Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1860-12-13

Mexico and cur merchants trading thereto
had suffered series o. wrongs and outrages
such as we have never patiently borne from
any other nation. For these our successive,
ministers, invoking the faith OF treaties, had
in the name of their country, perslstent'y
deman led redress and naturalization, but
without the slightest effect Indeed, so
confident had the Mexiosn authorities be-
come of our patient endurance, that they |
universally believed they. might commit |
these outrages upon American citizens
with absolute impuniy. Thus wrote
our minister in 1856, and expressed the
opinion that "no'hing but a manifestation OF
the power Of the Government, and Of its
purpose 10 punish these wrongs, will avail" "
/ Afterwards, in 1857. came the adoption
OF a new constitution ior Mexico the cleo
tion OF President and Congress under ts
provisions, and the inauguration OF the
President. Within one short month, how
ever, this President was expelled from the
capital by atebell:on In the army, and tile
!. supreme power Of the republic was assigned
to General Z,losgu. This usurper was in
his turn soon compelled to retire and give
place TO General MlramLn'
Under the constitution which had thus
been adopted, Senor Juarez, as chief justice
OF the Supreme Court, became the lawful
President OF the Republic; and it was for
tho maintenance OF the constitution and his
] authority derived from il that the civil wsr
CONNIE need, and still continues TO be prose-
cuted.
Throughout the year 1855 the csnstitu.
tionsl party grew stronger and stronger.-
In the previous history Of Mexico a success
full military revolution at the capital had
almost universally been the signal for sub
, mission throughout the republic. Not go on
the present occasion. A majority Of the
, citizens persisiently sustsinsd the constitu-
:, tionsl government. When this wss recog
q nized in April, 1859, by the Government, Of
a the United States, its authority extended
over a large majority Of the Mexican States
. aad people, including Vera Cruz and all the
o,her important sea ports OF the republic
!, From that period our commerce with Mex
:, ico began to revive, and the constitutions
l government has afforded il ali the proiec
:, tion in their power. f-.>
> Meanwhile, The government of Miramor
still held sway at tho capital and over th'
surrounding coun Try, and trntinued it's out
RACES against the few American citizen
;. who still had the courage 10 remain within
y its power To cap the climax: After ,h
= battle Of Tscubaya, in April, 1859, Gen
'e Marqu.z ordered three citizens of the Uni
" ted States, two of them ply iicians, to b
seized in the hospital Ot that place, take
out and shot, without crime and withou
h uial. This was done, Notwithstanding on
h IN fortunsto country men we're at ths nome n
b. engaged in the holy cuuse Of nfording re
le Lief to the soldiers Of both parties who ha
{. been wounted 10 the battle, without making
10 any distinction between them.
id The time had arrived, in my opinion
n when this Government was bound to exer
II its power to avenge and redress the wrong
of our citizens aud 10 afford them pro sctiol
o in Mexico. The intsrposing obstacle wa
= that the portion Of the country under th'
;. sway OF Miramon could not be reached with
d out passing over territory under the jurs
d diction Of the constitutional government :
>. Under these circumstances, deemed il my
, duty to recommend to Congress, in my las
:. annual message, the emp 10y ment of suifici
= ent military force to penetrate into tho in
\, terror, where the government OF Miramo
n was to be iound, with, or, IL need be, with
nj out the consent of the Juarez government
=, though 1t was not doubted that this consen
. could bs obtained. Never have | had
a, clearer conviction on any subject than {
nj the justice as well az wisdom Of such
,d policy. No other alternative was left, es
A., cept the entire abandonment Of our fellow
citzeus who had gone to Mexico, under IN
faith Of resties, to the systematic injustice
, cruelty, and oppression of Miramon's go'
U etnment. Besides, ii 10 almost certain thu
= the simple authority to employ this tore
he would OF itself have accomplished all our el
jects without striking single blow. I'll
CONSTITUTIONS! government would then eI
VI this have been established at the city
Nv Mexico aud would have been ready an
ie willing, 10 tho extent oi its ability, TO do I
" justice. 7
or In addition--and | deem this most in
- portsnt cousidcration-E European govern
= Inents would have been deprived OF all pr
er .ext to interiors in tho territorial sr
m domestic concerns OF Mexico. We. shou
30 thus have been relieved from the obligato
on Of resisting, even by force, should tn
~, become necessary, any attempt
nd these RsvcrnmeRts to deprive our neigi
ed boring republic Of portions OF her. a. 4
ritory; u duty from which we could o.
nj shrink without ubaad ming tho tradition
VI and estab lished policy Of the American pc
Iur nls I nm hannv 4 n oh.erve. Thai. firmly r