Year: 1860

only without trial, but without any con
lecture by his friends OF the cause Of hi
arrest. He is represented as a young MAJ
OF geod character and intelligence, VIII,
had made numerous friends in Tepic BY
the courage and humanity which he had
displayed on several trying occasions, anC
his death was as unexpected as il wa,
shocking to the whole community. Otbel
outrages might be enumerated, but these
are sufficient to illustrate the wretched
state Of the country and the unprotected
condition OF the persons and property o
our citizens in Mexico.


In all these cases our ministers have
been constant and faithful in their de.
mands for redress, but both they and this
Government, which they have successiyely
represented, have been wholly powerless
TO make their demands effective. Their
testimony IN this respect, and in refer.
ence to the only remedy which, in their
judgments, would meet the exigency, has
beea both uniform and emphatic. Moth
ing but manifestation of the power of the
Government Of the q. States (wrote our
late minister in 1866 and of its purpose
TO punish these wrongs Will avail 1 as.
sure you that the universal belief here is
that there is nothing to be apprehended
from the Government Of the United States,
and that local Mexican officials can commit
these outrages upon American citizens
with absolute impnnity."


II hope the President (wrote our pres
ent Minister in August LAST "will feel
authorized to ask from Congress the pow
er to enter Mexico with the military
forces of the United States, at the call of
constitutional authorities, in order to pro-
tect the citizens and the treaty rights of
the United States. Unless such power
is conferred upon him, neither the one
nor the other will be respected in the ex-
isting state Of anarchy and disorder, and
the outrages already perpetrated will new
er be chastised; and, as L assured you in
my No. %, all these evils must increase
until every vestige of order and govern
ment disappears from the country i
have been reluctantly led TO the same o.
pinion, and, in justice to my countrymen,
who have suffered wrongs from Mexico,
and who may still suffer them, feel
bouud to announce this conclusion to Con.
gress.


The case presented, however, is not
merely a case of individual claims, altho'
our Just claims against Mexico have reach
ed very large amount. Nor is it mere
ly the case of protection to the lives and
property of the few Americans who may
still remain in Mexico, although the life
and property of every American citizen
ought to be sacredly protected in every
quarter of the world But it is question
question which relates To the future as
well as to the present and past,and which
involves, indirectly at least, the whole
subject of our duty to Mexico as a neigh
boring State. The exercise of the power
of the'United States in that country to
redress the wrongs and protect the rights
of our own citizens, is none the less to be
desired, because efficient and necessary aid
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 necessa-
rily feel deep and earnest interest. Mex
leo ought to be rich and prosperous and
powerful republic. She possesses an ex-
tensive territory, fertile soil, and an in
calculable 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 an
archy and ruin without an effort from any
quarter for its rescue and safety? Will
the commercial nations of the world
which have so many interests connected
with it, remain wholly Indifferent to such
result? Can the United States, especial
ly, which ought to share most largely in
its commercial intercourse, allow their i'm
mediate neighbor thus TO destroy itself
and injure them7


Yet, without support from some quar-
ter, it is impossible to perceive how Mex
leo can resume her position among nations
and enter upon career which promises
any good results. The aid which she re-
quires, and which the interests of all COM
mercial countries require that she should
have, it belongs to this Government to
render, not only by virtue of our neigh
borhood to Mexico, along whose territory
we have continuous frontier of nearly a
thousand miles, but by virtue also, of our
established policy, which is inconsistent
with the Intervention of any European
Power in the domestic concerns of that
Republic.


The wrongs which we have suffered
from Mexico are before the world, and
must deeply impress every American cit
izen. A government which is either un-
able or unwilling to redress such wrongs
is direlect TO its highest duties. The diff
Guilty 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 acknowledged in all the im-
portant ports and throughout the sea-
coast of the Republic, its power does not
extend to the city of Mexico and the
States in its viciuity, where nearly all OF
the recent outrages have been committed
on American citizens.


We must penetrate into the interior be
fore we can reach the offenders, and thii
can only be done by passing through the
territory in the occupation of the consti
tutional government


The most acceptible and least Difficult
mode of accomplishing the object will b,
to act in concert with that government
Their consent and their aid might, be
lieve, be obtained; but il not, our obliga
tiou to protect our own citizens in thei
lust rights, secured by treaty. would no
he the less Imperative. For these reasons
recommend to Congress to pass Law
authorizing the President, under such con
ditions as they may deem expedient, I
employ a sufficient military force to ente
Mexico for the purpose of obtaining idem
nifty for the past and security for the fu
ture. l purposely refrain from any sug
eestion as to whether this force shal
consistof regular troops or volunteers, @


both. This question may be most apprC
priately left to the decisionof Congress.


would merely observe, that should volnu
teers be selected, such force could b


easily raised in this country among tho.


who sympathixe with the sufferings OF OF


unfortunate citizens in Mexico, an


with the unhappy condition of that repul


lie. Such an accession to to the forces {


the constitutional government would en-;


bic it soon to reachthe city Of Mexico au


extend its power over the whsle republi


In that event there is no reason TO doul


that the Just claims of our citizens woul


be satisfied aud adequate redress obtaine


for the injuries inflicted upon them. Til


constitutional government have ever evin


ed strong desire to do us justice, an


this might be secured in advance BY
/. preliminary treaty.


J IL may be said that these measures vii
at least indirectly, be inconsistent wit


our wise and settled policy not to interfe