The Hanging of Escobedo. The news which came from Mexico yesterday will surprise many good people who have opposed the maintenance of the Empire, and who have argued strongly in favor of a Republic under one or another of the many Liberal chiefs. One item in particular is of interest to us, as an example of the condition of Mexican society on the border, and the state of lawlessness which exists there. This item records that Escobedo has been hanged by command of Canales. Our readers will remember that we gave an account of the fight at Matamoras some time since, in which Canales and Escobedo were pitted against each other. Both parties fought well, and left upon the field a large number of killed and wounded. During the battle an order came from Sedgwick, the commander of the United States forces upon the Rio Grande, demanding the surrender of Canales and his forces. The order stopped the battle, but Canales refused to surrender to the United States, preferring to turn his command over to Escobedo, whom he had been fighting but a few hours before. We are informed that this surrender, or transfer of authority, took place, and soon after the two worthies were seen walking arm in arm through Matamoras, drinking to each other's good health, and eternal perdition to the whole race of Yankees. Escobedo then took command of the troops, and comparative order seemed restored. What became of Canales after this we are not informed, but from his appearing in the new character of hangman in so short space of time, we may infer that he spent the intermediate days in the usual employment of Mexican chieftains—that is, hatching revolts and planning new insurrections. By some means Canales gained command over some portion of the soldiery, and but for one little obstacle, he could take command of the whole—that obstacle was General Escobedo. But a Mexican chieftain would not permit so slight an obstacle as that to interfere with his plans so long as his followers had a score of cartridges or a bit of rope; and so he gave an order to seize upon his superior officer and hang him at once. The order was executed. Before the adherents of Escobedo knew for whom the gallows was being raised they saw the corpse of their commander swinging in the wind. The barbarian rule of might is the law of the country beyond the limit of the Empire, and nothing can restrain the lawlessness of the chiefs of the robber bands who plunder the country by turns, playing in the drama of rapine and murder until they come to an untimely end in front of a platoon of soldiers, or are found dangling from the limb of a tree. This is the condition of unfortunate Mexico. She is left the prey of a band of desperate men, who, because their leader has the countenance of the American Republic feel at liberty to do as they please, without regard to law or constituted authority. This countenance alone keeps these men in the field. Withdraw it and the Empire will bring peace and safety to the Mexican people. Who is responsible for this state of affairs, we cannot tell, but it is evident that until all of these men upon the border are hanged imprisoned or banished from the country, there will be no peace for Mexico. We sincerely hope that the United States authorities will soon see the mischief that they are working by the present policy, and either take the country under protection or withdraw the moral influence, now given to Juarez, to Maximilian and a good government.
