Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1860-01-05


parties.
In consequence Of his report, and from infor-
nation which reached mo from other sources.
favorable to the prospects of the constitutional
cause, felt justified in appointing new min
lister to Mexico, who might embrace the earliest
suitable opportunity Of restoring our dipIomatic
relations with that republic For this purpose
a distinguished citizen of Maryland was select
ed, who proceeded on his mission on the 9th of
Mlrch last, with discretionary authority to
recognize the government Of President Juarez
if on his arrival in Mexico he should find it en-
titled to such recognition, according tn the es-
tablished practice of the United States. On
the 9TH of April following, Mr.. McLane pre-
sented his credentials to President Juarez hav-
ing no hesitation &C in pronouncing the govern
of Juarez to b, the only existing government
of the republic" Fl, was cordially received
by the authorities at Vera Cruz, and they have
ever since m Inifest3d thu most friendly dispIsi-
ton toward the United States. Unhappily,
however, the constitutional government has not
been able to estlblish power over the whole
republic. 1t is supported by a large majority
Of the people and the States but there ale i'm
portant parts Of the country where it can en-
force no obedience.
G9n. Miram)n maintains himself at the CAPT.
tai; and in soma Of the distant provinces there
are military governors who pay little respect to
the DEGREES Of either government. In the mean
tina tho EXPOSES which always attend upon
civil war, especially in Mexico, are constantly
recurring 0ltrag3s Of the worst descriptions
ara committed both upon persons and property.
There is scarcely any form Of injury which has
not ban suffered by our citizens in Mexico dur
ing the last few years. vs. have bean nominal
1. i, kL,nk L,.L
the interests Of our commerce or of our citizens
who have visited the country as merchants,
shipm lstars, or in other capacities, are concern
ed, We might as wall hava been at war" Life
has been insecure, property unprotected, and
trade impossible except at risk of loss which
prudent m n csunot b. expected to incur. I'm
portant contracts, involving large expenditures,
entered into by the central government, have
/ been set at defiance by the local governmonts.-.
Peaceful American residents, occupying their
rightful possessions, have been suddenly expoll-
ed from the country, in defiance of treaties, and
, by the more force of arbitrary power. Even
the course of Justice has not been safe from
control, and a recent decres of MiramOn permits
the intervention of government in all suits where
either party is foreigner.
Vessels of the United States have been seized
without law, and consular officer who protest.
ed against such seizure has been fined and. i'm
prisoned for disrasp3ct to the authorities. Mil.
itary contributions have b9en levied in violation
of every principle of right, and the American
who resisted tho 'lawless demand has had his
| property torclby taken away, and has been,
himself banished. Froma conflict of authority
IN different parts of the country; tariff duties
which have been paid in one place, have been
exacted over again in another place. Large
numbers of our citizens have been arrested and
imprisoned without any form of examination or
any opportunity for hearing, and even wheu
released have only obtained liberty after much
suffering and injury, and without any hope
of redress The wholesale massacre of Crabbe
and his associates without trial in Sonora, as
we'll as the seizure and murder of four sick
Americans who had taken shelter in the house
of an American, upon the soil of the United.
States, was communicated to Congress at it's,
last session. Murders of still more atrocious.
character have been committed in the very
heart of Mexico, under tho authority of Mira
mons government during the present year.
Some OF these were only worthy of barbar-
Gus age, aud if they had not been clearly proven
would have seem5d impossible in country
which claims to bo civilized. Of this descrip-
ton was the brutal m assacre in April last by
order of Gen. Marquee, of three American ply
sicians, who were seized in the hospital at Tao
ubaya while attending upon the sick and dying
OF both parties, and without trial, as without
crime, were hurried away to speedy execution.
Little less shocking was the recent fate of Or
mLnd Chase, who was shot in Topic on tho 9TH
of August, by ord3r Of the same Ne xioan Cen
eral, not only without trial, but without any
conjecture by his friends in thecause of his ar
rest. He is represented as young man of
good character and intelligence who had made
numerous friends in Topic by the courage and
humanity which he had displayed on several oc-
casions, and his death was as unexpected as it
was shocking to the whole community. Other
outrages might be enumerated but these are
sufficient to Illustrate the wretohed condition of
the country and the unprotected condition of
thd parsons and property of our citizens in Mex
leo.
In all these cases our ministers have been
constant and faithful in their demands for re-
dress, but both they and this government which
they have successfully represented, have been
wholly powerless to make their demands effect
i've. Their testimony in this respect, and in
reference to the only remedy which, in their
judgments, would meet the exigenoy, has been
both uniform and emphatic. g Nothing but q
manifestation of the power of the government
of the United States (wrote our late mnsterin
1860, and of its purpose to punish these
wrongs will avail, assure you that the uni
versal belief here is; that there is nothing to be
, apprehended from the government Of the Unit.
} ed States, and that local Mexican officials can
, commit these outrages upon American citizens
with absolute impunity." I" [ hope the Presi-
, dent" (wrote our present Minister in August
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