Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1860-01-05

ton to the lives and property of the few Amer
leans who may still remain in Mexico, although
the life and property of every American citizen
ought to be sacredly protected in every quarter
of the world. But it is question which re-
lates to the future as we'll as to the present and
the past, and which Involves indirectly at least,
the whole subject of our duty to Mexico as q
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
citizens Is none the less to be desired, because
efficient and necessary aid may thus be render
ed at the same time to restore peace and order
to Mexico itself. In the accomplishment of this
result the people of the United States must nee
essarily feel deep and earnest interest. Mexi-
co ought to be rich and prosperous and pow
erful republic, 1t possesses an extensive terri
tory, 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 country as this can
be given up to anarchy and ruin without an
effort from any quarter for its rescue and its
safety? Will the commercial nations of the
world, which have so many interests connected
with it, remain wholly Indifferent to such
result? Can the United States, especially,
which ought to share most largely in its com
mercial intercourse, allow their immediate
neighbor thus to destroy itself and injure them?
Yet, without support from some quarter it is
impossible to perceive how Mexico can resume
her position among nations and enter upon a
career which promises any good results. The
aid which she requires, and which the interests
of all commercial countries require that she
should have, it belongs to this government to
render, not only by virtue of our neighborhood
to Mexico, along whose territory we have
continuous 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 concerns
Of that republic.
The wrongs which we have suffered from
Mexico are before the world and must deeply
impress every American citizen. A government
which is either unable or unwilling to redress
such wrongs is derelict to its highest duties.
The difficulty consists in selecting and enforcing
the remedy. We may in vain arplv to the
constitutional government at Vera Cruz, al
though it is well disposed to do us Justice for
adequate redress. Whilst its authority is ac-
knowledgad in all the important ports and
throughout the sea-coasts of the republic, its
power docs not extend to the city of Mexico,
and the States in lis vicinity, where nearly all
the recent ontrages have been committed on
American citizens. We must penetrate into
the interior before we can reach the offenders,
and this can only be done by passing through
the territory in the occupation Of the constitu-
tional government. The most acceptable and
the least difficult mode of accomplishing the
object will be to act in concert with that govern
ment. Their consent and their aid might, be-
licve, be obtained but if not, our obligation
to protect our own citizens in their Just rights,
secured by treaty, would not be the less impera-
tive.
For these reasons, recommend to Congress
to pass law authorizing the President, under
such conditions as they may deem expedient, to
employ a sufficient military force to enter
Mexico for the purpose Of obtaining indemnify
for the past, and security for the future. pur-
posely refrain from any suggestion as to whether
this force shall consist of regular troops or
volunteers. or both. This question may be
most appropriately left to the decision of Con-
gress. | would merely observe that, should
volunteers be selected, such a force could be
easily raised in this country among those who
sympathize with the suherings OF our unfortu.
nate fellow citizens in Mexico, and with the un
happy condition of that republic. In that
ON6HG bH6l6 10 uU ICttoOH w uOuDO Oudb IIl0 luSb
claims of our citizens would be satisfied, and
adequate redress obtained for the injuries in
fctcd upon them. The constitutional govern
Justice, and this might be secured in advance
by a preliminary treaty.
It may be said that these measures will, at
least indirectly, be inconsistent with our wise
and settled policy not to interfere in the domestic
concerns of foreign nations But does not the
present case fairly constitute an exception d? An
adjoining republic is in state of anarchy and
confusion from which she has proved wholly I'M
able to extricate herself. She is entirely
destitute of the power to maintain peace upon
her borders, or to prevent the incursions of
bandditti into our territory. In her fate and in
her fortune-in her power to establish and
maintain settled government-we have far
deeper interest, socially, commercially and
politically than any other nation. She is now
a wreck on the ocean, driven about as she il i'm.
PEELED by different factions. AS good neigh
Dor, shall we not extend to her helping hand
to save her? If we do not, it would not be
surprising should some other nation undertake
the task and thus force us to interfere at last,
under circumstances of increased difficulty, for
the maintenance of our established policy.
repeat the recommendation contained in my
last annual message that authority may be
given to the President to establish one or more
temporary military posts across the Mexican
line in Sonora and chihuahua, where these may
be necessary to protect the lives and property Of
America and Mexican citizens against the in
cursions and depredations of the Indians, as
well as of lawless rovers on that remote region.
The establishment of one such post at a point
called Arispe, in Sonora, in country now al
most depopuated by the hostile inroads of the