Year: 1860

and the past, and which involves, indirectly
at least, the whole subject of our duty to
Mexico as neigbboring State. The exer-
else of the power of the United States in
that country to redress the wrongs and pro.
tect the rights of our own citizens, is none
the less to be desired, because efficient and
necessary and may thus be rendered at the
same time to restore peace and order to
Mexico itself. In the accomplishment of
this result the people of the United States
must necessarily feel deep and earnest in.
terest. Mexico ought to be rich and
prosperous and powerful republic. She
possesses an extensive territory, fertile
soil, and an inculculable store of mineral
wealth. She occupies an important position
between the Gulf and the ocean for transit
routes and for commerce. Is it possible that
such country as this can be given up to
anarchy and ruin without an effort from any
quarter for its rescue and its safety? Will
the commercial nations of the world, which
have so many interests connected with it,
remain wholly Indifferent to such a result
Can the United States, especially, which
ought to share most largely in its CONNER
cial intercourse, allow their immediate
neighbors thus to destroy itself and injure
them? Yet, without support from some
quarter, it is impossible to perceive how
Mexico can resume her position among ma
tions, and enter upon career which promi-
ses any good results. The aid which she
requires, and which the interests of all COM
lnercial countries require that she should
have, it belongs to this Government to rem
der, not only by virtue OF our neighborhood
to Mckee, along whose territory we have
continuous frontier Of nearly thousand
miles, but by virtue also of our established
policy, which is inconsistent with the inter.
vention of any European power in the do
mestic concerns of that republic.


The wrongs which we have suffered from
Mexico are before the world, and must
deeply impress every American citizen. A
government which is either unable or un>
willing to redress such wrongs is direlict to
its highest duties. The difficulty consists
in selecting and enforcing the remedy. We
may in vain apply to the constitutional
government at Vera Cruz, although it is
we'll disposed to do US justice, for adequate
redress. Whilst its authority is acknowl-
edged in all the important ports and
throughout the sea coasts of the republic, its
power docs not extend to the city of Mexico,
and the States in its vicinity, where nearly
all the outrages have been committed on
American citizens. We must penetrate
into the interior before we can reach the
offenders, and this can only be done by
passing through the territory in the occupa
tion of the constitutional government. The
most acceptable and least difficult mode of
accomplishing the object will be to act in
concert with that government. Their con.
sent and their aid might, I believe, be ob-
tanned but if not, our obligation to pro-
tect our own citizens in their just rights,
secured by treaty, would not be less imper-
ative. For these reasons, recommend to
Congress to pass a law authorizing the
President, under such conditions as he
may deem expedient, to employ sufficient
military force to enter Mexico for the pur-
pose Of obtaining indemnity for the past and
security for the future. 1 purpOsely refrain
from any suggestion as to whether this force
shall consist of regular troops or volunteers,
or both. This question may be most ap-
propriately left to the decision of Congress.
would merely observe that, should volun-
teers be selected, such force could be
easily raised in this country among those
who sympathize with the sufferings of our
unfortunate fellow citizens in Mexico, and
with the unhappy condition of that republic.
Such an accession to the forces of the con-
stitutiOnal government would enable it soon
to reach the city of Mexico and extend it's
power over the whole republic. In that
event there is no reason to doubt that the
just claims of our citizens would be satisfied
and adequate redress obtained for the inju-
ries inflicted upon them. The constitutional
government have ever evinced strong de-
sire to do justice, and this might be secured
in advance by preliminary treaty.


1t may be said that these measures will,
at least indirectly, be inconsistent with our
wise and settled policy not to interfere in
the domestic concerns Of foreign nations.
But does not the present case fairly consti-
tute an exception? An adjoining republic
is in state of anarchy and confusion, from
which she has proved wholly unable to ex-
tricatc herself she is entirely destitute of
the power to maintain peace upon her bor-
ders, or to prevent the incursions of banditti
into our territory. 10 her fate and in her
fortune her power to establish and
maintain aettled government-we have a
far deeper interest, socially, commercially
and politically, than any other nation. She
is now wreck upon the ocean, drifting


bout as she is impelled by different factions
As good neighbor, shall we not extend to
her helping hand to save her? If we do
not, it would not be surprising should some
other nation undertake the task, and thus
force US to interfere at last, under circun
stances of increased difficulty, for the main
tainance of our established policy.


SONORA-ARIZ0NA.


repeat the recommendation contained in
my last annual message that authority may
be given to the President to establish one or
more temporary military posts across the
Mexican line in Sonora and chihuahua,
where these may be necessary to protect the
lives and property of American and Mexican
citizens against the incursions and depreda.
tions of the Indians, as we'll as of lawless
rovers on that remote region. The estab-
lishment of one such post at point called
Arispie. in Sonora, in country now almost
depopulated by the hostile inroads of the