The Portland daily press., 1866-03-19
Recent History of Mexico,

history and present condition of Mexico. in
'ii' DoSton Advertiser. The writer sufficient
~ explains his opportunities to know whereof
he speaks:
To the Editors OF the Boston Daily Advertiser:
The writer of this, a resident of the citv of
Mexico since 1860, and recently arrived in the
United States, saw the fall Of Miramon and
| OF the church party, the accession of Benjto
/ Juarez, the introduction and execution of the
laws Ofreform, including the naturalization
and sale of the church property. He witness
| ed the desperate and noble defence of the lib
erals against the French invasion, which was
invited and sustained by Leonardo Marquee
This assassin, by recommendation of Marshal
Forey, has since been decorated with the cross
Of Commander ol the Legion of Honor Of
France. The writer was present at the de-
| parture of President Juarez and the govern
ment for San Luis, and when the city was oc-
eapied by the French. Their proceedings In
Mexico since he has narrowly watched. The
,ate speech OF Marshal Forey, therefore, he
mas read with interest, and with your permis-
sion Will make few comments thereon.
The French Emperor, at time when twas
generally believed in Europe that the South
em rebellion was to be a success, sent this
Marshal Forey to Mexico with orders to con-
ciliate the church party interest, Napoleon
having been told that Mexico was essentially
Catholic" One of Forey's first acts, after his
capture of the city, was to join with the Cath
olic hierarchy in celebrating the festival of
Corpus Christi. His troops acted as a guard
to the procession, while he and his principal
officers walked in it, through the principal
streets OF the city. To show the church par
ty the subServiency of the French commander
to their interests. Forey caused the French
flag to be spread in the streets, and the arch
bishop, bearing the host, walked over it.. Such
an outrage to common decency and French
nationality Is hardly credible, but the writer
was present and saw it enacted. l.,
Two incidents that also fell under the writ
ers notice will illustI ate the character OF this
man, and of French civilization in Mexico
BY order of Forey, Mexican girl was whip
ped to death for asserting her love Tor her in
vaded country. At the town of San Angus
tan or Tlalpam, four leagues south OF the cap
ital, was garrison oil French soldiers. One OF
these attempted an outrage on Mexican wo-
man. Her husband put Mexican knife into
the heart of the villain. Forey, for this act OF
retaliation, laid fine of six thousand dollars
on the property OF the town, which was gen,
orally held by non-reSidents, and he collected
it by force, as the writer has good reason to
remember. And also, he issued an order sta
ting that if another soldier was killed he
would destroy the whole town. His theory is
that liberal Mexieans are brigands and barba-
rians, and he thus gave them lessons in French
civilization. DfrE
The rula of 1arshal Forev IL, Maxico how
oyor ,vos sbort- -I;vod Two nronertv9 81 tbe
cb,,,,ob n.rt,, har;ne hoa, notion aI;.aa hv tha
iihersIa In po,yor and not restorad hy the
Erencb Eore,, to,,nJ ,ho aort1 I;caiess sy,5 its
inHuence not worth nron;t;at,n1g He soon ba.
came as much detested by the clergy as he was
by the liberals and by foreign residents. He
was therefore recalled, and Gen. Bazaine sent
;,,.S.4os, nn.s 81 T,n,o a5 .i,a saIn ofthe
o Ip,,o 'arort, - ,'oi o 6aJ ,,, fsIio
~, 49, r. hargs 81 Erenoh s,,aonia.ors
e't snsO Wy =, %;o iato sa .I.ot a.
rNs,ai 4.S,Is,s - 20 t.a .broa,,ss
that IL Az, Iba-a,s LII eor,a mt ,,,.,Ts,. and
ths iabors Of Waxim;i;an will come To nangbt
Tls;s - go ;,,as,,,oh as tha or,;ra NoS;oar
-, 4; Iost;ia -, Way;n,;Io,, Na,Sofoo,.N o,sd
c,ra;,r,, ;,toryant;o,, : Pns;rass yrh;oh s-as
-. 49, a,,,i,,;stnot;o,,, f th m
aais is ,,n,,, ,;1,ad. tha oo,,,tr,, = d;st,rtad
'I, 70 20 ~" ~ ~
~ -. -. Pa, - Wy 49, as5 ,,,:t a.e ~
" & u e e. III. 1.r;oo saoa,a -. as
80 ,-a.,,;,..
- ,'art;a- nj. ~ II To1, =; -,ona,, O.. ;nNnarne
- pa.ss' mnV W. P"' " ,ar,,,.or oro y. a. s,'c
sc,i;.. .s.; ~. - ~, ..t, r,,s,se,,
ond n,,ts;,Ie ia ansncas The Erench frealv ac-
Ino,Uiacoa III. amd ',;vo - oo avJonos show
;nn thet 3be No MsSicans ore 60 denorali2eJ that
they ca, ne;thar e~ec,,ta inst;ca or MANAGE a
e,yarn1,e1a ar a. o;r o,.,,, Vhor ono ~ tLa;r
own countrymen is accused. the Eench try
him by their own tribunals. There are. as the
writer well knows. honest men in Mexico, but
thew are not in power. Macmillan Is sur
rounded by. and has placed in Office the vilest
and most nm nrincipled men in the country !.
| for honest men will not become traitors. He
does nothing for the benefit of the nation, and
| II il oencrai1v understood that he does moth
| mo ,v;tl,ont leave of Marshal Razaine. He de-
votes himself to court triyohties. the study of
| MEXICAN antiuuities. and the Indigenous ias.
puages of the Aztecs. BE collects his enor-
| mons salary. and dispatches money TO E,lrone
by every steamer. He paws Iiberaliy in money
and influence in buying up the correspondents
of newspapers and the Diplomatic representa-
tiyes of other countries.-not excentino onr
own. He is very attentive to tbe eminent
rebels now sojourning in Mexico. Nagr1,der
| has offices worth some $1,000: and tornedo
| Maury is chief of the Colonization Bureau
But that he distrusts this class ofhis subjects.
! NAV be inferred from a remark made to
| writer by late confederate major-general.
and one Of the board OF colonization, that s.the
| "Fmperor refuses to allow our people to settle
together in sufficient numbers to protect our
aselves and the greater part of our people
twill return to the United States.n -
The writer has had opportunities not usual
| ly afforded to foreigners who visit the coun-
/ try of knowing the character, opinions and So
cial life OF the better class of the native Mexi-
cans: and he is free to say that they are peo-
pie that inspire his sympathy and respect.-
Hampered by the worst system of eccesiasti-
| cal Representation is now happily passing
| away-ihey still exhibit the elements of genu-
inc manhood; and under brief period OF civil
| tranquility, such as they would enjoy if the