Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1860-12-11

you bldC tueSc udVe prevailed. convention
was signed at the city of San Jose the I'd of July
last between the minister resident of the United
States in Costa Rca and the plenpotentaries of that
republic, referring these claims to board of commits
sioners and providing for the payment of their a.
wards This convention will be submitted mmedi-
aely to the Senate for their constitutional action
The claims of citizens upon the republic of Nj
caragua have not yet been provided for by treaty. al
though diligent efforts for this purpose have been
made by our minister resident to that republic
These are still continued with fair prospect of sue
cess.
MEXICO.
wOur relations with Mexico remain in most unsat-
isfactory condition. In my last two animal messages
discussed extensively the subject of these relations
and do not propose to repeat at length the facts
and arguments then presented.
They proved conclusively that our citizens resid-
ing in Mexico and merchants trading thereto had
suffered series of wrongs and outrages, such as we
have never patiently borne from any other nation
For these successive ministers invoking the faith
of treaties had in the of their country persist
emily demanded redress and indemnfcation, but
without the slightest effect. gs
Indeed, so confident had the Mexican authorities
become of patient endurance that they universal
ly believed they might commit these outrages with
absolute impunty Thus wrote our minister In 1856,
and expressed the opinion that s'norhing but mani.
festation of the power of the government and of its
purpose to punish these wrongs will avail"
Afterwards in 1857, came the adoption of new
constitution for Mexico the election of President
and Congress under its provisions. and the inaugu
however, this President expelled from the capi
tai by rebellion In the army, and the supreme pow
er of the republic assigned to General Zuloaga-
This usurper in his turn compelled to retire
and give place to General Miramon.
Under the constitution which had thus been adopt
ed Senor Juarez, as chief justice of the Supreme
Court became the lawful President of the Republic:
and it for the maintenance of the constitution and
his authority derived from it that the civil war COM
menced, and still continues to be prosecuted
Throughout the year 1858 the constitutional party
Orov ctr nUpran md In he
of Mexico successful military revolution at the cap
ltal had almost universally been the signal for sub
mission throughout the republic.
Not so on the present OCCASION A majority of the
citizens persstenty sustained the constitutional gov
ernment. When this was recognized in April, 1859,
by the government of the United States, its authority
and people, including Vera Cruz and all the other i'm.
portant seaports of the republic. From that period
our commerce with Mexico began to revive, and the
constitutional government has afforded it all the pro-
lection in their power. EG4-f
Meanwhile, the government of Miramon, still held
sway at the capital and 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. Marquee ordered three
citizens of the United Staes two of them physicians,
to be seized in the hospital of that place. taken out
and shot without crime and without trial. This was
done notwithstanding our unfortunate countrymen
at that moment engaged the holy of at
fordng relief the soldiers of both parties who had
been wounded in the BATTLE without making any dis
tinction between them. ssls ls59
The time had arrived in my opinion, when this
government was bound to exert its power to avenge
and redress the wrongs of citizens and to afford
them protection in Mexico. The interposing obstacle
was, that the portion of country under the sway of
Miramon could not be reached without passing over
territory under the jurisdiction of the constitutional
government.
Under these circumstances deemed it nv duty to
recommend to Congress, in my last annual message.
the employment of sufficient military force tc pene-
trate to the Interior where the government of Mira
mon was to be found. with if need be- without the
consent of the Juarez government though it was not
doubted that this consent could be obtained New
have | had clearer conviction any subject
than of the justice well as the wisdom of such
policy.
No other alternative was left except the entire a.
abandonment of our feow-citizens who had gone to
Mexico under the faith of treaties to the systematic
injustice, cruelty, and oppression of Miramons gov
ernment Besides, 1t is almost certain that the SIM
pie authority to employ this force would of itself have
accomplished all objects without striking single
blow. The constitutional government would then,
this, 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 addltion-and l deem this most important con
sideraton European governments would have been
deprived of all preext to interfere in the territorial
and domestic concerns of Mexico. We should thus
have been relieved from the obligation of resisting e.
ven by force, should this become necessary any at
tempt by these governments deprive our neighbor
Ing republic of portions of her territory; duty from
which we could not shrink without abandoning the
LraQ1LlOndl anu pOllcy or the American
people. | am happy to observe, that, firmly relying
upon the justice and good faith of these governments
there is no present danger that such contingency
will happen. A@.a"
Having discovered that my recommendations would
not be sustained by Congress, the next alternative
was to accomplish, in some degree, if possible the
same objects by treaty stpulatons with the constitu
tutional government. Such treaties accordingly
concluded by late able and excellent minister to
Mexico and on the 4th of January last submit
ted to the Senate for ratification. As these have not
taa{rrx fbafh bod
improper for me to present detailed statement of
their provisions. f. as
Still may be permitted to express the opinion in
advance that they calculated to promote the agr
cultural manufacturing and commercial interests of
the country, and to just influence with
adjoining republic, to whose fortunes and fate
never feel Indifferent; whilst at the same time
they provide for the payment Of considerable
amount towards the satisfaction of the claims of
injured fell0w-citizens.
KANSAS AND UTAH.
At the period of my Inauguration was confronted
in Kansas by revolutionary government existing
under what is called the Topeka constitution Its a.
vowed object was to subdue the territorial govern
ment by force, and to naugurate what called the
Topeka government in its stead To accomplish this
object extensive military organization formed,
and it's command entrusted TO the most violent revo
lutionary leaders,
Under these circumstances it became nv impera-
tive duty to exert the whole constitutional power OF
the executive to prevent the flames of civil from
raging in Kansas which in the excited state of the
public nlind both North and South, might have
tended into neighboring States.
The hostile parties In Kansas had been infamed a.
ganst each other by emissares both from the North
and the South, to degree of malignity without par
allel in history. To prevent actual collision and
to assist the civil magistrates in enforcing the laws
strong detachment of the army stationed in the
Territory ready aid the marshal and his deputies
when lawfully called upon, as posse comitatus in
the execution of civil and criminal process.
Still the troubles in Kansas could not have been
permanently settled without election by the pAepIe
rho arbIter of disputes
freemen Under this conviction, every proper effort
employed to induce the hostile parties to vote at
the election of delegates to frame State constitution,
and afterwards the election decide whether Kan
sas should be a free slave State. The insurgent
party refused to vote at either lest this might be
sidered recognition their part of the territorial
government established by Congress.
better spirit, however, seemed soon after to pre-
vail and the parties met face to face at the third
election. held the first Monday in January, 1858.
for members of the Legislature and State officers un-
triumph of the anti-savery party at the polls This
decision of the ballot box proved clearly that this
party were in the majority, and removed the danger
of civil war. From that time we have heard little
nothing of the Topeka government; and all seri-
GUS danger OF revolutionary troubles In Kansas was
at an end.
The Lecompton constitution, which had been thus
recognized this State election by the votes of both
political parties in Kansas, was transmitted to me
with the request that should present it to Congress
This could not have refused to do without violating
constitution, and all the proceedings which preceded
and followed its formation fair and regular upon
their face. then believed, and experience has prov
ed that the interests of the people of Kansas would