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

MAY 22, 1846.

we neither despise nor repel the right of reason and
of peace, although incited to act in a contrary manner"
By these extracts it will he seen that it was the firm
intention of the Mexican Government only to admit a
Plenipotentiary of the United States, with powers ud
to treat for Texas ; the negotiations were limited to this
only, as preliminary to the renewal of the amicable IT -
lations between the two countries (if.s.uch was-to-be 11:e
result), and to the admission then following, and not be-
fore, of an Envoy Extraordinary, &v., near this Govern-
ment.

The Government of this Republic could not exteral,
farther the compromise, because by receiving any per-
son whatsoever sent from the United States, with merely
the character of :an ordinary agent, the grave question
of Texas being still pending, a question which corperns
directly and immediately the integrity of the Mexican
Governmew, and -even our own nationality, would he
equivalent to an acknowledgment on our part of the
termination of that question, and of the renewal of peace=
f ui relations between thretntw•oc_ountries.
apparent, This truth is so
by
thei appointment of an
Envoy Extraordinary,
Bze t
United
alland
that
t f approvalt the Executive of the
had. been sorid) the Mexican
aab4•lnomination,
notwithstanding
y said
undersigned
willt, mustnet
permitbe co considered siiddme rseedl f at
o ds ants,lllgcnt
aweh.i eh the
If good faith presides over, as I suppose,
the acts of
the Government of the United Statesw'hea,t a
there to resist with so much earnestness the iindoitsiFem..
ni !
sable restrictions with which Mexico has pitued span_
taneously upon the proposition made to her ? If itiw( as
the real and positive wish to re-unite the broken links
of good understanding and friendship between the two
nations, there was an easy means at hand.
The Mexican Government had offered to admit a
Plenipotentiary or a Commissioner, who would come ou
the part of the United States, with special powers to
treat on the Texas question.
With regard to this particular, the resolution of the
Mexican Government is unchangeable. And, after all,
it is the rights of the
.Mexican nation that are to be as-
serted, it is her honour that has been outraged, and it
should consequently belong to her to take revenge : end'
this she will do, if necessary, by an appeal to all her
citizens, to fulfil the sacred duty of defending their
country. A lover of peace, she would wish to avert this
awful contingency; and without being afraid of war, she
would like to avoid such a calamity to both countries.
For these reasons, she has shown herself, and will con-
tinue to do so, desirous of every honourable means of
conciliation and she hopes sincerely that the existing
difficulty will be adjusted in a reasonable and honourable
manner.

In the present state of things, to say that Mexico
keeps a hostile position with regard to the United States,
is but to add a new offence to former injuries. Nor atti-
tude is that of defence, because she sees herself unjustly
attacked ; because a part of her territory is occupied by
the soldiers of a nation who intends, without any right
whatsoever, to make herself master of it ; because her
ports are closed by the squadrons of that same nation.
In such circumstances, can it be required that we should
remain inactive, and neglect to take proper means to
meet any contingency
It belongs not therefore to Mexico, on account of her
present situation, to decide whether amicable relations
will be renewed, or open war declared. It is long since
her interests and her dignity should-have required war,
but in the hope of honourable and peaceful transactions
she has silenced all her imperious rights.
From the foregoing it may be inferred that if war be-
comes at least inevitable, and if the peace of civilised
nations is hereby put in jeopardy, the responsibility will
not rest upon Mexico, but exclusively upon the United
States. Not upon Mexico, which admitted with un-
equalled generosity all the American citizens wishing to
settle in Texas, bat upon the United States, which
being resolved to make themselves masters sooner or
later of that territory, encouraged emigration therein, in
order that in due course of time its inhabitants, be-
coming masters instead of settlers, should claim as theirs
a territory which was to be ceded afterwards to the
United States. Not upon Mexico, which has protested
in time against the outrage, and has endeavoured to
avert every cause of hostility, but upon the United
States, which, without fearing to disgrace themselves
in the eyes of the world, and by a manifest in-
fringement of all existing treaties, afforded help and
protection to the rebellious. Not Mexico, which,
notwithstanding the repeated injuries inflicted upon
her, has received propositions of conciliation, but
upon the United States ; protesting a sincere wish
for an honourable and amicable adjustment, have, by
their acts, given the • lie to the sincerity of their
proposition. Not upon Mexico, which, careless
of her dearest interests, for the sake of peace, has list,
ened to the propositions made to that effect, but upon
the United States, which, under frivolous pretexts,
avoid the conclusion of an adjustment, and at the same,
time that they propose peace, orders thr squadrons
and their troops to close our ports and invade our fron
tiers ; and now require of us an impossible
in order to have a pretext, if not a motive, to enter upon

Therefore, to the United States does it belong to
d( cide between the alternative set down by Mr. Slidell,
and to choose between an amicable negotiation and open
hostilities.
