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INTERESTING FROM MEXICO.
The American Mails Plundered-Exactions of the Forced Loan-Miramon at Orizaba-The Government a Despotism
From Our Own Correspondent
CITY OF MEXICO, Wednesday March 2, 1859
We are now hemmed in here most completely, and are suffering a tyranny of the most despotic character. The last mail for the States from here was seized by MIRAMON. Many letters were extracted and read, and a great portion of the mail has been entirely appropriated by our present semi-barbarous President. A small portion of the letters for abroad were sent on to Vera Cruz, but it is doubtful if they reached there in time. It is very certain that they did not, as the mail must have been at least thirty-six hours behind time. This mail was under the seal and passport of the United States Consul.
The forced loan is now being enforced, without fear or favor, against natives and foreigners. The pressing necessities of MIRAMON, to push ahead his campaign against Vera Cruz, are such that the loans on the capitals of several persons have already been trebled, and twenty-five per cent added to the loan after that process. It is said, and I believe it, that the present loan will be found inadequate to the wants of the times, and that another loan, "for once only," will be imposed in this month. In truth, I do not see how the Government is to get on without several more loans.
The news from all quarters in the interior shows a gradual rising and supremacy of the Constitutionalists. The Government forces are now reduced to the few capitals of Guadalajara, San Luis, Guanajusto, Queretaro and Colima. All the small towns around those places are filled with Federalists. Zacatecas has fallen, and San Luis is threatened. Altogether there are some 1,000 men up in arms in the interior.
You will doubtless have heard of the proposed search of the Tennessee at Vera Cruz by the French fleet, and of the prompt action of the commander of the Saratoga to prevent the search. The friends interference of the English commander appears to have stopped the search, and thereby a most disagreeabele difficulty. The whole blame of this affair belongs to M. DE GABRIAC, the officious partisan tool of the Church Party here, and Minister of France, who, for some strange reason, is sustained in his position in this country.
MIRAMON is still at Orizaba, but is expected to move on from there very soon. A portion of his forces extend as far as Cordova, whichis now the advanced post of the Government lines.
The feeling here in favor of MIRAMON is daily growing weaker. The Santanistas, Almontistas, Zaloagistas, and Constitutionalists, are all at work. MIRAMON has the smallest party of any one. His own ministry hate but fear him. He only keeps his feet through the fear he inspires. But if he fails at Vera Cruz, he is a lost man. He will then have filled the comparison of "going up like a rocket and coming down like a stick."
If Vera Cruz be not reduced through the treason of its own garrison, MIRAMON is sure of defeat there. Nothing is more certain. But MIRAMON has plenty of money to bribe the people of Vera Cruz with, and the Constitutionalists has little or nothing with which to keep this garrison faithful. It is said that MIRAMON has $1,000,000 to devote to bribery and corruption at Vera Cruz.
A number of persons (foreigners) have lately been imprisoned here, for what, no one knows. Two of the victims are most worthy, good mechanics, against whom no one can say anything. One of them has that unfortunate name of SMITH. This seems to be the name of a person who has been doing private business for the Liberals, and it was enough that the poor mechanic had the same name to have him put in prison. This is a fair specimen of the way in which government and justice are administered here.
In a day or so I hope to be able to send you another letter in time for the Tennessee from Vera Cruz on the 8th inst.