New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-12-25


OF THE OPPOsITION-THE RAILROADS
AMERICAN CLAIMANTS - LETTERS FROM
GRANT, SEWARD, AND R0MER0-ATTITUDE
OF MEXICO TOWARD EUROPE-DEBT, LOAN,
AND TREATY.
From Our Special Correspondent
MEXICO Nov %, 1867,
The statistics of the late elections not being man
fest must for the present be content with their
bare results so far as we know them. Citizen Jua-
rez, should he through the term for which he
has been reelected viii have been President OF Mex
leo for fourteen wears, or more than three terms.
There is no parallel to this official longevity in the
United States OF course during the greater part OF
this period Mexico has been involved in civil war
her Constitution, therefore, for the most part mop
erative and her legitimate Government not at every
moment uppermost. But as it has been said that
Mexico has had President for every day of the year
"a statement rather too gross for even the purpose
of satrethis late proof of Mexican constaney ought
10 have due weight in Northern minds; You have
heard that some illegalItles occurred IN the elections
"A matter which OCCasiOncd no surprise among those
familiar with the chrome suienngs OF Mexico ana
her desperate recuperative efforts successful at the
end OF long civil war. Mexico, after many years OF
trouble scarcely show that law-abiding forbear
to which the North so readily returns after iOur
wears of conflict. Undoubtedly however JuareL
is elected and the country acqulesceS in that Choce
full majority of the Governors favor him. His
competitor Gen. Daz, Is we'll satisfied with the result,
not having been particularly ambitious of any other
Congress thus far caucusSed, registers 40 on me
side of the Government and about SO AGAINST H. In"
opposition being mainly patriotic and liberal OF
The Church party is engaged III buIyng us dead, and
can no lOnge be- counted IN.
As you have been advised. Congress was TO have
met nearly week ago, but the condition OF the
roads made il impossible to collect quorum nj mat
time Since then Congress has been examining Gre
dentals and pTe-auangng itself according 10 law
with view ~ It's formal opening by the President
on the first of next month There VIII he tire par
ties shades of opinion IN Congress. FIRST OF those
who firmly support {he PRESIDENT prominent
among whom are several members OF the cabinet;
BalQdlar Iglcsias, the PRESIDENTS son-m.IaW ana
private secretary, Santa-Ceha, beside Cen Alexander
Garcia, Gen. Baranda. and some others equally Wen
known second. a small band of MOderates; lea ny
Ezekiel Monies, willing 10 support the President ana
20 restrain him; third, the Opposition Proper, WIN
such leaders as, Mat9i Gq5m9q, Iamarcy2ne, Sii;i
Benitez Gen. Mata, formerly Minister 10 Washing
ton, illustrates the retccnce Of Mexican statesman
ship and is an intellectual and positive opponent.
GuZman was the Governor who refused ms
official sanction 10 the ConvOcatOria, and was
dcpOsed therefor Lam&rcone IS, perhaps
the abest and most influential OF an inc
Journalists of the opposition. Benites man
aged the Independent finances of Gen. lazs army III
such a way that az the end of the war II turned over
100000 TO the Government piece 81 hnanCerng
strange to Mexico. Were DaZ President, II IS not
unlikely that talents and favor would equally ut
Benites for place IA ms Cabinet. Oh the oig3hlE-
ton Of Congress can predict nothing except that as
ZarcO of the Sig0 and the abiest editorial champion
of Juarez Is in poor health, Ezekiel Monies VIII
probabybe the Speaker Monies il man OF venerable
aSDect and admitted capacity DOM lc anu S-dto
are talked of for the Cabinet.
