Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1860-01-04


Unhappy, however, the constitutional govern
ment has not been able to establsh its power
over The whole republic It is supported by a
large majority of the people and the States
but there arc important parts OF the country
where il can enforce no obedience General
Miramon maintains himself at tho capital; and
Ia some Of the dielaut provinces there are mil
iiary governors who pay little respect to the
decrees of either government. In the mean.
time the exeesses which always attend upon
civil war, especially in Mexico, are constantly
recurring. Outrsges Of the worst description
are committed both upon persons aud properly.
There is scarcely " form ofinjury which has
not been suffered by our citizens in Mexico
during the last few years. We have been
nominally at peace with that republic, but "so
far as the interests of our commerce or Of our
citizens who haye visited the country as mer-
chants, shipmasters, or in other capacities. are
concerned, we might as well have been st war"
Life has been insecure, property unprotected.
and trade impossible except at q risk Of loss
which prudent men cannot be expected to incur
important contracts, involving large expendi.
tures,enteied into by the central government,
have set at defiance by the local governments
Peaceful American residents, occupying their
rightful possessions, have been suddenly ex.
PEELED the country, in defiance of treaties,
and by the mere force of arbitrary power. Even
the course ofjustice has not been safe from con
troll, and recent decree of Miramon permits
the intervention Of Government in all suits
where either party Is foreigner, Vessels of the U.
States have been seized without law aud consul
lar officer who protested against such seizure has
been fined and imprisoned for disrtspect to the au
thorities. Military contributions have been levied
in violation Of every principle Of right, and the
American who resisted the awless demand has bad
his property forcibly taken away, aud has been
limgp Dnuialpd "a n In,
different parts of the country, tariff duties which
have been paid In one plac have beenlexacted
over again 10 another place. Large numbers of
our citizens have been arrested and imprisoned
without any form Of examination or any opportu-
tunity for hearing. and even When released have
only obtained their liberty after much suel ing and
Injury, and without any hope Of redress. The
wholesale massacre of Crabbe aud his associates
without trial in souora, well the seizure and
murder of four sick Americans who had taken
shelter 10 the house Of an American, upon the soil
OF the United States, was communicated to Con-
gress at its. last session. Murders of still more
attroclous character have been committed Ia the
very hear of Mexico, under the authority OF Mir
amon's government, during the present year
Some Of these were only worthy of barbarous
age, and If they bad not been clearly proven would
have seemed impossible in a country which claims
to be civilized or this description was the brutal
massacre in April last, by order Of Gen. Marquee,
of three American physicians, who were eizsd in
the hospital ut Tacubaya while attending upon the
sick and dying OF both palties, aud without trial.
as without crime, were hurried away 10 speedy
execution. Little less shocking was the recent
fate OF 0rmond Chase, who was shot in Topic on
the 9TH OF August, by order OF the same Mexican
general, not only without y trial, but without any
conjecture by his fiiends in the of his arrest
He is represented as young man of coed charac-
Ter and intelligence, who had made numerous
friends in Tep.c by the courage and humanity
which he bad displayed GU several trying occa.
| sions, and his death was as unexpected as it was
shocking TO the whole community. Other outrages
might be enumerated, but these are sufficient to
illustrate the wretched condition Of the country
and the UNPROTECTED condition Of the persons and
| property OF our citizens In Mexico
In all these ministers have been constant
and faithful in their demands for redress but bo they
and this government which they have successfully rep
resented have been wholly powerless to make their de-
msnds effective Their testimony In this respect aud
in reference to the only remedy which, in their udg
ments, would meet the eXigency has been TIA uni
form and emphatic. "NOthinz but manifestation Of
the power Of the Government Of the United States
(wrote our late minister in 1885, and OF its purpose
10 punish these wrongs will avail you that
tho universal belief here is that there is nothing to be
apprehended from the Government Of the United States
and that local Mexican officials Commit these out
RACES upon American citizens with absolute mpuny"
IL hope the Presdent"-wrote Minister in August
last'will feel authorized to ask from Congress the
power to enter Mexico with the military forces Of The
Unit cd States the call of the
ties, in order to protect the citizens and the treaty
rights OF the United States. Unless such power Is
conferred upon hin neither the the other will
be respected in the existing state OF anarchy anc dis
order and the outTages already perpetrnted will
he chastsed; and, as assured you in my No. 2S all
these evils must nereaee until every vestige Of order
and government disappears from the country" have
been reluctantly led to the opinion and n justice
TO my countrymen who have suffered wrongs from Mex
leo, aud who may still suffer them, feel bound 10
nounco this conclusion TO Congress. .....
The case presented, however, is not merely
case of individual claims, although our just
claims against Mexico have reached 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 10 be sacredly pro-
tected in every quarter of the world. But it
is q question which relates TO the future, as
well as to the present and the past, and which
involves, indirectly at least, the whole sub
ject of our duty to Mexico as a neighboring
State. The exercise of the power of the
United States in that country to redress the
wrongs and protect the rights of our own cit
izens is none the less TO be desired because
efficient and necessary aid may thus be rem.
dered at the same time to restore peace and
order to Mexico itself In the accomplish
ment of this result the people of the United
States must necessarily feel deep and ear
nest interest. Mexico ought to be rich and
prosperous and powerful Republic, for it pos
sesses an extensive territory, q fertile soil and
an incalculable store of mineral wealth.
She occupies an important position between
the Gulf and the ocean for transit routes and
for commerce. Is it possible that such ooun-
try as this can be given up to anarchy and
ruin without an effort from any quarter fol
its rescue and its safety2 Win the CONNER
eial nations of the world, which have so many
interests connected with il, remain wholly
Indifferent to such result2 Can the United
States especially, which ought to share mos
largely in its commercial intercourse, allow
their immediate neighbor thus to destroy il
self and iniure them2 Yet, without supper
from some quarter, tbs impossible to perceive
how Mexico can resume her position among
nations and enter upon a career which prom
ises any good results. The aid which she re
quires, and which the interests of all com
mercial countries require that she SHOULD
have, it belongs to this government to render
not only by virtue of our neighborhood Il
Mexico, along whose territory we have a con
tinuous frontier of nearly thousand miles
but by virtue, also, Of our established policy
which is inconsistent with the Intervention
Of any EurOpean Power in the domestic con
Germs of that republic.
The wrongs which we have suffered fror
Mexico are before the world, and must deepl
impress every American citizen. A govern
ment which is either unable or unwilling I
redress such wrongs is derelict to its highes
! duties The difficulty consists in seleetin
and enforcing the remedy, We may in val
apply to the constitutional government a
Vera Cruz, although it is well disposed 70
/, US justice, for adequate redress. Whilst II
authority is acknowledged in all the impoi
tant ports and throughout the sea coasts q
the Republic, its power does not extend to th
city Of Mexico and the States in its vicinity