New Orleans daily crescent., 1866-11-16
NEW PHASE Of 7gE MzxIcAN pRoB1EM,

1T is to be presumed that in the recent ar
rest Of Gen, 0rtega, Gen. Sheridan proceeded
in accordance with instructions from Wash
ington Gen. ortega was in the act of enter
ing Mexico for The avowed purpose of estab-
fishing himself in the presidency Of that /
country as constitutional successor to JGarez
1t is generally known that he claims, by vir-
tue of his position as chief justice to be er
oticie president of the Republic, On the
other part, it is ccntended that the presiden-
tial Office has not iapsed, that 0rtega, by his
own laches, forfeited his right of succession,
and that, notwithstanding the expiration OF
the specified term, Jparez is stll rightfully
and really president.
| 1t would be unprchtable to discuss the op-
posing grounds and pretensicns Of these dis
tinguished Mexicans For half century
past, questions OF title andsof tenure to SUI
preme office have disappeared with almost
meteoric rapidity in the phantasmagory of
governments which have fitted athwart the
gloom of Mexican history. Subjects 50 evan
esoant preclude serious and elaborate argu-
nent
But when Juarez is emphatcally indorsed
and practically supported by the government
Iof the United States, his actual position in
respect to the internal affairs and foreign rela-
tions Of Mexico, is q matter which deserves
grave attention There can be no doubt,
laying aside the dc jere aspect Of the matter,
that he is now, and has long been, III partibas
at least, the de tScto president of Mexico, and
the fayorite representative Of the republican
elements of its population AS such he hes
been recognized by the government of the
4 United States. Having succeeded, by diplo-
matte means and moral force in defeating
French Intervention and paralyzing the en-
| pire of Maximiiian, the sande government now
1nanifests as has been seen, a decided dispo-
sition to follow up its recognition of Juarez
/ By active support which, in the nature of
things, could scarcely stop short, in conceiy-
able contingencies, of armed intervention and
more or less prolonged military occupation
i Yet it is admitted on nearly every hand, in
this country and in Europe, that such inter
vention and occupation. limited to the work
Of consolidating Mexican government under
Juarez or any other chief, would prove as
yexatiousand uncompensating to all interests
concerned, if tried by the United States. as
the similar experiment which France for
nearly year past, has been ready to abandon
in disappointment and disgust 1t is even
doubted by many whether Juarez could
lopenly accept armed Intervention from the
United States to sustain his government in
Mexico without forfeiting the popular support
which he now has in that country His
prompt denial that heentertained the inten-
ton, in any event to impair the territorial
integrity Of Mexico BY eessions to tile United
States, sufficiently indicates his present belief
that he could not afford to pay the price of
American protection in hat form 1t is a
question more interesting than explcable
whether he could find the means of paying
the price in any other form that would be ac-
ceptable to his countrymen.
Meantime it may be observed that the
squeamish susceptibility now evinced by
Juarez, with reference to territorial cessions, I
does notaccord very well with notable pas
sage in his earlier political career. We refer
TO the negotiation Of the McLane treaty. AS
in 184S, the whole Of Mexico was at the dis
posal Of the United States, 50 in 1859, by the
stipulations of this treaty, the country was
virtually rendered to the discretionary control
of the same power. 1t granted three lines of
transit, with corresponding territorialrights-
one over The Isthnus of Tehuantepec, and
the others across those parts Of Mexico most
abounding in metalliferous resources and
most attractive to American settlers. Among
the western termini Of the two latter would
have been the valuable ports Of Guaymas and
AIazatlan. Provision was made for o double
military guarantee to secure the possession
and the result, of these grants on the one
hand, and to maintain the government con-
ceding them on the other hand Nor was
this all Almost every product of the United
States was to be admitted free of duty. The
effect that this stipulation would have had in
bringing into the country both merchandise
and population from the South, the West and
the East, may be conceived when it is re1nenl-
bered that in addition to heavy coast duties,
all kinds Of foreign commodities have had to
run gauntlet Of "interior duties levied in
the various inland towns of Mexico.
II is very likely that Juarez is now convinced
that he could not have adhered to such a
treaty, had it been ratified by the United
States Senate, or maintained his own position
as president without the instant aid and the
continued presence of an American army.
Moreover, at subsequent period, Juarez
proposed treaty to Mr. Gorwin for procuring
q loan guaranteed bya mortgage of territories,
which was equivalent to their cession.
In view Of such anteoedents, it is not easy
to believe that Juarez would be ultimately
inpracticable on the question Of territorial
absorption by the United States and Of com
mercial and other facilities that would CON
tribute torescue Mexico from chronic anarchy
and fastening decay by measurably repopu-
lating and wholly re-energizing il. 1t is most
clear that the only political salvation for Mex
leo is that which may issue from its social and
economical regeneration.