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

'VT tio:

MR• SLIDELL AND THE MEXICAN

MINISTER.

Jalapa, March 1, 1846.
TO ISIS EXCELLENCY DON JOAQIIIM CASTILLO Y LANZAS,
MINISTER OF FOREIGN RELATION'S AND GOVERNMENT.
The undersigned, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister
Plenipotentiary of the United States of America, to the
Mexican Republic, had the honour on the Bth clay of
December last, to address to his Excelli-ticy, Manuel
de la Pegna y Pegna, then Minister of Foreign Rela-
tions, a copy of his credentials, with a request that he
might be informed when he would be admitted to pre •
vent the original to the President of the Mexican Re-
public. . _

On the 16th of December, the undersigned was in-
brmed by Mr. Pegna y Pegna, that difficulties existed
in relation to the tenor of his credentials, which made
it neces3ary to consult the Council of Government
thereon, and on the 20th of the same month he was
advised by Mr. Pegna y Pegna, that the Mexican
Government had decided not to recognise him in his
capacity of Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plehi-
potentiary.
To this communication of the Minister of Foreign
Relations, the undersigned replied under dates of 20th
and 24th December, refuting the reasoning by which
the refusal to recognise him was attempted to be sus-
tained, vindicating the course pursued by his Govern-
ment and declaring his intention to proceed to Jalapa,
there to await instructions, adapted to an emergency so
entirely unlocked for.
He has now received these instructions. The Presi-
dent of the United States entirely approves of the course
pursued by the undersigned, and the communications by
him addhssed to the Mexican Government.

Had the then existing Government continued in
power, as no alternative would have remained, the un-
dersigned would have been directed to demand his) ass-
ports.
The President of the United States would have sub-
mitted the whole case to Congress, and have called upon
the nation to assert its just rights, and avenge its in-
jured honour.
The destinies of the Mexican Republic, however, hav-
ing since been committed to other hands, the President is
unwilling to take a course which would inevitably result
in war, without making another effort to avert so great a
calamity.
He wishes, by exhausting every honourable means of
conciliation, to demonstrate to the civilia-d world, that
if its peace shall be' disturbed, the responsibility must
fall upon Mexico alone.
He is sincerely desirous to preserve that peace, but
the state of quasi hostility which now exists on the part
of Mexico is one which is incompatible with the dignity
and interest of the United States, and it is for the Mex-
ican Government to decide whether it shall give place to
friendly negotiation, or lead to an open rupture.
It would be idle to repeat the arguments which the
undersigned had the honour to present in his note of
20th and 24th December, above refuted to ; be has
nothing to add to them, but is instructed again to present
them to the consideration of the President ad interim
of the Mexican Republic, General Mariano Paredes y
Arillago.
The undersigned, begs to suggest most respectfully
to Y. E., that inasmuch as ample time has been afforded
for the most mature reflection upon the momentous in-
terests involved in the question of his recognition, as
little delay as possible may occur in notifying him of
the final decision of his Excellency the President ad
at erim. _

.....
He cannot but indulge the hope that it will he such
as to result in the establishment of cordial and lasting
amity between the two republics.
The undersigned avails himself of this opportunity of
presenting to his Excellency Don Joaquim Castillo y
Lanzas the assurances of his distinguished considera-
tion.

(Signed)

JOHN SLIDELL.

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 fear 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 or 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 denied
by the Government yf 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
Commissioners 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 prepare 4 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 emancipatiwywithout 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 succeeded in despoiling us of
an important part of our territory, despite our unques-
tionable rights of property and possession.
He re 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 differences 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 Governnient 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 our first determination to exact reparation,