The undersigned expresses to his Excellency, 'Mr.
Slidell, that in view of what has been exposed in the
present note, the Mexican Government entertains the
hopes that the Executive of the United States will take
the steps which to him will appear most convenient, after
having reflected maturely upon a question replete with
so many grave and complicated interests.
The Mexican Government, in preparing themselves
for war, if circumstances require it, will entertain the
flattering hope, that the peace of the new world will
not be disturbed, and in making this declaration be-
fore the whole world, the Mexican Government dis-
claims the responsibility of the evils which may grow
out of the strife, which they have not provoked, and
have tried to avert.

After having submitted the foregoing, by order of his
Government, to his Excellency Mr. Slidell, the nnder-
signed avails himself of this opportunity to present his
most distinguished consideration.
J. M. DE CASTELLO v LANZAS.

Jalapa, 17th March. 1846.
TO HIS EXCELLENCY, D. J. M. DE CASTILLO Y LANZA S
MINISTER OF FOREIGN RELATIONS AND GOVERNMENT,
The undersigned, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister
Plenipotentiary of the United States of America, has
the honour to acknowledge the receipt of the note of
Y. E. of the 12th instant, by which he is informed that
the Mexican Government cannot receive him in his ca-
pacity of Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipo-
tentiary to reside near that Government.
As it is the intention of the undersigned, in confor-
mity with instructions to return to the United States
with the least possible delay, embarking at Vera Cruz,
he has now to request that he may be furnished with
the necessary passports, which he will await at this
place. As Y. E. has advanced no new arguments in
support of the refusal to receive- the undersigned as En-
voy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary, he will
abstain from commenting upon that portion of the note of
your Excellency which, with a mere difference of phra-
seology, presents substantially the same reasoning as
that urged by Mr. Pegna y Pegna, in his note of 20th
of December last but he cannot permit by his silence
the inference which would naturally be implied of his
assent to the correctness of the statements made by
your Excellency in relation to the question
.of Texas,
and to the general course of policy which i soli ngra-
tuitously ascribed to the Government of the
make of
those
steh the
statements,review otmoesprchis e
preserve
dutyth
aut)
mStaakt
calmness of tone, and reserve of language, which is
which
e sittrivbeef
most consistent with consciousness of right, and the
power to vindicate it if necessary, and of which he re-
grets to find, that Y.E. has not given him the example.
The United States can confidently appeal to the history
of the events of the last twenty years, as affording the
most conclusive refutation of the charges of usurpation,
violence, fraud, artifice, intrigue, and bad faith, so
lavishly scattered through the note of Y. E.
It has never been pretended that the scheme of coloni-
zation of the territory of Texas by citizens of the United
States was suggested by their Government ; it was in
conformity with a policy deliberately adopted by that of
Mexico, and she must accuse herself alone for results
which the slightest foresight must have anticipated from
the introduction of a population, whose character, habits
and opinions were so widely divergent from those of the
people with whom it was attempted to amalgamate them.
There is no ground for the assertion, that the United
States, profiting by the generosity with which their
citizens had been invited to Texas, and resolved sooner
or later to take possession of that territory, encouraged
emigration thither, with the view that its inhabitants
changing the character of colonists for that of masters,
should seize upon the territory for the purpose of trans-
ferring it to the United States.
It is true that no obstacles to this emigration were
interposed by them, for it has ever been one of the
most cherished articles of the political creed of the
American people, that every citizen has the absolute
and uncontrollable right to divest himself of his alle-
giance, and to seek, if he thinks proper, the advance-
ment of his fortunes in foreign lands.
