The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-03-07

he does no! arrest the Commissioners from
Aonteomeryf
This proceeding must be his very fret step
to "try whether we have a govern
ment" If he fails in it, it Is safe to con-
clude that, as far at least as the Con-
federate States are concerned, We have
no government He has sworn to carry out
the constitution and to execute the laws Of
Congress. But provision Of the constitution
and one of the laws is levelled against high
treason. According to the Presidents own
showing, the States which have seized the
United States forts are guilty of that crime. If
the President means to fulfil his oath, how
can he avoid arresting the emissaries from those
"insurrectionary and revolutionary" States as
soon as they present their credentialss
We shall soon see whether there is any "Jack-
son grit" in the composition Of the great rail
splitter, and how he understands his oath to
maintain the constitution and to execute the
laws. We shall also learn the true intent and
meaning of his dark inaugural, which, taken
altogether, is as difficult to understand as the
enigma Of the Sphinx. Mr.. Lincoln alone can
be the Edipus to solve his own riddle. A very
brief time will suffice 10 tell whether he means
to loose the intricate Gordian knot by peaceful
diplomacy and craftsmanship or to cut it, as
did Alexander, by the sword.
MEAIoO FoRTIFYING HERsELF AGAINST SOUTH
ERE ExPANsIoE.-The constitutional govern
ment of Mexico appears TO be exercising the
power acquired by the overthrow of Miramon
with creditable energy and frmness Sensi-
BILE OF the rock on which the Comonfort
administration split, its attention has been
at once directed to the reform Of those
abuses which have weakened the government
at home and rendered it an object of contempt
and menace abroad. The ovcrgr0wn wealth
of tho church, and the desperate tenacity with
which the clergy chung to their privileges,
have always constituted the main obstacles to
the establishment Of stable government in
Mexico. No constitution that could be adopted,
however liberal its provisions, could resist the
intrigues Of a body rendered the overshadowing
power in the State by their immense resources
and influence. General Comonfort and his
advisers were fully impressed with this truth,
but they had not the boldness to graphic with
the evil in its full extent By resorting
| TO half measures they dissatisfied their own
party without conciliatiDg their opponents, and
as consequence, were compelled to yield 70
the double pressure that was brought to bear
against them.
The Juarez government seems determined
not TO fall into this mistake. 1t is proceeding
vigorously in its reforms, and is reducing the
temperatures Of the church to the proportions
adapted TO its actual wants. One Of its first
steps in this directon-that of compelling the
nuns Of Mexico to give up all the convent
buildings and grounds in the city not required
| for their accommodation, in order mat they
| might be sold for the public account led to an
attempt at revolt, which was, however,
promptly suppressed. When it is seen that the
| government Is determined to enforce its mea-
sures at all risks, and that punishment awaits
those who throw obstacles in their way, they
will meet with but little resistance.
The proverbial bad faith Of Mexican govern.
Dents towards the public creditor Swas
another OF the causes that prevented any ad-
ministraion from long maintaining itself in
power. The INSCRIPTIONS violation Of their
| obligations in this respect has always rendered
| the Executive helpless in preseAce Of the
threats and intrigues OF the representatives OF
| foreign governments. Mexican statesmen have
been, in fact, zoo corrupt themselves, and too
| intent on providing Tor their own interests, to
| care much for the credit Of the country
| abroad. I. mas been one Of the first cares
of the new government 10 redeem t15 honor
Of the nation from this reproach- Arrange
ments have been already entered into TO pay
back in four months the amount OF the conducta
appropriated by General Degollado At Lagos,
and the money Of the British bondholders taken
| in the city Of Mexico is 70 be refunded out OF
| the property Of the persons who authorized the
| seizure, and which has been sequestrated for
| the purpose. The difficulties with France
have also been satisfactorily adjusted, so that,
with tho exception of the quarrel with Spain
| arising out of the expulsion OF Signor Pacheco,
the Juarez administration is now on amicable
| terms with all the European Powers
1t would, perhaps, not be unfair TO assume
that our political troubles here have exercised
some influence in fastening the adjustment Of
| these matters. The formation of Southern
confederacy involves for the Mexican govern
ment 30 pressing and formidable danger that
it feels that il will require all the resources and
moral support that it can command to enable
| it to confront it,
| The METRoPoLrTAS POLICE EsProSAG E.--The
course which the Superintendent Of the Metro
poltan Police has pursued in transforming
that body into general police force for the
country, and distributing them throughout the
| different Southern cities as spies upon the