Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1860-04-07
Stewards Opinion of the Mexican
Business.

From the Albany Thur. Weed's) Journal, March p.
Mexico is convulsed with civil war. between
the '-church party headed by Miramon, and
the constitutional party" beaded by Jnarez.
MiramOn holds the capital and the richer and
more densely peopled part OF the republic.
He has money, but cannot get control OF all
his territory. JuareZ holds the provinces on
the coast of the Gulf and on tie Texan from
tier. his headquarters being at Vera Cruz.
He has plenty of Territory, but is badly in
want OF cash.
Miramon has been lately planning seige
to force his rival to surrender. Having the
sympathy OF Spain, he fitted out two war
steamers at Havana and sent them TO bom-
bard Vera Cruz.
But it happens that Mr.. Buchanan has al
lowed himself to be drawn into an unneces-
sary and "entangling alliance" with Juar,Z
Instead of recognizing the existing govern
ment or keeping aloof entirely, he has Official
ly recognized and negotiated with the party
which is out of power and likely to continue
80. He and Juarez have mutually humbug
ged themselves aud each other; Buchanan
being deluded with the hope of slice o.
territory on the Rio Grande. and Juarez de-
iuded with the hope of troops and money
from the United States to prop up bis failing
fortunes.
So when MiramOn's steamers came in sigbt
| of Vera Cruz. the United States squadron
| acting under Mr. Bucbanan's orders, and II
concert with his ally, stopped them and cap
turcd them.
This, We believe, is the whole story; bn
various efforts are made to beiog il at Wash
| iDgton and elsewhere Thus il is stated thai
the steamers were captured because they re
fused to allow themselves to be boarded by
our boats. strange reason for a govern
| ment to give which protests as energetically
as ours does against the right of search!
We have. probably, little or nothing tC
| fear in the way of retaliation. Mexico is SC
weak that even if united We might commit
ouIrages upon her with IMMUNITY, and Mira
mons party, being only fraction OF the
Mexican people. is weaker still. What we
have TO fear. is train of tedious difficulties
and expenses, such as are usually the penal
| iy for interfering in other peoples quarrels
BY thus actively taking sides, we subject
ourselves to just suspicion aud censure; we
| set prt cedent for interference by European
Powers; we array half the Mexican people
against us, and create prejadices which will
| embarrass our negotiations aud our trade
with that country for half a century to come
and We involve ourselves in exbausting and
useless expenditure, which can give III moth
] ing that we could not gain better without it.
Mr.. Buchanan is of different opinion. A
Mexican gu rrrel is his hobby. He would
! e ably plunge into hostilitics. if he cOnld to
morrow. He has tried all sorts of pretexts
| To do il, has imporiuned Congress for permits
sion To march troops across the I; ontier, and
| for permission to send ships 10 blockade
Mexican ports, has received a Minister from
Juarez, aud sent Minister 10 him, and has
mixed himself up in the business whenever
an opportunity offered. All To the end that a
new slice of Mexico might be brought under
the scope of the bred Scott decision for the
benefit of slavery extensionists.