The opposition now takes ITS stand on the defeat
Of the COnV OcatOrIa and under the banner OF zen
DiaZ's nomination. Il may be well 20 TCstate that
the term COnvOcatOTa covers certain consutull0ual
amendments, wherein the President claimed the
right of initiative and accordingly convoked the
people 10 pass upon them by he election OF ton-
gress favorable or unfavcrable thereto. The friends
of the President argued that as congress had en-
dowed him with ample faculties. or almost apSo-
lutte power, and the Constitution had been IN
allowance that he had night To propose reforms d.
reetlv 10 the people instead of TO Congress. with
view of restoring aud pertectng the constitution
His opponents claimed that as war had ceased the
Constitution was active, and that Congress must
be elected before the President could propose amend
ments TO il. as IN duty bound. Inc amendments IN
question were good enough: hrst, the institution OF
a Senate as III the United states Nortli second,
the veto power, OF which the IicidchI Is
greatly i'm need; third, the reeniTanchise-
ment Of the clergy, there being no earthly
reason why they should not vote. There was some
preudice against the last but the amendments failed
chiefly through lufOmailty. Thor proposal ny the
President not regarded az modest step mas
much as the Constitution had naturally come 10 the
foreground at the conclusion OF the war; and II was
therefore the duty Of It's Oiclal servant 10 step de
as politely as possible Much may bc said on both
sides. President Juarez has committed no Wr9hg'
and his amendments Will hold good Tor anOlhet ua}'
Tue Mexican people have, as II appears discrml,
mated with some nicely between the President ana
his measures. These have been compared 10 the
hasty reconstruction scheme of Nj. johnson DuJ
judge for yourself the nature and extent OF the par
allel. c..,t.-
words ce-presdent elect of Mexico, rs point not
vet decided. The question rests between ten: FOR
tTiO Diaz and the Secretary OF state LeIdO &c
Tejada, with chance that 10 VIII be carried INTO
Congress, where the friends of the Administration
will undoubtedly elect LeTdO unless they should re-
quire his services IN some more busy capacity than
that tOf Chef-Justce LerdO seems TO be- well pro
vided for in any event being member OF Congress
elect in addition 10 Secretary OF State, and candl-
date for the NicePTesidency 10 is not little strange
that the member Of an administration can occupy
these several attitudes at the same time and Con-
gTess is primed for debate upon the subject Lcrd0
NAV withdraw from the Cabinet and be suffered TO
| take his place as a leader ia Congress III con-
sideratOn thereof, or he may be dcbarred from
! Congress, and translated 20 the Supreme Court
| The prospect of Cabinet changes is freely
talked about, and the election OF so many
members of the Presidents Council to Congress has
perhaps something TO do with 1t. These things are
not very strange, after all IN Mexico and the case
Of LerdO Is Tivalcd by that Of Governor Juan jose
| Baz of the State and Capital of Mexico, whom you
/ Will remember rs COnsul-Geneal at New York. lie
has been elected as deputy TO Congress from three
States three supplentes substitutes being chosen
! along with him according TO rule. He will indicate
which State he prefers 10 represent and his supplen
tes will represent the others confess TO a dislike
! of these phases Of the Mexican system. Yet 1t has
one advantage which that OF the United states has
not The citizen Of a State can be elected IRON any
! district Of that State TO COngTess-a rule which
would work great benefit III many OF the constituent
cies North, and If limited by state lines strictly,
ought TO help Mexico TO n fair representations The
election of Members of tho Cabinet, under TINS rule,
! has some merits which EDgllshmen WOdId not
! fail TO appreciate l>cIuO, IL hc bdhto eNtltt
| in Congress. will be a reinforcement on the
| popular side of affairs; but his election to the
Supreme Court would be good gain 10 the coun-
try. lie has been called the Seward OF Mexico lou
must Judge whether this be complimentary or not TO
the tropical statesman. At all events ms attainments
and occupation would more nearly meet the position
than those Of Gen. Daz though the latter IS bright
| man and has had education as a lawyer. Excepting
in the case of Juarez who has been OF the a6est
lawyers and most judicial minds In Mexico the wee
Presidents of Mexico for the last quarter Oh century
have made very unsuitable Chef-Justces. The some
what fantastic GOnsaez Ortega, notorious for claim
made upon the Presidency after he had deserted his
|