Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1867-11-08
President Juarsz.

Columbus Journal
President Juarez,
Although full returns of the vote
which has Just been cast in Mexico for
the election of a President of the Re
public have not been received here, the
adYices which have come to hand leave
no room for doubt that Juarez has been
again chosen for that Office by the 1Iexi-
can people. So Important is the place
which this remarkable man has filled
in the recent history of Mexico, that a
brief sketch of his eventful life cannot
fail to be read at this juncture with Pc
culiar interest. BenitO Juarez was born
in the early part Of the present century
on the 1sthmus Of Iehuantepee. His
parents we're Indians, and so poor that
they were compelled to place him,
while he was quite a bOy, with a mer-
chant of Oaxaca in some Tuenial en-
plOyment. While here he learned to
read, and he manifested strong desire
for mental Improvement, giving evi-l
dence at the same time of uncommon
capacity, his master sent him to college
where he pursued his studies with such
ardOr and diligence that he graduated
with the highest honOrs. He then stud
led law, and commenced the practice Of
his profession in the Oity Of Mexico,
where he soon secured a large and luc-
ratiVe business. After having served
for some time as Governor of OaxRca,
he was, in 1856, elected as Represen-
tative in Congress of that State, and the
following year found him President of
the Supreme Court of Justice. On the
mnal overthrow of COmOnfOrt, and the
accession of Zuloaga to power in his
stead, JuareZ, who was the leader Ofthe
ed in the name Of The Constitution
against the change, and refusing to
recognize the new President, he estab-
45shad himself at Vera Cruz, where he
organized a new 0oTeEnment. This
led to civil war, during which Zufoaga
was driven from power, and Gen. Mira
mon succeeded to the Presidency. Pro- I
pOsals Of an accommodation were made
to Juarez, which he rejected, and hos
tilities continued, till, in April, 1859,
Juarez obtained an important adVan-
tage over his opponents in being recog-
nized by the United States Government !
as the laWfGl President of Mexico, /
which he claimed to be by virtue of
that article of the Constitution prOvid- |
ing that, in the event of a vacancy oc-
curing in the Office of President, the /
Government shall be administered by /
the President of the Supreme Court. |
MiramOn protested, but in vain. Juar-
ez, strengthened in his position by the /
recognition, set himself vigorously to j
work to administer the affairs OF the 1
hCDuD1lC da 1lB CONSTITUTIONS LuAbLa I
Among other things, he issued decree I
marriage as civil contract, /
and another conhscatlng the posses /
sions of the clergy. he also projected /
the construction of a railroad from /
Vera Cruz to the CITY of Mexico, and /
promised a number of reforms. Mean
while the civil war continued, but so |
skilfully and energetically did Juarez
the forces and the means at 4
his command, that by the end Of the /
year 1860 MiramOn was compelled to /
abdicate and leave Mexico for Europe. /
On the 11th of January, 1861, Juarez
made his entry into the City OF MeXl- /
CO, and Immediately formed a Cabinet, I
and with characteristic energy organ 4
lied an administration for the whole 1
In February he was recogniz-
ed by England; a few weeks later France I
this example +; and, in June, i
1861, he was confirmed in power by an /
election to the Presidency. The war,
however, had so wasted the resources /
of the country that he found it extreme
lY difficult to find means for carrying 4
on the Government, and he was COM 4
PEELED to suspend for two years the pay /
menG Of the foreign claims against ]
Mexico. Advantage was taken of this /
TO put into effect the /
scheme of European intervention which 1
gave birth to the shOrt-liVed Empire Of /
Maximilian, whose history is still fresh |
in the memory of all. In view Of the /
the Mexican Congress !
gave full powers to Juarez to resist the |
allies, and on the 28th of September he
issued a proclamation calling the ma !
ton TO arms. After the failure of the /
Convention of Soledad and on the ap- 4
proach of the French on the Capital, /
-Tuarez left Mexico City. BE establish
ed himself first at CuernaVaca thence
as the French forces penetrated the /
he retired to San Luis POtosi,
and was subsequently compelled, for
the. same reason, to betake himself to
Zacetecas. Thus driven from place TO
place. he still continued to hold out
against the enemies Of his country, hay
ing confidence that the cause Of which
he was the representative would ultim-
atelv triumph. After years of disaster
and severe trial, his noble courage and
perseverance, at length
met their reward. With the downfall
of the Empire he returned in triumph
to the City Of Mexico. where he was
received with the greatest enthusiasm,
and in his reelection the Mexican peO-
pie have given the most convincing
proof of the esteem in which they hold /
him as the savior of the liberties Of
their country.
Juarez was at one time an exile in the
United States. This was between the
years 1852 and 1855, when owing to the
downfall of COmOnfOrt, through the in
trigueS of Santa Annas be voluntarily /
himself, and took up his
residence in the City of New Orleans,
win re he conducted a small manufac-
tory of cigarettes. During his sOiOurn
there he employed himself in the dill
Iipent study Of our laws and institu-
tiOns and he returned to Mexico with
his mind well stored with sound repub-
lican idens Although an Indian, he is
free from the vices Of the race to which
he BELONGS. He is described as a small
man. with ali the physical chBrac cteris-
tics of the abOriginies of mild, gen
tlemanly, and kindly manners, and by I
no means harsh, cruel, or indicative.
N Y TIibURe.