The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1860-01-04

y, .le iiIeo states (wrote our late minister
~ iooo) ana OF ls purpose to punish these
wrongs will avail! l assure Won that tbo mi.
versal belief here is that there is NOTHING 70 ha
! laPprehended from the Cove rnment of the uni
ted States, and that any local Mexican official can
commit these outrages upon American citizens
with absolute impunity. 81 hope the Presi-
dent" (wrote our present minister in August
last) "will feel authorized to ask from Congress
the power to enter Mexico with ,the MILITARY
forces OF the United States,s at the call Il the
constitutional authorities, in ordefto tytotect
the ci'izens and the treaty rights of the Uni
Ieo otates. Unless such power is conferred
upon him, neither the one nor the other will
De respected in the existing state of anarchy
and disorder, and the outrages already ber
4 petrated Will never be chastised; and. as as.
Isumed you in my No. 23, all these evils mnst
increase until every vestige of order, and gov
ernment disappears from the country,o I
have been reluctantly led to the same opinion,
and, in justice to my countrymen who haye
suffered wrongs from Mexico, and allo nay
still suffer them, feel bound to announce this
conclusion to Congress.
The case presented, however, is net merely
a case of individual claims, although ouf Just
claims against Mexico have reachedi very
large amount. Nor is it merely thea cas1fof
protection to the lives and property of the few
Americans who may still remain in Mexico,
although the life and property Of fevery Amer
ican citizen ought to be saeredly protected in
every quarter Of the world. But It, is qtjes-
tion whit h relates to the future as well as to
the present and the past, and which involves,
indirectly at least, the whole subject ef otir
duty to Mexico as neghboring State. The
exercise of the power of the United States, in
that country to redress the wrongs and pro-
tect the rights of our own citizens, is none the
less to be desired, because efficient and neess-
sary aid may thus be rendered at the same
time to restore peace and order to Mexico,it-
self. In the Accomplishment of this result the
people of the United States must necessarily
feel deep and earnest interest. Mexico ought
to be rich and prosperous and powerful re-
public. She possesses an extensive territory,
a fertile soil, and an incalculable store of MIN
eral wealth. She occupies an important posi-
tion between the Gulf and the ocean for transit
routes and for oommerce. Is it possible that
such country as this can be given up to an
archy and ruin without an effort from any qgar--
ter for its rescue aad its safety? Willthe COM
mercial nations Of the world, Which have so
many interests connected with it; remain.
wholly Indifferent to such a resultY Can the
United States, especially, which ought TO share
most largely inits commercial intercourss; AZ
low their immediate neighbor thus to destroy
itself and iujura them? Yet, without support
frem some quarter, it is impossible to perceive
how Mexico can resume her position among
nations and enter upon career which proiA-
ises any good results. The aid which she re-
/ quires, and which the interests of all COM
mercial countries require that she should haver
it belongs to this Government TO renden npt
only by virtue of our neighborhood to Mexico,
along whose territory we have continuous.
frontier of nearly a thousand miles, b6tE BY
virtue, also, of our established policy which
is inconsistent with the Intervention of anS
European Power in the domestic, concerns Of
that republic.
The wrongs which we, have suffered
from Mexico are before the world and.
must deeply impress every American cit
izen. A government which is either un-
able or unwilling to redress such wrongs
is derelict to its highest duties. 1.-The diff
iculty consists in selecting and enforcing
/ the remedy. We may in vain apply to
the constitutional government at Vers
Cruz, although it is we'll disposed to do
US justice, for adequate redress. % Whilss
its authority is acknowledged in! all the
important ports and throughout the seq.
coasts of the republic, its power does not
extend to the city of Mexicoiaaudo tho
States in its vicinity, where nearly all the
5 recent ontrages have been committed aon
American citizens. We must penetrate.
into the interior before we can reach the,
9 offenders, and this can only be done by
5 passing through the ter-itory in the occp--
> patton of the constitutional government.
J, The most acceptable and least difficult
mode of accomplishing the object will be
to act in concert with that government.
Their consent and their aid might. I be-
lieve, be obtained; but if not, our obliga-.
tion to protect our own citizens in their
just rights secured by treaty, would not.
! be the less imperative For these sea-
sons, recommend to Congress to pass
law authorizing the President, under such
f conditions as they may deem expedient,
to employ sufficient military force 70
enter Mexico for the purpose Of obtaining
indemnity for the past and security for
, the future. I'purposely refrain from any
suggestion as to whether 6his. force, shall
consist of regular troops or volunteers, or
both. This question may be most appro-
priately left to the decision of Congress.
! would merely observe that, should yol-
uEteers be selected, such force could be
easily raised ia. this country among those
who sympathize with the sufferings ofour
t unfortunate citizens in Mexico. and
: with the unhappy condition Of that repub-
lie. Such an accession to the forces OF
the constitutional government would en-.
/ able it soon to reach the city Of Mexico
l and extend its power over the whole re.
public. In that event there is no reason
to doubt that the just claims of onr citf-
: zens would be satisfied and adequate re.
: dress obtained for the injuries inflicted
t upon them. The constitutional. govern
ment have ever evinced; a strong desiref6
do us justice, and this might be secured
!, in advance by a preliminary treaty. aoqU
1t may be said that these measures will
= at least indrec tly. be inconsistent With
t our wise and settled policy not to interiors
- Al -. r. --h