The Sun.
London, England, 1846-05-22 00:00:00

JOHN SLIDELL.

(Signed)

National Palace, Mexico,
March 12, 1846.
TO HIS EXCELLENCY JOHN SLIDELL.

The undersigned, Minister of Foreign Relations of the
Government of the Republic, has the honour to, ac-
knowledge the reception of the note that his Excellency
John Slidell, appointed Minister Plenipotentiary and
Envoy Extraordinary from the United States of Ame-
rica, has directed from Jalapa, dated the Ist of the pre-
sent month.

As soon as said communication was put into the hands
of the undersigned, he hastened to submit it to his Ex-
cellency the President pro tem. After having reflected
upon its contents, and considered maturely the nature of
the communication, he has required the undersigned to
answer Mr. Slidell, that the Mexican Government can-
not admit him as Envoy Extraordinary, &c., to reside
near this Government. The undersigned could here
end his note, if motives.of great weight did not make it
necessary to make some reflections, not for leer of any
consequences that may result from our resolution, but
from the respect we owe to reason and justice.
The truth is, that this appearance of war with which
the American Union presents itself by sea, with her
squadrons on both- coasts, by land forces invading our
northern frontiers, at the same time that her Minister
Plenipotentiary is making propositions of good will and
conciliation, would be a course sufficiently powerful to
deter us from hearing said propositions, until all threats
and all appearances of hostility are removed. But never-
theless the Government of the Republic proceeds to
discuss the matter frankly and with loyalty, relying only
on reason and her rights. To refer openly and fully to
the truth, it is sufficient to make known the justice
which in this case is on the side of Mexico. The desire
of the Government of the United States has been appa-
rent for several years to increase her already immense
territory at the cost of that of Mexico, and until this
day, there is no doubt but that with respect to Texas,
at least, such has been her firm and constant determina-
tion, since it has been so officially declared by an
authorised agent of the Union, whose assertion, not-
withstanding its injurious rudeness, has not been dented
by the Government of the United States.
Omitting all the facts, which in a long series of years
confirm this intention on the part of the United States,
facts which prove that nothing was to be left undone in
order to attain the desired end, it is sufficient to refer to
what transpired last year, which is all that is pertinent
to the case.

The United States considering that the time had
come to annex Texas, concerted plans to that intent,
although they were in peace with us their natural allies.
The American Congress took the first steps.
This first undertaking was frustrated, thanks to the
promptings of prudence and the circumspection and wis-
dom of the American Senate.

However, the project of annexation re-appeared in the
following session, and was then approved and sanctioned
in the terms now known by all the world.
Such a fact, or rather to speak more precisely, such a
notorious act of usurpation, made it imperative on the
part of Mexico, whose honour was concerned, to repel it
with proper firmness and dignity. The Supreme Go-
vernment had declared beforehand that they would look
upon annexation as a casus belli ; conformable to this de-
claration, the negotiations were of necessity to be ended,
and war was the only recourse of the Mexican Govern-
ment.

But before proceeding to vindicate her outraged rights,
propositions were made by the President of the Republic
of Texas, with a view of terminating her difficulties, on
the basis of her independence, and the Government
agreed to consider those propositions, and to receive the
Cummissioners which were sent from Texas for that
purpose.
The agents of the United States in Texas did not lose
time, and availing themselves of the situation of Mexico,
they prepared and directed their negotiations in such a
way, that. the long•desired annexation of Texas was
almost immediately consummated.
Thus this adjunction of a territory, which had formed
an integral part of Mexico during years of Spanish
dominion, and after our emancipation without any in-
terruption during such a large space of time, a state of
things which had been recognised by the treaty, fixing
the boundaries between Mexico and the United States;
this adjunction I say was effected by the odious means of
violence and fraud.
Civilised nations have seen with dismay, in this en-
lightened age, a strong power availing herself of the
internal dissensions of a neighbouring nation, and
causing the vigilance of Mexico to slumber, resorting to
every kind of artifice, appealing alternately to intrigue
and violence, has finally succeede in despoiling us of
an important part of our territory, despito our unques-
tionable rights of property and possession.
Here is, then, the true position of the Mexican Re-
public; despoiled, outraged, and unheard, it was desired
to make her submit to further humiliating degradation.
The sense of her own dignity will not permit it.
It is not easy to understand how, notwithstanding the
clear and conclusive explanations given to his Excel-
lency Mr. Slidell, in the note of the 20th of last Decem-
ber, the Executive of the United States thinks there is a
motive to insist on what is there so positively denied.
The Consul of the United States in this capital directed
a confidential note on the 14th October to the then
Minister of Foreign Affairs. In this note it is said,
contrary to what was previously declared, that on the
eve of suspending the diplomatic relations between the
two countries, General Almonte learned the President
wished to have amicably adjusted all grounds of com-
plaint between the two Governments, and to cultivate
amicable relations with all the sister republics. He
continues to be animated by the same sentiments.
" He wishes that all existing difßrences should be
amicably terminated, without resorting to arms. Ac-
tuated by these sentiments, the President has requested
me to inform myself whether the Mexican Government
would permit an envoy from the United States, vested
with full powers to adjust all questions. in controversy
between the two Governments ; if the answer is
in the affirmative, the envoy will be immediately sent
to Mexico." _ . _

To this, the present Minister answered on the 15th of
of the before-mentioned month, " that although this
nation was highly offended by that of the United States,
on account of acts relative to the department of Texas,
yet my Government is disposed to receive a Commis-
sioner, who should come with full powers from the
American Government to adjust the present difficulty,
in a peaceful, reasonable, and decent manner ; giving
thereby another proof that, notwithstanding our in-
juries and Odr first determination- to exact reparation;