Year: 1860

simple Justice to the admiral on that station to state


hostile act but determined to refer the whole affair
his government and await their instructions


This aspect of the LATTER in opinion demanded


rious usattention 1t would have been great calamity
for both nations had they been precpated into acts


hostility not the question Of title to the isand but
merely concerning what should be its condition during
the intervening period whilst the two governments
might be employed in settling the question to which Of
them belongs For this reason Lieutenant General
Scott despatched the 1Ith of September last to
Washington Territory to take immediate command of
the United States forces the Pacific coast should he
deem this necessary The main object of his mission
to carry out the spirit Of the precautionary


ment between the late Secretary of State and the Brit
ish Minister and thus to the and present
collisions between the British and American authorities
pending the negotiations between the two governments
Entertaining doubt of the validity of cur title,
need scarcely add that Ia any event American citizens
were to be placed footing at least favorable
that of Bssh subjects it being understood that Captain
Picketts company should remain the island 1t is
proper to observe that considering the distance from
transpred the spot before tina Generals arrival it
necessary to leave much to his discretion and hap
py to state the evea has proven that this discretion
could not have been entrusted TO competent hands,
General Scott has recently returned from his mission
having successfully accomplished its Objects and there


is no longer good reason apprehend collision be-
tween the forces of the two countries during the pend
ency of the existing negotiations.


regret to inform you that there has been improve
ment in affairs of Mexico since my last annual
sage, and am again obliged to ask the earnest atten
ton of Congress to the unhappy condition of that re-
public.


The constituent Congress of Mexico, which adjourned
on the 11th Of February, 1857, adopted constitution
and provided for popular election. This took place in
the following July 1857 and General Commonfort
chosen President, almost without opposition At the
same election new Congress was chosen, whose FIRST
session commenced the 18th of September, 1857.
By the constitution of 1857 the Presidential term
to begin the lst of December 1857 and continue for
four years. On that day General Comonfort ap-
peared before the assembled Congress in the city of
Mexico, took oath to support the constitution and
was duly inangurated President Within a month
4 oftar I'D &1Ra fol and
military rebellion had assigned the POWER of the
republic TO Gen. Zuloaga. The constitution provided
devolye upon the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
and General Comonfort having left the country, his
fuaeonary General Juarez proceeded to form at Gua-
najuato a constitutional government.


Before this officially known, however, at the cap
ita the of Zuloaga had been recognized by
the entie diplomatic corps including the Minister of
the United States the de acto government ofMexico.
The constitutional President. nevertheless, maintained
his position with frmness and was soon established with
his cabinet at Vera Cruz Meanwhile the government of
Zuloaga earnestly resisted in many parts of the Re-
public and even in the capital portion of the army
having pronounced against it, its functions de-
cared terminated, and assembly of citizens was in
vited for the choice of President This assembly
elected General Miramon but that officer repudated the
plan under which he chosen and Zuloaga thus
restored to his previous position. He assumed it. how
ever, only to withdraw from it, and Miramon having be-
come by his appointment president Substitute con-
tnues with that title at the head of the insurgent
In my last annual message communicated to Con-





of the United States suspended his official relations with
the central government. and Withdrew from the
try. 1t impossible to maintain friendly intercourse
with government like that at the capital under whose
usurped authority wrongs constantly committed but
redressed Had this been established govern
ment with its power extending by the consent of the
people over the whole of Mexico resort TO hosites
against it would have been quite justiabe, and indeed
necessary. But the country was prey of civil war;
and it hoped that the of the constitutional
President might lead to condition of things less inju
rious to the United States This success became so
probable that in January last employed a reliable
agent to visit Mexico andreport to the actual
don and prospects of tie contending parties In
sequence of his report and from information which
reached me from other sources, favorable to the
poets of the constitutional felt justified in ap
pointing Minister to Mexico who might embrace
the earliest suitable opportunity of restoring dpo-
matte relations with that republic. For this purpose
a distinguished citizen of Maryland selected who
proceeded his mission the sth of March last with
discretionary authority to recognize the Of
President Juarez if his arrival in Mexico he should


