The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1866-10-19
DAILY PRESS.
PORTLAND,
friday Morning. 0ctob-r 10, 1865
The Mcxicnu EmbrosiiO.
III ! ! : \. I.-,s i = IN =

one who looks steadily into that vortex Oh eoii-
fusion. some ineligible facts do at last az
pear The key to the riddle is found Ill tne
quarrel between Juarez and Ortegi', which pc
gan two years ago. Juarez was duly elect.u
President OF the Mexican Republic, ana III
augurated June 10, 1861. Ortega was at 'Ee
same time elected Supreme Judge Inc Mex
lean constitution provides that the fresideht
shall enter upon the duties of his ONCE on the
1st December, and remain in Office iour years.
and that if for any reason an election is mol
held by the first December when his term ex-
pires, he shall nevertheless cease to exercise
his official functions, which will then pass
temporarily TO the Supreme Judge. Ortega
first claimed the supreme power, in accord
ance with these provisions, in 1864. 1t was
decided, however, that the four years OF Jua-
ez's term must be reckoned from Dec. /, 1861 +,
till Dec. |, 1865, and Ortesa soon after crossed
into the United States. He is now in New
York A the expiration of his official term
then, Juarez found the office OF Supreme
Judge vacant. The Mexican Congress, he
fore its final adjournment in May, 1868, had
authorized the President to adopt such mea-
sures as he might deem necessary for the ma
tional safety, with the sole restriction that
these dictatorial powers should cease in thirty
days after the reassembling of Congress. In
the exercise of these powers Juarez decided
to prolong his term of Office until new cleo
tioa should be held. The only alternative
would have been to leave the republic in It's
hour of need without a head, and his decision
was received with general appreciation
throughout the country. Gen. Manuel Ruez
threw up his commission and cast himself uI-
on the mercy OF Macmillan. Two or three
other officers, including Gen. Nigrete aad Gen.
Mejia appear to have sided with Ortega, but
the verdict of the country and of the army
was almost unanimous for the President.
The recent affair at Matamolas springs out
of this quarrel Matamoras, as everybody
knows, lies on the Rio Grande opposite to
Brownsville in Texas, and is the chief city of
the Gulf State If Tamaulipas. Gen. Tapia is
the military governor OF Tamaulipas,a appointed
by Juarez. On account OF some difficulty
with Tapia, Gen. Canales, who has figured so
conspicuously in the recent dispatches, was
compelled last summer to take refuge in
Brownsville, but after a few weeks was able
to recross The river and persuade the soldiery
TO proclaim him general-in-chief. His fist
act was to depose Carvajal, governor of Mata-
moias under Juarez, and to imprison Tapia
and q nulnhap nf fl,n most influential nort;
sans of the President. These proceedings
were undertaken in the name of Ortega,
though they were disowned by Gen. Nigrete
vino is the representative of the eX-Chief
Justice on the frontier Canales, nothing
went ON raising money and men,
and it was believed that his soldiers would
proclaim him President. He is said to be a
man OF energy and resource.
In his immediate vicinity, acting under the
command Of Juarez, was Gen. Cortnas. At
Monterey, in Tie neighboring State OF Nuev0
Leon, were Gems. Escobedo and Trevino. On
he Both September Gen Mejia was about
starting from the city of Mexico WITH an i'm
'eriaist force, on a raid against San Luis Po-
'osi. Escobedo was on the point of march
rs from Monterey to intercept Mejia. Ire
'ino appears to have joined Cortinas, who
vas operating against Canales at Matamoras. |
hundred OF hundred and fifty Americans
rom New Orleans joined the Juarists near
datamoras ON the 18th September, and some
line within the next twelve days an attack
vas made upon Canales and failed That is
he substance of the recent dispatches. Gen. |
IiDojosa who figures occasionally, is a subor-
mate Of Cortinas, and appears to have led
he attack
The occasion OF this demonstration by Ca
laximilan's speedy abdication. The Arch
luke has never held foot of Mexican terrific
y except by force of arms. A year ago French
roops occupied Chihuahua tor two or three
months. Alter the evacuation, our consul,
fr. X. W. Creel, reported to the State depart
lent. "As the French move away, the Liber-
Is quietly take back their Offices and authori-
Y. No soldiers are needed to effect this: THE
7ILL OF THE PEOPLE DOES IF.' The French
INVASION has united the Mexicans more
tudH ever DeiOFe. MaAllIlllltn 5 re- /
ent alliance with the obnoxious Church par
y will promote unity among the Liberals
Ambitious men like Canales will see their OPP
ortunity i'll the withdrawal of French rule,
ut there is room to hope that the lesson OF
he last three years will not be at once forgot
en-. OF Juarez, Ortega himself spoke in
1854, as "a man who haI always observed the
lws" There is no reason to doubt, that at |
he ealliest possible moment, he will order an |
lection, which win at once settle the consti-
ltional dispute now pending. He deserves |
ne moral support of our government. The |
OF the New York World that the |
Iexicans are incapable of selfgovernment |
at least premature. The suggestion of Amer
IAN armed Intervention, which lately appear
IN Che New York Times, is simply afro
ious. We have warned Off France. That
Tas right. Now we mind our own business
nd leave the Mexicans to take care of theirs. |
THE VENETIAN DEBr-As the Argus is
till uncertain about the settlement of the We
flor. oh If ha -