Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1860-04-05
Mexico.

THE poor SICK man of the Western Cont.
nent is in much more deplorable condition
than was Turkey, when the idea was rife a.
mong come Of the European governments o
portioning out his estate among themselves
Internal war has distracted the country. irn.
poverishsd the people and destroyed ever,
restage Of liberty. One chief is now in tn,
ascendant, and hardly has he seated himsel
in the place of power, ere another has ariser
more powerful than himself, and he is de-
posed, at one time the people have the pow.
err, at another the Church and the Priests, al
ternn.ing SO rapidly that it is difficult to tel
at any given perio,l, who is the legitimate au'
thori:y Of this miserable and distracted coun.
try.
AT present twc chiefs are contending fol
the ascendency, Miramon the leader of the
CAurch party forces, with his head quarters
at the city of Mexico, and Juarez, the head
OF the liberals with bis head quarters at Vera
Cruz. The Juarez power has been recognized
by our government as the legitimate authority
of Mexico, and treaty has been entered into
with the same, guaranteeing to the United
States certain advantages heretofore denied.
Que ieatuIe of this treaty, we believe, seems
free trade between the two countries, and if
ratified by the Senate of the United States,
would secure to every nation with which we
haze commercial treaties the same privilege,
for In those treaties there is an article guar
anteeing to them the same advantages with
this country allowed the most favored nature.
This treaty however has been rejected, very
appropriately, ty the Senate, for surely this
country lie not prepared to inauguratc sys-
TEN of free trade, by which our manufactures
would be compelled to stop their works,
and our mechanics and operators become
impoverished.
Recently, Miramon left the City of Mexico
at the head of large force for the purpose
Of disloding Juaraez from Vera Cruz, and to
aid him in the attempt, he purchased couple
Of Steamers at Havana, fitted them up as
men of war, and put them in command Of
Marin, who, after having laid in a large sup
ply Of munitions sailed for Vera Cruz, to
blockade the City and to aid Miramon in his
attack. They left Havana with Spanish COL
ors flying, but when at co hoisted the Mex
lean flag and came to Vera Cruz, according
to reports without any flag flying, passed il
this condition the English and the French
fleets, but were hailed by the Americans ant
failed to give satisfactory answer. but triet
to make their escape and was followed by boat
belonging to the American squadron, who
hailed them again when they fired upon the A.
leans, and were in return fired on, and final
Iy captured, and brought as prizes to New
Orleans They are heavily ladened, and II
is supposed they have large amount Of
| treasure on board. The capture of these YES
sels has produced mucl. i'll feeling upon the
part of the French, and Miramon has issued
an order con6iscating the property of all A.
mericans and ordering them to leave the
country.
Congress has passed a resolution request
ing the President to furnish that body with
an authoritative account of the whole matter
and the orders issued to the Squadron on
that coast, with which he has complied, SO
that full investigation will be had of the
whole affair. We may remark however that
our government justifes tho capture Of the
vessels