The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-01-18
BALTIMORE.
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY IS, 1860

The Central Government of Mexico has for
warded TO Mr.. CAss protest against the ratifica.
ton of the treaty between Mr.. McLANE and
President JUAREz The Minister of Foreign Rela-
tons, by whom this document is signed, after
deprecating the course of our Government, as
calculated to sincite new complications in
Mexico, and engender 'every day. more and more,
"a mutual aversion between the two countries"
proceeds to sketch the history of the late negotia
tons Two years ago, he says, our Minister, Mr.
Forsyth, recognized the legitimacy of the Central
Government, and General RoBLEs, the Minister
of the latter, was received in Washington by
President BUCHANAN. In March, 1858, Mr.. For
sYTH presented the "bases of treaty for new
''demarcaton of limits between the two Republics,
(Which involved a very considerable loss of Mexi-
''can territory, and other regulations in like man.
''ner of great Importance The proposition of
Mr.. FORsYTH was declined, on the ground that il
did not accord with the honor or interests of
Mexico, and that there was no National Congress
in existence, which "alone could authorize and
"approve a negotiation of such gravity" From
that time, as the Minister of Foreign Rela-
tions alleges, Mr.. Forsyth declared him
self in open hostility to the neutral Government
favored the enemies who were warning against it.
and broke off, without any ascertaned cause, the
relations existing between the two Countries
Our Cabinet subsequently recognized the Govern
ment located at Vera Cruz, chasing its action"
says the protest, con the number of Departments
''obeying the Government established at that
sport" The protest then goes on to argue that
P,o1
supreme authority of Mexico, and ought 10 besocon-
sdered, and in support of this claim refers TO 'he
''adhesion Of all the most popular and important
departments TO it, and 'the enthusiasm with
(Which it is welcomed in the places now being
occupied by the troops that obey it, Lest
these facts should be disputed, the Minister of For
eign Relations brings forward another objection
to the treaty, which would, under ordinary cir
cumstances, be sufficiently valid. He denies the
right of the Constitutional Government to con-
summate any such arrangements as are projected
by the treaty, because Gin the seventy-second ar
''ticle of the Constitution it is ordained that only
''to the Congress belongs the power Ito approve
" treaties, compacts or diplomatic conventions
''and Ito grant or deny the entrance of foreign
&c troops in the territory of the Federation ~
off then," he continues, ''the constitutionasts
Eat Vera Cruz ratify the treaty, they will
shave assumed prerogatives they do not pos
''sess, and violate the very charter they in
Evoke" Such is the substance of the protest
Whether it will effect any change in Mr. BUcHAN-
ANS views or purposes is questionable. If it had
emanated from the authorities of almost any other
country it would be entitled to great weight es-
pecially that portion of it which AYERS that the
Juarez Government can only act in so grave
matter by repudiating the very instrument under
which alone it claims to be the legal repre-
sentative of the nation. But in fact it is not so
much question about the recognition of one of
two governments, as about an alliance with one OF
two parties engaged in civil war, that the PREsI-
DENT has to determine. The constitution under
which JUAREz maintains his authority, is as
worthless as the vague titles under which the
Central Government claims its power. A state
of anarchy exists in which it is impossible for
foreigners to identify the outlines of any legitimate
government, ifany such exist. They are justified,
therefore, in discarding the diplomatic modes OF
dealing with the documents of either of the factions
in such struggle. Wemay negotiate indiflerently
with either of The hostile chiefs, and need not look
too closely at the credentials of those who desire to
treat with us, for none Of them will be found to
be otherwise than informal. But while we are
under no obligation, in so chaotic condition of
affairs, to investigate the constitutional rights of
conflicting and changing administrations it does
notthe less become us to deal Ikea hgh-minded and
honorable nation, and to remember, as this pro.
test suggests, our duties towards "a neighboring
Country weighed down by misfortune Under
such circumstances we should be 10th TO accept
too many concessions, and still more so to profit
unfairly by any ''reaty wrenched from con-
"quered party, which seeks in the ruin of its ma
''tive land the means of reinforcement"