464 



MEXICO. 



Miramon, who represents the Church party ; 

 but that officer repudiated the plan under 

 which he was chosen, and Zuloaga was thus 

 restored to his previous position. He assumed 

 it, however, only to withdraw from it; and 

 Miramon became, by his appointment, " presi- 

 dent substitute." 



In the mean time, the most atrocious excesses 

 were continually recurring. Outrages upon 

 persons and property were committed with 

 impunity, under the plea on the part of the 

 Government, that they were the crimes of in- 

 dividuals, and not chargeable upon the Govern- 

 ment. Peaceful Americans, and other foreign 

 residents, occupying their rightful possessions, 

 were suddenly driven from the country, in defi- 

 ance of treaties, and by the mere force of arbi- 

 trary power. Even the course of justice was 

 not safe from control, and a decree of Miramon 

 permitted the intervention of Government in 

 all suits where either party was a foreigner. 

 Vessels of the United States were seized with- 

 out law, and a consular officer who protested 

 against such seizure was fined and imprisoned 

 for disrespect to the authorities. Military con- 

 tributions were levied, in violation of every 

 principle of right, and the American who re- 

 sisted the lawless demand, had his property 

 forcibly taken away, and was himself banished". 

 The wholesale massacre of Crabbe and his asso- 

 ciates, without trial, in Sonora, as well as the 

 seizure and murder of four sick Americans who 

 had taken shelter in the houseiof an American, 

 upon the soil of the United States, was com- 

 municated to the Thirty-sixth Congress. Mur- 

 ders of a still more atrocious character were 

 committed in the very heart of Mexico, under 

 the authority of Miramon's government. In 

 April, 1859, by order of General Marquez, 



three American physicians, who were seized in 

 the hospital at Tacubaya, while attending upon 

 the sick and the dying of both parties, and 

 without trial, as without crime, were hurried 

 away to speedy execution. Little less shocking 

 was the fate of Ormond Chase, who was shot 

 in Tepic on the 7th of August, 1859, by order 

 of the same Mexican general, not only without 

 a trial, but without any conjecture by his friends 

 of the cause of his arrest. 



While life was so little respected, property 

 was still less so. Duties that were paid in one 

 place were enforced a second time. Forced 

 loans, seizures, and confiscations were ruthlessly 

 resorted to, and the President of the United 

 States asked Congress for power to send a 

 force thither for the protection of citizens. 

 The war continued to rage between the parties, 

 and the Government of the United States sent 

 Mr. McLane to recognize the government of 

 Juarez, if circumstances should justify it on his 

 arrival. He presented his credentials to Presi- 

 dent Juarez, and was cordially received at Vera 

 Cruz. April, 1859, Mr. McLane negotiated a 

 treaty with the constitutional government on 

 terms very agreeable to the United States. 

 This was laid before Congress, but was not 

 ratified. 



In the mean time, trade fell into ruin ; the al- 

 ternate exactions of the Church party and the 

 Liberal party were destructive of property. 

 The Liberal party issued paper as a resource. 

 This was receivable for customs at par, but fell 

 to 40 and 60 per cent, discount. When duties 

 were thus paid, goods were again assessed with 

 new duties. The conductor with silver on the 

 way to the ports for shipment were seized by 

 both parties when they could get them. The 

 claims of British people on Mexico amounted 



