The weekly pioneer and Democrat., 1860-01-06
Juan, as well as to protect them against the
incursions of the Indians.

Juan, as well as 10 protect them against the
incursions of the Indians.
Much excitement prevailed for some time
throughout that regiou, and serious danger
of collision between the parties was appre.
hended. The British he'd large naval
force in the vicinity; and it is but an act of
simple justice to the admiral on that station
to state that he wisely and discreety for
bore to commit any hostile act, but deter
mined to refer the whole affair to his gov
ernment and await their instructions.
This aspect of the matter in my opinion,
demanded serious attention. 1t would have
been great calamity for both nations had
they been precipitated into acts of hostility
not on the question of title to the island, but
merely concerning what should be its condi-
tion during the intervening period whilst
the two governments might be employed in
settling the question to which OF them it
belongs. For this reason Lieut.. General
Scott was dispatched on the 18th September
last to Washington Territory, to take i'm
mediate command of the United States
forces on the Pacific coast should he deem
this necessary.
The main object of his mission was to
carry out the spirit Of the precautionary
arrangement between the late Secretary of
State and the British minister, and thus to
preserve the peace and prevent collision
between the British and American authori.
ties pending the negotiations between the
two governments. Entertaining no doubt
of the validity of our title, need scarcely
add that, in any event, American citizens
were to be placed on footing at least as
favorable as that of British subjects, it
being understood that Captain Pickett's
company should remain on the island. 1t
is proper to observe that, considering the
distance from the scene of action, and in
ignorance of what might have transpired on
the spot before the Generals arrival, it was
necessary to leave much to his discretion,
and am happy to state the event has
proven that this discretion could not have
been intrusted to more competent hands.
General Scott has recently returned from his
mission, having successfully accomplished its
objects, and there is no longer any good
reason to apprehend collision between the
forces of the two countries during the pen
dency OF the existing negotiations.
MEXICO.
l regret to inform you that there has
been no improvement in the affairs of
Mexico since my last annual message, and
| am again obliged to ask the earnest atten-
tion of Congress to the unhappy condition
of that republic.
The constituent Congress of Mexico,
which adjourned on the 18th of February,
1857, adopted constitution and provided
for popular election. This took place in
the following July, 1851 and General
Comonfort was chosen President, almost
without opposition. At the same election
a new Congress was chosen, whose first
session commenced on the 10th of Septem-
ber, 1851 By the constitution of 1857
the presidential term was to begin on the
1st of December, 1851, and continue for
four years. On that day General Comon-
fort appeared before the assembled Congress
in the city of Mexico, took the oath to sup~
port the new constitution, and was duly
inaugurated as President. Within month
afterwards he had been driven from the
capital, and military rebellion had assign
ed the supreme power of the republic to
General Zuloago. The constitution pro-
vided that in the absence of the President,
his office should devolve upon the Chief
Justice of the Supreme Court, and, Gen.
Comonfort having left the country, this
functionary, General Juarez, proceeded to
form, at Guanajuato, constitutional gov
ernment. Before this was officially known,
however, at the capital, the government of
Zuoaga had been recognized by the entire
diplomatic corps, including the minister of
the United States, as the de facto govern
ment of Mexico. The constitutional Pres
ident, nevertheless, maintained his position
with firunooc opd woo coop octobI;oboI
with his cabinet at Vera Cruz. Mean
stantly resisted in many parts of the repub-
lie, and even in the capital. portion of the
army having pronounced against it, its
functions were declared terminated, and an
assembly of citizens were invited for a choice
of new President. This assembly elected
General Miramon, but that officer repudi,
ated the plan under which he was chosen,
and Zuloaga was thus restored to his pre-
vious position. He assumed it, however,
only to withdraw from it, and Miramon,
having become, by bis appointment, "Presi'
dent Substitute continues, with that title,
at the head of the insurgent party.
In my last annual message | communi-
Gated to Congress the circumstances under
which the late Minister of the United States
suspended his official relations with the Gen.
traI government, and withdrew from the
country. It was impossible to maintain
friendly intercourse with government, like
that at the capital, under whose usurped
authority wrongs were constantly committed,
but never redressed. Had this been an es-
tablished government, with its power extend.
ing, by the consent OF the people, over the
whole of Mexico, resort to hostilities
against it would have been quiet justifable,
and indeed necessary. But the country was
a prey to civil war and it was hoped that
the success of the constitutional President
might lead to condition of things less in
furious to the United States. This success
became so probable that in January last, I
employed reliable agent to visit Mexico,
and report to me the actual condition and
prospects Of the contending parties. In con-
sequence Of his report, and from information
which reached me from other sources, favor
able to the prospects of the constitutional
cause, felt justified in appointing new
L