Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1823-12-13

recent contract Tor The delivery and receipt
of maritime correspondence, retaining f,r his
own use all postage accrung on letters re-
ceived: pretending To have exclusive dolnin-
ion over the port OF Vera Cruz, and imped-
ing the authorities of the city in the execution
IT their duty. The government, seeing and
Feeling all these aggressiOns, and possessing
| ample means of redress, still observed "A libe-
raj and concaiiog course, regaIdle Of all
prOvocatOn that in no time hereafter il
might he charged To ms, that peading pacific
| negotiations, for the ad justRsnt of the differ
ences between the two nations, we had au-
thoriZed any hostile measure, and, above all,
that it should not be said of us, AS it was al
the commencement of the Revolution, that
we took advantage of the present disastrous
! state of the mother country. The considera-
tons So laudahle, and sentiments disint.r-
ested and noble, were properly appreciated
by Mexicans, hut unfortunately they stimula
ted the governor of Ulua To his cruel and in
considrrnte temerity, as, without doubt, he
attributed our patient bearing of insult To our
want of feeling 10 resent, or want Of Powcr tD
redress; and regardless alike of our nagnani-
nous forbearance, and the state ur the pend
ing negotiation, he raised the Spanish stand
ard 10 the Isa de SacrifcIos, belonging tn our
territory, and under the reach Of our cannon,
threatening with unparalleled insolepcr, that
u we attempted to dislodse him, did not
destroy the battery of Mocambo,* he would
| commence hosiiirs. How must the GO, rru-
ar have been amazed To find the excellent cit
iZens OF Vera Cruz the first To- impore the gn-
,ernment To resent The insult and redress The
injury, even should il prove to be ut the ex-
pense of reducing their city To ashes
The fire commenced from The castle on the
evening of the 25h September. and with the
FIRST shot, all the pending negotiations and all
political and mercantile relations with Spain
were Frustrated orders were promptly given
that all Spanish merchantmen should leave
our ports, regardless of our right Ia cnnfiscai.,
and careful of the good faith under which they
had been permitted to enter. Orders we're
also gwen. that they should not he allowed to
discharge their cargoes, and that they should
return from whence they came, Further, for
vessels now on their passage To any of the
ports in Mexico a like Indulgence should be
extended, To those coming from the ports Of
Europe during the four next ensuing months,
and those from the ports Of America during
the next forty days. These resolutions were
made public and after the period above emu
merated, all Spanish vessels will be considered
good prizes; further prohibiting the imporia-
ton of all Spanish fruits and produce, under
whatever flag they may he conducted.
We have been shainefully and unjnstfaby
provoked, and as national defence and nation
al honor require, we thus rrtarn aggression for
aggrcssnn, and the government we'll knows
how Ia sustain her rights and the glory of the
Mexican peopie.-No, they shall not insult us
with IMMUNITY; nor will any attempt at cou-
citation be listened tn without the surrender
OF the castle and the acknowledgement of in
dependence and sovereignty.
But returning to the conduct observed to-
wards the Spanish commissioners hnstitips
having commenced-what other could go
vernment do than order them to leave our
territory? Accordingly, General Victoria fur
n'shed them passports, and guard for the
port of Alvarado, and on their departure. they
gave further evidence Of the Injustice aud
mad folly of the Governor of Uiua, in pro-
crediDg on their voyage tO Havana, without
visiting The castle, thus showing their nnwil-
lIngness TO correspond or connect themselves
with him.
Fellow citizens-Hercin Won have sim
pie statement of occurrences pending the re-
cent negotiation with the commissioners al
The Peninsula For the welfare of Spain the
government woHd have wished different
termination; but il has not been in our pow
er; we have been patient and furbearng to
the last; suffering insult and wrong, with
laudahle and heroic courage, and not desiring
To take advantage 0f the present distressed
state of Suain far the commencement Of hos
tiliies. We look 10 the generous and noble
feeling of the Mexican people to acqut us of
all wrong in this long continued fprbfarancr
and we are assured that TN. conduct of ihv
government will recommend her tn Ill civil
lied nations, and command the admiration Of
her only enemy.
MrXicans--We may owe IL 10 ourselves, in
| our diversity OF opinion, and want Of harlno-
ny, that the Governor Of the Castle has been
prompted TO his um ustfabe measures. The
| government is well assured, and all Europe
will be undeceiyed on this point. All will be
! taught that our Independence is secure-that
we will be united, and one-that Spain is
| powrrrss in any further attempt against o,p
political existence IT'S formed compact,
invulnerable. let the recent occurrence,
the effect of the blindness of the Governor nf
| Ulna, open our eyes 10 our true interests, en-
| abling us in harmony and good fellowship, TO
work ont the great work of emancipation /;
remembering always to he sincere friends to
all nations that desire 10 h. so with us, and to
inllici cE.stsement on all who attempt To in
jure us.
In conclusion, the cause which we defend
is so sacred, and such is the united, uniform,
| and ardent patriotism Of Mcxicans, that the
government bpIieves il unnecessary tn say,
she calculates ON the assisiance of ail the pro-
vlncrs, in the present emergency. Three cen
turtles nf slavery and bondage, drsnlatirg
war OF years after years, countless and Jude
scribahle sacrifices, and the torrents Of blood
which have inundated Anahuac,f are not soon
| to be forgotten.
| Government will proceed with due re-
| gard to all these consideraiions--no circum-
stance can ioduye her To take one step conira-
ny To reason and Justice. or ever 10 overlook
anything that may be becoming The majesty
and greatness of the Mexican people.
| National Palace of Rlrxiro ST., Oct 1928