Stimulated by the gratuitous allotment of lands to
emigrants, and by the similarity, approaching with the
exception of religious toleration almost to identity, of
the political institutions of the Mexican Republic to
that under which they had been reared, the popula-
tion of Texas soon attained a development that autho-
rised the demand of a privilege which had been solemnly
guaranteed to them by the Constitution of 1824, ad-
mission into the Mexican Union as a separate State. A
convention was held, and a State Constitution formed in
dentormity with the provisions
presente of thed
to t
fundamental
compact of 18-,) 4. I, was
neral Congress with a petition to be admitted into
the Union ; the application was rejected, and
the delegate imprisoned. Soon after the Consti-
tutional Congress was dissolved by mutual force the
same arbitrary power convened a new Congress by which
the Federal Constitution was abrogated, and a consoli
dated or Central Government established in its stead.
Texas, as she had an unquestionable right to do, refused
to acknowledge the authority of a Government which
had been imposed upon the other States, by a successful
military usurpation.
The compact which had bound her to the Mexican
Republic was dissolved, and an abortive effort having

~ ~:~~ _ ~
a - -
~~~~._~.--Gt

•
been made to reduce her to subjectior, she on the 3d
of March, 1836, declared herself au independent Repub-
lic and nobly sustlired that declaration on the battle-
field of San Jacinto by the complete defeat and de•
struction- of a numerous and well-appointed army,
commanded by the Pre,idcnt of the 'Mexican Repub7
lie in person. She then demanded the recognition of,
her independence., and asked to be annexed to the United
States. The language of President Jackson in a com-
munication by him, adressed to Congress en the sub-
ject, afferdsu striking illustration of the good faith and
forbearance .towards Mexico which has ever charac
terised the conduct of the Ur.ited States. He advised
that no change should be made in the attitude of the
United States, if not until Mexico herself or one of the
great foreign powers should recognise the independence
of the new Government, at least.mnp42th,e lapse cflime
or eaur,s-a .of everWshottlil have proved beyond cavil or
dispute the ability of the peoi;le of Texas to maintain
their severeignty,.or 46..1'4:J16)d the Geverninent consti-
ttifeny them.

Thes-e orertures on the part of Texas were pending
for several years, but wete not emertatned by the G.,
rernmeet of the United States until the period had -elk.
rived when, in the largth.ge Of Pret,ident Jackson above
quoted, the lapse of time and course oforents had troved
beyond cavil or dispute the ability of her peelk to main-
tain her reparate sovereignty.
• tier independeeee must be coinider.,tl as a settled
fact, which cannot be called in question.
Nearly four years since, Mr. We b uer, then Secretary
ef State, in a dispatch to the Minister of the United
States at Mexico, said—" From the timtt of the battle
~r San Jacinto, in April, 1836, to the present moment,
Texas has exhibited the same external signs of - national
ind, pendensee as Mexic i herself, and with quite as much
stability of Government. Practically free and inde-
peedent; acknowledged as a political sovereignty by the
principal Powers of the world no hostile foot
finding rest within her territory for six er seven
years, and M-xico herself refraining for all that
period from any Anther attempt to re-establish her own
authority otter this territory." Three 'additional years
inaction on the part of Mexico elapsed before the final
question of the United States, the oecupationlor annex+
ation, with the same Senate, whose prudence, circutn-
-i,dcooishejrts7irf
and if any additional sanction could have been requisite
as Ili let er
dt In da:evxi
to a -sure so evidently just, proper, it has been
so justly eulogises,
~ute who, through her
Su-
preme Government received the four al
Foreign Affairs, Mr.
preliminaries of a formal and definitive
Congress, on the Y,ase authorised by the tional
19th May last, declared—"'nisi
Sii-
ticMleis.tberovotef
that it is disposed toconmence the
negvitirtion .Texas may: e,-a nit to- receive the Cora-
Itnr(e'anttyi(,rnaeldidasfst er,
missioners which she may mune for that purpose."
The first.condition was," Mexico consents to acknow-
ledga the independence of Texas." True it is, that by
the second condition Texas engaged that she would sti-
pulate in the treaty not to annex herself or become sub-
ject to any country whatever. When it is recollected
that this preliminary arrangement was made through
the intervention of the Ministers of Great Britain and
France, consequent upon the passage of the Act of An-
nexation, it cannot be denied that it was intended to
apply solely to the United StateS, and that while Mexico
acknowledged her inability to contest the independence
of Texas, and was prepared to abandon all her preten-
sions to that territory, she was induced to make this
tardy and reluctant recognition, not by any abatement
of her hostile sentiments towards her, so called, rebel-
lious subjects, but in the hope of gratifying her un-
friendly feelings against the United States.
