Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1860-01-05


,aents of th British colonial authorities. contestin
the accuracy of the infornI alton which, the gal
llnt General acted IL vas due 10 him that shoiil
thus present his a-s,n- tor issuing the orde
70 Capt Pickett. From these il is quite clesr hi
obicct WIS 20 prevent the British authorities ON Van
couver's Island from exercising jurisdictions owe
Am-ricsn residents on the tsasd Of San Juan, a
we'll as To protect them glinst the incursions OF tn
inlanss
Mach excitement prevailed for some time thro'
out that rrr;oa, tud seriJiS danger OF collision
spprshcmlr,i. The British had large naval fore
lathe vicinity; and II is act of simple justice Il
the aiiairal thar station 10 state that he Fisel
an dscrcetly iurebore TO commit any hostile act
but determined to refer the whole affair to lis gov
eminent AN await their Instructions.
90 eEs scorr's MISSION To OREGON.
This aspect vi the litter, n nay opinion, demand
81 perious attention. Ii would have been Il grea
s,lan,:ty for both nations had they been preciTta
I'D INFO Of hostility not the question of it'll,
90 the lslani, but merely concerning what should
Ia its coalition during the Intervening period whils
the two governments might be employ ed in settling
fhe question 20 which of them it belongs. For thi,
reason Lieutenant General Scott was Dispatched
sss the l7th September last r. " ashngtoh ferrito
~ TO take immediate comus~ nd of the United States
ftsccs on the Pacific coast should he deem this ne
es.sssry. The main object Of bis mission Wa, 70
carry cut the spirit Of the precautionary arrange
ucnt between tie late Secretary Of State and the
British Minister, and thus TO preserve the peace
and prevent collision between the British and Amer
lean authorities pending the negotiations between
fAs two governments. Entertaining no doubt oil
the v..iIty of our title, need scarcely add that
IN any event, American citizens were to be placed
on Footing at least rs favorable that of British
subjects, il being understood that Captain Pickett
com-unv SHOULD remain on the Island. lii proper
O. serve that considering the distance from the
s,cne of action, aud in ignorance OF what may have
ransp;red on the spo, before the Generals arrival
s wa necessary to leave much to his discretion, and
an happy to sfste the event has proven that this
discretion could not have been entrusted TO mo.e
Competent hands. General Scott has recently re-
,zrnesl from his mission. having successfully &C
complicated its objects. and there is longer any
good reason TO apprehend a collision between the
forces Of the two countries during the tendency oil
the exjstins negotiations
AFFAIR, ~ MEXICO
fre-re, to inform you that there has been no i'm
oroyemeut i'm lie affairs of Mexico since my last
annual message, and am again Obliged to ask the
carnes. attention. of Congress to the unhappy con
dision Of that republic.
The constituent Congress of Mexico, which adj
iaurned on the l7th OF February, 1857, adopted a
constitution and provided for popular election
This took place in the following July (ls57). and
General Commonfort chosen President almost
without opposition At the same election a new
COQ(rtS, W1s cii15cu, wLU>e ulSt
On sSe Ssh Of September. 1857. BY the const:tu-
ton of 1857 the Presidential term was 10 begin on
the LIST of December, 1857, and continue for four
wears. On that day General Commonfort appeared
before the assembled Congress in the City Of Mex
leo took the oath to support the new constitution,
and Was duly inaugurated as President Within a
month afterwards no had been driven from
the capital, and n military rebellion h1d assigned
the supreme power of the republic to Gen. Zuloasa.
me constitution provided that 1.-THE absence Of the
President his Office should devove upon the Chief
Justice of the Supreme Court and Gen. Common
FOR. having left the country. his functionary, Gen.
Iuarex proceeded to form. at Guanajuato, corsti-
t,sionL government Before this was officially
known. however, at the capital, the government OF
zuloaga had been recognised by the entire diplo.
r,omaiic corps. including the Minister Of the Uni
Ted States, "a tue de faao government of Mexico
The constitutional President nevertheless, main
taned his position with frmness, and was soon es-
t,hl;shei with his cabinet at Vera Cruz Mean.
