New-York tribune., 1866-12-22
orr SurpIDAN,S EXPLANATION.


GEN SHERIDANS EXPLANATION
Among the Mexican documents transmitted by the
President to tho House. in answer TO their request is
the report Of Gen. Sheridan 70 the War Department
giving his reasons for the arrest Of Schor Oega, who
claims to be the Constitutional President Of Mexico
by virtue of the fundamental law Of that country and
the free vote Of its people. Senior Ortegas protest
against the arrest is based, frs upon the wrong vo
lenty done to him personally, in disregard OF indl-
yidual guarantees Secondly-and this is the point
that chiefly concerns the American people, upon
grounds of International lRw-he says: ."
"protest, in the name of the Mexican Republic,
whose powers exercise as President against this said
"act because It imports an indirect interference by the
armed forces Of the United States in the solution OF
q" local Mexican questions. again protest as
President Of Mexico against all acts which directly
or indirectly lead by forcibo means 10 impose upon
the Mexican people, in the character Of government,
the factions represented by Mr. Beuto Juarez &c.
sc"
Gen Shcriian's attempted justification Of The arrest
rests upon these grounds: |. That tue acknowledged
head Of the Liberal Government during the recent
events in Mexico was President Juarcz and that
Orega had fed the country. 2. That Ortegn, while
in foreign country did as much as he could do to
counteract thom the ovontsl by the publication OF
real or pretended rights as constitutional President Of
Mexico B. That this did not satisfy Ortega, but be
resolved on an appeal to to enforce his claims,
and combinations were formed at Now.York and
Brownsville L. That Cen. Oucga was about to cross
the line Of our frontier and arrested on the same
principle that the Fenians arrested in attempting
a. ia. ~ III.
Ina, the American people have suffered in trade from
the disturbed condition Of affairs the Rio Grande,
first by Imperialism and then by foreign merchants in
Matamoros, who set up such men as Canac5 and Or
tega.
The admissions made by Gen. Sheridan strength
en- the protest of Gen. OrteFa, and are evidence
enough that his arrest was violation Of international
neutrality absolutely indeionsibe. Stnor Ortega,
elected to a high Office By the people of Mexico,
claims to have become the President Of the Re-
public, by the express terms Of the Consti-
tuition, upon the expiration Of the term for
which Benito Juarcz was elected. 1t is a
question not Of fact but Of construction, which
belongs wholly and exclusively to the Mexican peo-
Pile. who, disturbed by the invasion Of the French,
have had no time to devote to it, and the authority Of
Schor Juarez who, being to certain extent in posses
sion has claimed to hold over until election, has
been more or less acquosced in. Senior Ortega,
although powerless TO enforce his claims, has not
ceased to maintain them, and Gen Sheridan makes it
a point against him that he has cOuntcraced the
efforts of Juarez by the publication Of real pretended
rights as constitutional President Of Mexico, and has
looked forward to the enforcement Of his
alleged rights by an appeal TO arms
It is not alleged that any violation Of our neutrality
laws had been actually done or attempted by Senior
Ortega; but Gen. Sheridan looking at the contest be-
tween the two claimants for the Presidency, prefers
Juarez as being, in his view, the acknowledged head
of the Liberal Government, and repudiates 0rega as
interfering with Juarez and with the interests of
Americans; and 80, on the same principle that the
Fenians arrested in attempting TO invade Cana
da he arrests Ortega as be was quietly entering Mex
leo with his Presidential suite and retainers.
Gen. Sheridan suggests that this was done "to
counteract these Vaccinations and TO prevent our
neutrality laws from being violated" " but no item Of
proof given that our neutrality laws being viO
lated, and the tone and character of Gen. Sherdans
report shows that he expects to justify his action
the other grounds which we have specified. Had
Senior Ortega been arrested for tho crime of violating
or attempting to violate neutrality laws the Cen
era would have advised him of the charges, and the
Government would have ordered his trial Assuming
that Gen. Sheridan has no better defense than
that he has submitted, be should be advised
that he, and not 0rtega has violated the laws
of international neutrality by intermeddling
in the domestic affairs Of the people Of Mexico. The
American Government is presented to the world in
the position of violating at the first opportunity the
pledges and principles which Mr.. Seward, 80 long as
neutrality was of Importance to ourselves increasingly
repeated to the courts of Europe. "Our policy of
nOn-intcrventon," he declared, straight, absolute
and peculiar, has become a traditional one" While
the echo Of our boastul devotion to this policy yet lin
gers in the diplomatic atmosphere, We celebrate
our restoration TO power by an interference with tho
concerns Of our weaker neighbor - act
that is an open violation OF international right and
international courtesy. Our Government seems emu
ousor that in-ola disregard for all law, except the
law Of The stronger WHICH Tie Great Powers Of Eu-