The undersigned cannot but express his unfeigned
surprise, that in the face of this incontrovertible evi-
dence, that Mexico has abandened all intention, or even
hope, of ever re-establishing her authority over any por-
tion of Texas, Y. E. should have asserted that " Texas
had been an integral part of Mexico, not only during
the long period of the Spanish dominion, but since its
emancipation, without any- interruption whatever during
aonfdtialegaininc,mtahraotve"rttlitbelelrT
gi thetds
Ss' )taltoexs)gt ear rsi Pt
oarcje,, ore. rf
egardless
of the most unquestionable property and of the most
constant possession." Ilow weak must be the cause
which can only be sustained by assertions so circumstan-
tial, 'with facts that are notorious to all the world, and
how unfounded are all these vehement declarations
against the usurpations anti thirst for aggrandisement
of the United States.

The independence of Texas, then, being a fact con-
ceded by Mexico herself, she had no right to prescribe
restrictions as to the form of government Texas might
choose to assume, nor can she justly complain that
Texas, with a wise appreciation of her true interests,
has thought proper to merge her Sovereignty in that of
the United States. •
Tire Mexican Government cannot shift the respon-
sibility of war upon the United States, by assuming that
they are the aggressors ; a plain, unanswerable fact,
responds to all the subtleties and sophistries by which
it is attempted to obscure the real question.' That fact
is the presence in Mexico of a Minister of the United
States, clothed with full power to settle all the questions
in dispute between the two nations, and among them
that of Texas. Their complaints are mutual, the consi-
deration of them cannot be separated, and they must. be
settled by the same negotiation, or by the arbitrament,
whichAeiico herielf has elected.
WA' what reason does 'lllexico attribute to the
United States the !k,sire of finding a pretext to com-
mence hostilities? The appearance of a few ships of
war on the American coasts, and the advance of a small
military force to the fsiont ice of Texas, are cited as evi-
, deuce that the declaration of a desire to preserve peace
'is insincere. Surely. it cannot be rocessary to remind
your Excellency, that the menaces of war have all pro-
ceeded from Mexico: at Lit would seem that the eleva-
tion to power of its actual Governinent was too recent
to have afforded your Excellency time to forget the
oitensode reas4ms for which Ua.. ,shich preceded It
was Ovikftrown. The crime which was imputed to the
then Preshleut—a crime so odious as to justify his
forcible expulsieitfrnm the Presidency, to which he had
been hut a few months previensly elected, with naps.
ralleled unanimity, and in aceorilance with all the forms
of the Constitution, was that of not having prosecuted
the war .against Texas, or, in other words, against the
United States—a crime, of which the enormity was
aggravated in a tenfold degree by his.having accepted
the proposal of the United States to negotiate.
To suppose that the present Government has not
•always intended, and does not still intend, vigorously to
prosecute an offensive war against the United States,
would be to insinuate the degrading charge of making
declarations, which it did net design to fulfil, with the
unworthy motive of supplanting a rival. .

With these avowed intentions on the part of Mexico.
and so far us words can constitute that state actually
existing, with what fairness can she complain of pre-
cautions having been taken by the United States to
guard against the attacks with which they have been
menaced, so far at least as their very moderate peace
establishment would permit them to do so ?
Are they patiently and meekly to abide the time when
Mexico shall be prepared to strike with due effect the
threatened blow?

Your Excellency has alluded to the internal dissen-
tions of Mexieo,• and accused the United States "of
taking advantage of them, beguiling its vigilance by pro-
testations of friendship, bringing into play every kind of
device and artifice, and appealing alternately to intrigue
and violence." Were the disposition of the United
States such as your Excellency is pleased to attribute to
them, they would have eagerly availed themselves of the
opportunity afforded by the first refusal to receive the
undersigned, and cr riainly no moment more propitious
humiliating,inos
etlfflaecnttchoeupidrebseanvet
bteoencasreri3ec- theirted. ambitious schemes into
y
Insteafd
forrabvealirl.itini they havbe with a
whichhad
the overtures for negotiation,
repeated 5(
,many,Oonf.idtCP.T ee
CI" 21) S;
idmegpraereti no! observers,gt;lhveitlimllastehl he (considered
pride;
and circumstances
this the
most best
conciliatorycalculated.
advance made by the aggrieved party,- is said by
ytbooeue°rnirernExcellencynational t o be an attempt which he
cannot permit himself to call by its proper name (ung
tentativa (Inc el it frascrito no se penitile califlcar).
