Wabash express. [volume] (Terre-Haute, Vigo Co[unty], Ind.) 1841-186?, 1860-12-12

- 49, - etN~A 0tottcg Ato olluOIllF tXIen0Un
over large majority of the Mexican states
and people, including Vera Cruz, and an
the important seaports Of the Republic.
From that period our commerce with Mex;-
co began to revive, aud the constitutional
government has afforded it all the protec.
ton In their power. Meanwhile the gov
ernment OF Miramon still held sway at the
capital and over the surrounding country,
and continued its outragcs against the few
Americanscitizensw who still had the courage
TO remain within its power To cap the
climax, after the battle of Tacsbava IN
April, 1883, Gen. Marques ordered three
citizens of the URited States, two of them
physicians, TO be seized in the hospital At
that place. and shot without trial. This
was dsne, Notwithstanding our unfortunate
countrymen was at the moment engaged in
the holy cause Of Offering relief to the SOL
diers of both parties who had been wound
ed In The battle, without making any dis
tlnctlon between them. The time had ar
rived 10 my opinion, when this Govern
ment was bound to exert its power to
avenge and redress the wrongs of our citi
Eens, snd to afford them protection in M,x.
leo. The inter posing obstacle was. that
the country under the sway of Miramon
could not be reached without passing over
territory under the jurisdiction of the Con.
sttutIonal Government. Under these cir.
cumstances deemed it my duty 10 recon-
mend 10 Congress in my last annual mes.
sage, the employment of a sufficient mill
tsry force to penetrate into the interior
where the government Of Miramon was 10
be found, with, or if need be, without The
consent of the Juarez government, though
u was not doubted that his consent could
be obtained. Never have had a clearer
cohVicuon on any subject than have of the
justice, as well as wisdom, ofsuch pelicy.
\ other siteTnative was left, except the
en ire abandonment of our fellow citizens
who had gone TO Mexico under the faith
OF treaties, TO the systematic Injustice. cru
city and oppression of Miramon's Govern
ment. Besides it is certain that a simple
authority to employ this force would of
ltself nave accomplished all our objects
without striking single blow. The Con.
sutatlonal Government would then have
been established at the city of Mexico. and
would have been ready aud willing. to the
extent Of its ability, to do us justice. In
addition, aud deem this most impor-
tant consideration, Foreign Governments
would have been deprived of ali pretext to
Interfere IN the territorial and domestic
concerns of Mexico. We should thus have
oeen relieved from the obligation of resist
ing even BY force, should this become ne.
cessary, any attempt by these Governments
20 aePrive our neIghboring Republic of
portions OF her territory, duty from which
we could not shrink without abandoning
the traditional and established policy of the
American people.
am happy to observe that. firmly relv-
ing upon the justice and good faith Of thesa
~ uosernments' there is no present danger
tnat such a contingency will happen
having discovered that my recommenda-
tions' would not be sustained by Congress,
the next alternative was TO accomplish in
some degree, IT possible, the same objects,
by treaty stipulations with lhe constitu-
tional government. Such treaties were
accordingly concluded by our late able and
excellent Minieter to Mexico, and on the
18th of January last was submitted to the
Senate for ratification. As they have not
received the fnul action of that body, it
would be improper for ne. to present a de-
tailed statement OF their provisions. Still
may oe permitted to express the opinion,
in advance, that they are calculated to pro-
mote the agricultural, manufacturing and
commercial interests of the country, aud to
secGre our just influence with an adjoining
Republic, as to whose fortunes and fate
we can never feel Indifferent; whilst { the
same time they provide for the payment
'ef considerable amount towards the salts
faction OF The claims of our injured fellow
citizens.
KANSAS AND UTAH.
At the period Of NY inaugura ton 1 was
confronted In Kansas by revolutionary
Government, existing under what was cal
led the Topeka Constitution. The avow-
ed object was to subdue the Territorial
Government by force, and to inaugurste
what was called the Topeka Government
IN its stead. To accomplish this object,
an extensive military organization was
formed aud its command entrusted TO the
most violent revolutionary leaders. Un-
der these circumstances il became my i'm
perative duty to exert the whole Constitu.
noral power OF The Executive, to prevent
the hatnes OF elyil war from raging in Kan
sss, which the excited state of the public
mind both North and South might have ex-
tended INTO the neighboring States. The
hostile parties in Kansas had beeu inflam
ed against each other by emissaries both
from the North and South, to a degree Of
maiignity without parallel in our history.
r0prevent eventual collision aud to assist
the civil magistrates in enforcing the laws
strong detachment of the army was sta
toned in the Territory, ready TO aid the
Marsh ais and his deputies when officially
called upon as posse commitatus in the
execution Of civil and criminal process
Still the troubles in Kansas could not have
been permanently settled without an elec-
tion by the people, the ballot-boxes being
the surest arbitrator Of disputes among
freemen- Under this conviction, every
proper effort was employed to induce the
hostile parties 10 vote at the election Of
delegates to frame State Constitution, and
afterwards the election to decide whether
Kansas should be a slave or afree State
either. lestthis might be considered as a
recognition on their part Of the Territorial
!, government established by Congress-
y better spirit, however, seemed soon after to
!, prevail, and the two parties met face To
! face in the election, held the frst Monday
n of January, 1858. for members Of the Leg
, lslature and State officers, under the Le-
a compton Constitution. The result was thu
triumph of the anti Slavery party at thu
polls. This decision Of the ballot-bo,
proved clearly that this party were in tn
a majority. and removed the danger of civi
" war. From that time we have heard moth
& ing of the Topeka government, and all Sc
ID rious danger of revolutionary troubles q
he Kansas was then at an end. The LecomP
" ton Constitution which had been thus rec
Il ORblzeu at tnls otate eieCtions uy inc yoto
" of both political parties in Kansas, wa
ID transmitted with the request that shoult
ly present it to Congress. This i could nc
ar have refused 10 do, without violating m.
Of clearest and strongest convictions OF do
y, ~. -
D. The laws, and all the proceedings whicl
t. proceeded and followed its formation, wer
u fair, and regular on their face, and what
n then believed and expressed. has prove
ID true. the interests of the people OF Kansa
on would have been consulted by its admi'
". sion as State into the Union, especiall
x as the majority within brief period, coul
a have amended the Constitution accordin
n to their will and pleasure. II fraud exi
sse ted in any or all Of these proeeedipgs,
81, was not for the President but for Congre
for to investivate and determine the questic
fraud, and what ought to be the conseque
in ces. Ii at The two first elections the no
ort jority refused 10 vote. il cannot be prete
k ied that this refusal to exercise the ele
the torai fraucisc could invalidafe an electi,
Re fairly held under lawful authority even
= they had not subsequently, voted at I
ell third election. Ii is true that the who
ra- Constitution had not been submitted to /