The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1860-12-13


out the year 1858 the Constitutional
party grew stronger and stronger. In
the previous history of Mexico a sue
cessful military revolution at the cap
ital had most universally been the sig
nal for submission throughout the Re-
publics. -
Not so on the present; a majority
of the citizens presistently sustained
the Constitutional government. When
this was recommended in April, 1859,
by the Government of the United
States, its authority extended over
large majority Of the Mexican States
and people, including Vera Cruz, and
all the important seaports of the Re-
public. From that period our COM
merce with Mexico began to revive,
and the constitutional government has
afforded it all the protection in their
power. Meanwhile the government of
Miramon still held sway at the Capital,
and over the surrounding country, and
continued its outrages against the few
American citizens who still had the
courage to remain within its power.
To cap the climax, after the Battle of
Tacubaya, in April, 1859, Gen. Mar
ques ordered three citizens of the
United States, two of them physicians,
to be seized in the hospital at that place,
and shot without trial. This was done.
notwithstanding our unfortunate coun-
trymen were at the moment engaged
in the holy cause of offering relief to
the soldiers of both parties who had
been wounded in the battle, without
making any distinction between them,
The time had arrived in my opinion,
when this Government was bound to
exert its power to avenge and redress
the wrongs of our citizens, and to af-
ford them protection in Mexico. The
interposing obstacle was, that the
country under the sway of Miramon,
could not be reached without passing
over territory under the jurisdiction of
Constitutional Government. Under
these circumstances, / deemed it my
duty to recommend to Congress in my
last annual message, the employment
of sufficient military force to pene-
trate into the interior where the gov
eminent of Miramon was to be found,
with, or if need be, without the consent
of the Juarez government, though it
was not doubted his consent could be
obtained. Never had / clearer con-
viction on any subject than | have OF
the Justice as we'll as wisdom, of such
a policy. No other alternative was
left, except the entire abandonment of
our fellow citizens who had gone to
Mexico under the faith of treaties, to
the sympathetic injustice, cruelty and
oppression of the Miramon Govern
ment. Besides.it is certain that SIM
pie authority to employ this force would
of itself have accomplished all our OBJ
jects without striking a single blow.
The Constitutional Government would
then have been established at the city
of Mexico, and would have been ready
and willing, to the extent of its ability,
to do us justice. In addition, and |
deem this most important considera-
ton, Foreign Governments would have
been deprived Of all pretext to inter-
fere in the territorial and domestic con-
Germs of Mexico. We should thus have
been relieved from the obligation of re-
sisting even by force, should this be-
come necessary, and attempt by these
Governments to deprive our neighbor-
ing Republic of portions of her terrific
ry, a duty from which we could not
shrink without abandoning the tradi-
tional and established policy of the
American people.
l am happy to observe that, firmly
relying upon the justice and good faith
of these Governments, there is no pres
ent danger that such contingency will
happen. Having discovered that my
recommendations would not be sus-
tanned by Congress, the next alterna-
tive was to accomplish in some degree,
if possible, the same objects, by treaty
stipulations with the constitutional gov
eminent. Such treaties were accord
ingly concluded by our late able and
excellent Minister in Mexico, and on
the fourth of January last were, submit
ted to the Senate for ratification. As
they have not received the final action
of that body, it would be improper for
me to present detailed statement of
their provisions. Still l may be per-
mitted to express the opinion, in ad
vance, that they are calculated to pro-
mote agricultural, manufacturing and
commercial interests of the country
and to secure our just influence with an
adjoining Republic, as to whose for
tunes and fate we can never feel indif
ferent; whilst at the same time they
provide for the payment of a consider
able amount towards the satisfaction
of the claims of our injured fellow iti
zens.
| KANSAS AND UTAH.
At the period of my inauguration was confront
ed in Kansas by revolutionary Government, ex
listing under what was called the Topeka Constitu
ton. The avowed object was to subdue the Terri
torial Government by force, and to inaugurate
what was called the Topeka Government in it:
stead. To accomplish this object, extensive
military organization was formed and its command
entrusted to the most violent revolutionary leaders
Under these circumstances it became my impera
tive duty to exert the whole Constitutional power
OF the Executive, to prevent the flames of civil
war from raging in Kansas which the excited state
of the public mind both North and South might
have extended into the neighboring States. The
hostile parties in Kansas had been infamed against
each other by emissaries both from the North and
South, to degree of malignity without parallel in
our history. To prevent eventual collision and to
resist the civil magistrates in enforcing the laws
strong detachment of the army was stationed in the
territory ready to aid the Marshal and his deputies
Inlt ll11.