This reserve is remarkable, when contrasted with the
terms of vituperation so freely employed in other parts
of the note ; or is it that Y. E. could discover no epi.
thet sufficiently energetic to stigmatise an offence so
enormous, as a renewed proposition to enter upon ne-
gotiations ?

The undersigned has already exceeded the limits
which he bad prescribed to himself for reply ; the ques.
tion has now reached a point where words must give
place to acts.

While he deeply regrets a result so little contemplated
when he commenced the duties of his mission of peace,
he is consoled by the reflection that no honourable efforts
to avert the calamities of war have been spared by his
Government, and that these efforts cannot fail to be pro-
perly appreciated not only by the people of the United
States, but by the world.
The undersigned begs leave to renew to his Excel-
lency D. J. M. de Castillo y Lanzas, the assurance of
his distinguished consideration.

JOHN SLIDELL,

National Palace, Mexico, March 21, 1846.

TO HIS EXCELLENCY MR. JOHN SLIDELL.

The undersigned Minister of Foreign Relations has
the honour to acknowledge the reception of the note
which his Excellency John Slidell, appointed Envoy
Extraordinary, &c., of the United States, has been
pleased to address him, under date of the 17th of the
present month, from the city of Jalapa.
As in this communication Mr. Sidell has only re-
peated the arguments, reasons and motives, presented
formerly by other diplomatic agents of the United
States,
in this country, arguments and reasons which have been
notoriously
would be a fruitless task on the part of the undersigned
refuted by the Mexican Government, it
to enter anew into the
examination.
And above all, since Mr. Slidell, in conformity with
instructions from his Government, returns to the United
States and solicits the delivery of his passports, the un-
dersigned has the honour to send them to his Excel-
lency, in fulfilment of the order given by the President
pro tern. of the Republic.
The undersigned avails himself of the opportunity to
renew the expression of his high consideration for his
Excellency, John Slidell.
J. M. DE CASTILLO r LANZAS.

CORE AND WATERTFOBD RAILWAI.A meeting of
the shareholders in this project resident in Exeter was held
in that city a few days ago, when it was unanimously re.
solved, on the motion of lie Rev. C. R. Roper, seconded by
Mr. Tombs, to request the directors to proceed with that Bill.
[A DVERTISEMENT.3—HOLLOW.:.Y'hgavi:ItII.:SpAIeNasDureOINT-
MENT.—Extract a a letter, Sated Tobago, West Indies, Fab. 4.
in-
form Tt
that tr yourfessausrteHnli°stlilleiclinwl
eg::iF,liirlui.ttes.
tihyasr-ieine,i,iirnegd
ulcers
tgeernst I
aboutema
his legs, arm', and boln t4ia island, win
dy, who had tried all oilier titelicilie.s Isefore
the arrival of yours, bat all of which did him Ito good ; but yours
cured him In about six weep'. and he is now qu to restored to health
and vigour: (Signed) "JOHN MARTIN, Chronicle Office, Tobago,
Sold at Professor Holloway's Establishment, '244, Strait pn
almost all respectable vendors of medichies throb ghQu
woad.

HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE.
TO-MORROW EVENING, MAY 23,
Will be performed Verdi's celebrated Opera, in Foar Parts, entitled
I LOMBARDI: ALLA PRIMA CROCIA rA.
With new scenery, dresses, &c. ; the scenery by Mr. Marshall.
Gr,selda, Madame Grisl; Sofia, Madame Benin! ; Viclinda, Mdlle.
Corbari; Oronte, Signor Mario ; Arvino, Signor Corelli ; Pirro,
gig. Botelll; Aeciano, Sig. Giubilei ; Pagano, Sig. Fornasari.
To conclude with a favourite BALLET.