While, the government Of Zuloaga was earnestly
resisted in many parts Of the republic, and even IN
the caui,ai aportiou ofthe army having pronounced
agx;ns, ;ts functions we're declared terminated, and
al assembly of citizens invited for the choice OF
a nev President. This assembly selected general
N;rsmon, but that officer repudiated the plan un-
A., WHICH he VA chosen, and Zuloags Was thus re
s.ored to ais previous position he assumed H.
however only TO withdraw from II, and Miramon
having become by his appointment President Sub
s,tute." continues. With that title, at the heaa oil
The ir5nrgeEt party
In NV last annual message I communicated Ia
congrcss the circumstances under which the late
Minister OF the United States suspended his official
relations with the central government, and With
drew from the country. II asimpossible to main.
cain friends intercourse with government, IKE
that AZ the capital, under whose usrrped autborf.
0roues xc-e constantly committed. but never re-
.;-r..ed. Had hi been al established government
With is power extending. by the consen. OF The poo
70. over the whole of Mexico resort TO HOSTILE
scs aesins. il would have been quito justifiable
md indeed necessary. But the country vas prey
% siyjl war: and il was hoped that the success Of
she constitutional President might lead to condi-
Son of things less injurious to the United States
This success became 80 probable that. IN January
iast. emoloyed reliable agent to visit Mexico
And rc,o-t 10 me tho actual condition and prospects
Of the contendins par.ice- In consequence OF his
yecor< and from information which reached me
f-orn other sources, favorable TO the prospects Of
The constitutional cause. Eel, justified in appoint
inr new Minister to Mexico, Who might embrace
the earliest suitable opportunity OF restoring ou'
.;ip,opa,ic rel atoms Nth that republic Tor tins
rurpcse distinguished citizen of Maryland was &c
!ec,ed, who proceeded on his mission on the 9Th Of
March last with discretionary authority to rccog
pi,r the povernmep, OF President Juarez, IL on hi
arrival in Mexico ne should find il entitled 20 sncf
recognition. according 10 the established practice
If the Unired States. On the 9TH of April follow
Ing Mr. McL,ne presented his credentials 20 fresi
dent Juarcz. having no hesitation "in pronouncins
she ro~ernmen, of Juarcz 20 be the only exstin:
government OF the republic" tie was cordially
received by the authorities at Vera Cruz, ana the,
have ever since manifested the most friendly dispo
ei.,on towards che United States. Unhappily, how
ever, the constitutional governments has not beer
abe 70 establish its power over the whole repuohc
Il is supported BY a large NJ Jority OF the people
and the States but there are important parts OF tn
couat-y where itcan enforce no obedience Ten
Mirsncn mainssirs himself at the capital; and II
come of the distant provinces there are misit'r
governors who pay little respect to the DEGREES 0
either government. in the meantime the excesse
which always attea upon civil war, especially u
Msxie,. are constantly recurring. Outrages OF tn
worst description are committed both upon person
and property There is scarcely any form OF iI9ur
which has no. been suffered BY our citizens IN Mex
leo duriu~ the last few years We have been nom
inaI,y a, peace with that republic, but. 80 far
ths;nterests of our commerce or OF our citizens WI
have visited the country as merchants, shipmaster'
or in other capacities, are concerned, We might
veil have Seen at war" Life has been insecure
rrcpersT unprotected, and trade impossible. exceI
a. the risk OF loss which prudent men cannot be e.
re,-te<I 70 Incur frn9ortints contracts. invoivh
t.-rc exnenditu-c= entered intoby the central gov
er-yrert. have been set at defiance BY the loc'
rovernr,>rts Peaceful American residents, occu
rying their rshtfui possessions, have oeen sndueI
II espeIled the couatry. in defiance oil treaues' an
e>-~. of arbitrary nower- Even I'll