find it entitled TO such recognition according to the
tabshed practice of the United States. On the 7th of
April following, Mr. McLane presented his credentials
to President Juarez having hesitation sin pronounce
ing the government of Juarez to the only existing gov
ernment of the republic. He cordially received by
the authorities at Vera Cruz and they have eversince
manifested the most friendly disposition towards the
United States. Unhapply however, the constitutional
government has not been able to establish its power
the whole republic 1t is supported by large majority
of the people of the Saes but there important parts
of the country where it enforce obedience. Cen
eratMiramon maintains himself at the captal and in
some of the distant provinces there military gov
ernors who pay little respect to the DEGREES of either
government. In the meantime the excesses which al
ways attend upon civil war, especially in Mexico
constantly recurring Outrages of the worst description
committed both upon persons and property. There
is scarcely form of injury which has not been suffer
ed by citizens in Mexico during the last few years.
We have been nomnaly at peace with that republic,
but $50 far the interests OF of
citizens who have visited the country merchants, ship
masters or in other capacities are eoncernced might
well have been at war; Life has been insecure pro-
perty unprotected and trade impossible except at risk
Of loss which prudent cannot be expected to incur
Important contracts, involving large expenditures
tered into by the central government have set at def
by the local governments Peaceful American
sdents occupying their ghtful possessions have
suddenly expelled from the country in defiance of trea
ties, and by the force of arbitrary power Even
the course of justice has not been safe from control
and recent decree of Mramon permits the interven
ton of Government in all suits where either party is
foreigner Vessels of the U. States have been seized
without law and consular officer who prot 'sted against
such seizure has been hned and imprisoned for dsres
pect to the authorities. Military contributions have
been levied in violation of every principal of right and
the American who resisted the lawess demand had
his property forcbly taken away and has been himself
banished. From conflict of authority in different parts
of the count tariff duties which have been paid in one
place have been exacted over again at another place.
Large numbers of citizens been arrested and
imprisoned without any form of examination any op
portunity for hearing and even when released have
only obtained their liberty after much suffering and inu
~, and without any hope of redress. The wholesale
of Crabbe and his associates without trial in
Sonora well the seizure and murder of four sick
Americans who had taken shelter in the house of an
American, upon the soil of the United States
municated to Congress at its last session. Murders of
still more attrocous character have been committed in
the heart of Mexico, under the authority of Mira
mons government, during the present year. Some of
these only worthy of barbarous age and if they
had not been clearly proven would have seemed inposs
bic in country which claims to be civilized OF this de-
scrpton the brutal in April last hy order
Of Gen. Marquee, of three American physicians, who
seized in the hospital at Tacubaya while attending
upon the sick and dying of both parties and without
trial. without crime. hurried away to speedy
ecuton. Little less shocking the recent fate of
Ormond Chase who shot in Topic the 7th of Au-
gust by order Of the Mexican general, not only
without trial. but Nthoutany conjecture by his friends
in the OF his arrest He is represented young
of good character and intelligence, who had made
friends in Topic by the courage and humanity
which he had displayed severl trying occasions and
whole community Other outrages might be enumerat
cd but these sufficient TO Illustrate the wretched
dition Of the country and the unprotected condition of
the persons and property ofour citizens in Mexico.


In all these cases our ministers have been con-
slant and faithful in their demands for redress.
but both they and this government, which they
have successfully represented, have been wholly
powerless to make their demands effective. Their
testimony in this respect, and in reference to the
only remedy which, in their judgements, would
meet the exigency, has been both uniform and |
emphatic 'Nothing but a manifestation of the |
power of the Government of the United States |
(wrote our late minister in 1866, and of its pur
pose to punish these wrongs will avail. assure |
you that the universal belief here is that there is
nothing to be apprehended from the Government |
ofthe United States, and that the local Mexican |
officials can commit these outrages upon American
citizens with absolute impunity." al hope the |
President wrote our minister in August last
"will feel authorized to ask from Congress the |
power to enter Mexico with the military forces of
he. TwxsA Al y