Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1867-06-06
STATE NOMINATIONS.
The Mexican Government and
Maximiiian.

since IL became evident that the cap
ture Of Macmillan was an event prob.
able to take place, the sympathies Of
our people, and the efforts Of Govern
ment officials, have been plainly express
ed through the press of the country, that
the Mexican President would save the
unfortunate adventurer from the punish
ment which has been visited upon his
followers whenever they had fallen into
the hands of the Liberal Generals, that
the barbarities which have character
lied their punishment of public enemies
might be modified for the sake of hu-
manity ana civilization. Recently cor
respondence has taken place between
the American Minister and the Mexican
Secretary of Foreign Affairs upon this
subject. Mr.. Campbell in his communi-
cation after informing the Secretary of
the reasons for the establishment Of his
official residence atNew Orleans, assures
him that the Government of the United
States has observed with much satisfac-
tion the withdrawal of the French troops
from Mexico, and the advance of the ar
mics Of the Constitutional Government
towards the capital of the Republic, and
that this gratifying intelligence has been
disturbed by the rumor Of the severity
practiced on the prisoners of war which
have been captured by the army, and
fears have been excited that this severi-
ty might be repeated in the event of the
capture of Macmillan. Mr.. Campbell
informs the Secretary that the American
Government instructs him to make
known to President Juarez its
desire that in case Of the capture of
Prince Macmillan and his supporters
they may receive the humane treatment
accorded by civilized nations to prison
ers of war"
On the 22d of April the Mexican Sec
rotary acknowledges the receipt Of the
communication in which he regrets the
reasons that prevented him from enter
ing upon his duties, for it would be very
satisfactory for the government to have
received him as the representative Of the
United States. In reference to the rumors
of the summary punishment of prisoners
of war, the Mexican Secretary speaks
frankly,-giving somewhat different
version from the reports that have
reached the United States. That the
enemies of the Republic wishing to pro-
duce an unfavorable impression, have
falsefied and spread inaccurate informa-
tion relative to the punishment of the
prisoners of San Jacinto. He states that a
greater par tof them were pardonedlbut
punishment was meted out to some as
they were not considered simply as pris-
oners of war, but offenders against the
laws ofnations and Of the Republic They
had abandoned themselves to every kind
o.. excess and crime, fighting like lawless
adventures, as mercenaries, without
country paid to shed the blood Of Mexi
cans who defend their independence and
their institutions,and that not few Of
those foreigners were conducted to "a
caticas where they had been treated with
benevolence. The invarable conduct of
the government of the Republic and that
of the officers of her armies, has been to
respect life and treat with greatest con-
sideratien the prisoners taken from the
French forces; but on the contrary by
order of their principal chief, they fire.
quently assassinated prisoners of war
taken from the Republican forces. Often
times without the formality of an ex-
change, French prisoners have been set
at liberty. The officers of the French
army have ordered the burning down of
whole cities and at times for simple
suspicion, without the least appearance
Of justice, indefensible persons and old
men, who were not able to bear arms
against them have been put to death.
That Notwithstanding these facts, the
government and her officers are far from
retaliating, as they were provoked to do,
having observed the most humane con-
duct with examples OF the greatest gen.
erosity, and the Secretary further says,
"In this manner the Republican cause of
Mexico has excited the sympathies Of all
civilized races"
The Mexican Secretary represents that
with the withdrawal Of the French,
Macmillan has seen the entire re-
public rise against him with the ex-
ception of two or three cities still nndeT
the control of force, yet he desires to
continue shedding the blood Of Next
cans, and the work of desolation and
ruin by civil war. He makes the de.
claration that in case there be captured
persons on whom such responsibilities
rest, sit does not appear to me that they