Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1860-01-06


| description was the brutal massacre in Apri
last, by order of General Marquee, of thre
| American physicians, who were seized in th
/ hospital at Tacubaya while attending upor
the sick and dying of both parties, and with
| out trial, as without crime, were harrieC
away to speedy execution. Little less shock
| ing was the recent fate of OrmOnd Chase
who was shot in Tepic, on the 7th Of Au
| gust, by order of the same Mexican general
not only without trial, but without any
conjecture by his friends of the cause of hi,
arrest.
He is represented as a 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 trying occasions, and his death was
n, unexpected as it was shocking to the
whole community. Other Outrages might
be emu numerated, but these are sufficient to IL
lustrate the wretched condition of the coun-
try and the unprotected condition of the per-
sons and property of our citizens in Mexico.
In all these cases our ministers have been
constant and faithful in their demands for
redress, but both they and their government,
which they have successfully represented,
have been wholly powerless to make their
demands effective. Their testimony in this
respect, and in reference to the only remedy
which, in their judgments would meet the
exigency, has been both uniform and en-
phatic. Nothing but manifestation of the
power of the government Of the United
States, (wrote our late minister in 1867
and of its purpose to punish these wrongs
will avail. | assure you that the universal
belief here is that there is nothing to be ap-
pretended from the government of the United
States, and that local Mexican officials can
commit these Outrages upon American citi-
zens with absolute impunity.'
81 hope the President " (wrote our Min
lister in August last) will feel authorized to
ask from Congress the Power to enter Mexi-
co with the military forces of the United
States, at the call of the constitutional au-
thorities, in order to protect the citizens and
the treaty Of the rights of the United States.
Until such power is conferred upon him,
neither the one nor the other will be re-
spected in the existing state of anarchy and
disorder, and the Outrages already perpetated
will never be chastised and as | assured you
in No %, all these evils must increase un-
til every vestige of order and government
disappears from the country" | have been
led to the same opinion, and in
justice TO my cOuntrymen who have suffered
wrongs from Mexico, and who may still Suf-
fer them, feel bound to announce this con-
clnsiOn to Congress.
The case presented, however, is not merely
a case of individual claims, although our Just
claims against Mexico have reached a very
large amount. Nor is it merely the case Of
protection to the lives and property Of the
few Americans who may still remain in Mex
leo, although the life and property Of every
American citizen ought to be sacredly pro
tected in every quarter Of the world. But
it is a question which relates to the future
as well rs to the present and the past. and
which involves, Indirectly. at least, the
whole subject of our duty To Nexic, rs
State. The exercise Of the pow
ar of the United States in that country To re
dress the wrongs and protect the rights of
our own citizens is none the less to be de-
sired because efficient and necessary aid may
thus be rendered at the same time to restore
peace and order to Mexico itself
In the accomplishment of this result the
people of the United States must necessarily
eel deep and earnest interest Mexico |
,ught to be rich and prosperous and pow
~ IjrI isrtle nd an incalculabe store of
mineral wealth. She occupies an imp5rtant |
position between the Cult und the ocean for
ransit routes and for commerce. Is it pos
ible that such a country A. this can be given
ID to anarchy and ruin without an effort
rom any quarter for its rescue and it, safe
v? VIII the commercial nations of the |
world, which have 50 many Interests con- |
lected with it, remain wholly iuiif rent to
uch a result? Can the United States. es-
Deciallv, which ought I, s.nre most largely |
n it, commercial intercourse. allow their i'm
Mediate neighblr thus tl destroy itself and
niure them Yet. witHaut support from
ome quarter, it is impossible to perceive how |
Mexico can resume her position among ma |
ions and enter upon u career which promises |
INV good result. The aid which she re- |
,uires, and which the interests of all com |
nercial countries requires that she should |
lave, it belongs to this government to render |
lot only by virtue of our neighborhood 10 |
Mexico, along whose territory we have a |
continuous frontier of nearly a thousand |
niles, but by virtue. also, of our established |
policy, which is inconsistent with the inter
ention of any European Power in the do
nestle concerns of that republic
The wrongs which we have suffered from |
.iexico are before the world, and must deep
Y impress every American citizen. 4 gov
rnment which Is either unable or unwilling
o redress such wrongs is derelict to its high
st duties. The difficulty consists in select
ng and enforcing the remedy. We may in
ain apply to the constitutional government |
t Vera Cruz, although it is well disposed to
% us justice for adequate redress Whilst |
IS authority is acknowledged IN all the i'm
'ortant ports and throughout the sea-coasts
f the Republic, its power does not extend to
he city of Mexico and the States in its vicin-
ty, where nearly all the recent outrages have
een committed on American citizens. We
aust penetrate into the interior before we
an reach the offenders, and this can only be
one by passing through the territory in the
of the constitutional government.
The most acceptable and least difficult
node of accomplishing the object will be to
ct in concert with that government. Their
onsent and aid might, | believe. be obtained; |
ut if not, our obligation to protect our own
ltlzens in their Just rights, secured by treaty,
7ould not be the less imperative. For these
easOns, | recommend to Congress to pass a
NV authorizing the President, under such
onditions as they may deem expedient, to
mplOy sufficient military force to enter
lexico for the purpose of obtaining indemni-
= for the past and security for the future
! purposely refrain from any suggestion as
D whether this force shall consist of regular
roops or volunteers, or both. This question
lay be most appropriately left to the decision
f Congress. would merely observe that,
hOuld volunteers be selected, such a force
ould easily be raised in this country among
hose who sympathize with the suferings ot
ur unfortunate fellOw-citizens in Mexico |
nd with the unhappy condition OF that ne {
ublic. In that event there is no reason 70
oubt that the just claims OF our citizens
-ould be satisfied and adequate redress OBJ
lined for the injuries inflicted upon them.
he constitutional government have ever
yinced a strong desire to do us justice, and
ls might be secured in advance by pre-
minary treaty.
1t may be said that these measures will, at
ast indirectly, be inconsistent with our
Use and settled policy not to interfere in the
Dmestic concerns of foreign nations. But
oes not the present case fairly constitute an