient and neces
sary aid may thus be rendered at the same
time to reStorn peace and order to Mexico it
self In the accomplishment of this result
the people Of the United States muct neccs-
sarily feel a deep and earnest interest. Mexico
ought to be Il rich and prosperous and power
fu Republic. She possesses an extensive ter
rtory a fertile sol all incalculable store of
mineral wealth She occupies an important
position between the Gulf and the ocean for
transit routs and for commerce. Is it pos
sbIe that such couutry as this can be given
up to anarchy and run without an effort from
quarter for its rescue and lis safety? Will
the commercial nations of the world, which
Lave so many interests connected with it, re
main wholly indifferent to such result? Can
the United States, especially, which ought to
share most largely in its commercial inter
course, allow their immediate neighbor thus
to destroy itse and injure them ? Yet, with
out support from some quarter, it is impossible
to perceive how Mexico can resume her po-
stion among nations and enter upon a career
which promises any good result. The aid
which she Iequires, and which the interest Of
all commercial countries require that she
should have, it belongs 10 this Government to
render, not only by virtue of our height o'hpod
to Mexico, along whose territory we have
continuous frontier Of nearly a thousand miles,
but by virtue, also of our established policy,
is inconsistent with the intervention of any
European power in the domestic concerns Of
thnt republic
Tie wrongs which we have suffered from
Mexico are before the world, and must deeply
impress every American citizen. A Govern
meut which is either unable or unwilling to
redress such wrongs is derelict to its highest
duties The difficulty consists in selecting and
enforcing the remedy. We may in van apply
to the Constitutional Government at Vera
Cruz although it is well disposed to do Us jus
tjce, for adequate redress. While its author
ity is acknowledged in all the important ports
aud throughout the sea coasts of the republic
its power does not extend to the City of Mex.
leo and the States in its vicinity, where nearly
all the recent outrages have been committed
on American citizens. We must penetrate the
interior before we can reach the offenders, and
this can only be done by passing through the
territory in the occupation of the Constitution.
al Government. The most acceptable and
least dlicnlt mode f accomplishing the object
will be to act in concert with that Govern
ment Their consent and their aid might
believe, be obtained but if not our oblga-
ton to protect our own citizens in their just
rights, secured by treaty, would not be the
less imperative. For these reasons | recon-
mend to Congress to pass law authorizing
the President under such conditions as they
may deem expedient, TO employ a sufficient
military force 20 enter Mexico for the purpose
of obtaining indemnity for the past and secu-
rty for the future. l purposely refrain from
any suggestion as to whether this force shall
consist Of regular troops or volunteers, or
both. This question may be most appropri
ately left to the decision of Congress. would
merely observe that, should volunteers be Sc
lected, such a force could be easily raised in
this country among those who sympathize
with the sufferugs of our unfortunate fellow
citizens in Mexico, and with the unhappy CON
ditioa of that Republic Such all accession
to the forces Of the Constitutional Govern
ment would enable it soon to reach the City
of Mexico, and extend its power over the
whole Republic. Ia that event there is. no
reason to doubt that the just claims Of our
citz3ns would be satisfied and adequate re-
dress obtained for the injuries inflicted upon
them The Constitutional Government have
ever evinced a strong desire to do us justice,
and this might be secured in advance by a
preliminary treaty.
1t may be said that these measures will, at
least, indirectly, be inconsistent with our wise
and settled policy not to interfere in the do.
mestic conCernS of foreign nations. But does
not the present ease fairly constitute an excep-
tion An adjoining Republic is in state of
anarchy and confusion from which she has
proved wholly unable to extrcate herself
She is entirely destitute of the power to main
tain peace upon her borders, or to prevent the
incurSionS OF banditti into our territory. In
her fate and in her fortune-in her power to
establish and maintain a settled government
sc have far deeper interest socially, com
mercially. ann politically than any other nation.
She is now a wreck upon the ocean, drifting
about as she is impelled by different factions
As a good neighbor, shall We not extend 20
her a helping hand to save her II we do
not it would not be surprising should some
other nation undertake the task, and thus
force us to Interfere at last, under circumstan-
ces of increased difficulty, for the maintenance
Of onr established policy.
| repeat the recommendation contained in
my last annual Message, that authority may
be given to the posts across the Mexican line
in Sonora and Chihuahua, where those may
be necessary to protect the lives aud property
of American and Neyicao citizens AGAINST the
incnrsions and depredations of the Indians as
well as Of lawlcsS rovers on that remote re-
IL