The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1837-12-12

rP-
cursors, who alleged and exercised sovereignty over
the country. With relation 10 the brig "Cossack.p
the decree OF restitution is dated after the plan OF
Iguala was declared less than month before the
treaty of Cordova was signed, by which ODonoghue
acknowledged the independence of Mexico, and
short time previous 10 the election Of a regency and
the choice Of Iturbide President OF the new Re-
public. What particular meaning is affixed in Mexi-
co TO the terms independence achieved" is not I'M
derstood, nor is II important TO discuss as the obl
CATION OF Mexico dates from the time of declared or
actual independence Of foreign control, and since il
maintained dominion exclusive Of that Of Spain.
The answer the Mexican Minister TO the de-
mand of the United States, founded upon the CON
duct of Mr. Gorosiiza, Is singular as TO require
particular statement OF all the facts in relation to the
subject of IT, Soon after the late Mexican Minister
asked for bis passports TO return home after termi-
mating his extraordinary mission, his last note 10 the
department, in which his for taking that step
were expressed was published in New York, In the
journal called the Courier DIES Eats Unis" This
document had never been made public by the auiho-
ry of the department. The existence Of a pamph-
lei BY Mr. Gorostiza, printed in Philadelphia in
Spanish, had been previously made known 10 the
Secretary OF State, by member of the diplomatic
corps accredited at Washington, who stated that he
had received two copies, and he believed that the
same number OF copies had been transmitted by The
author 10 each member of the foreign diplomatic
corpsin Washington; expressing, aitbe same time his
surprise and disgust al the grosSness of such an act
BY retiring minister. One of those copies was
given the request Of The Secretary for the use of
the department of State That the belief thus ex-
pressed was well founded, no doubi entertained
copy was also procured BY Of the officers Of
the Department Of Stale from another member of
the diplomatic corps; and one was lent, as il was
afterwards discovered, to the editor of the "Courier
des Eats Unis" by third with permission TO use il
for any purpose whatever. Extracts were publish
ed from the pamphlet in that paper, and in several
other newspapers and the copy in the hands Of the
editor of the French journal lent without scru-
pie, condition, but that, after being copied or
th..r,, u
cate copies sent to the diplomatic corps were obvi-
ousy intended to give the most extensive circula-
ton TO the matters contained in the pamphlet; and
no doubt expected to be transmitted 10 each
foreign Government represented in the United /
States and The other to adorn the archives of its le
CATION in Washington. From the equivocal cir |
cumstances under which the pamphlet was prepar-
ed, and the assertions contained in the preface, il
was supposed that the writer sought TO evade official
responsibility, by representing the publication as his
personal act thus giving TO himsefand his Govern
mcnt the benefit he hoped to derive from his defa-
NATION Of the United States, with all the Govern
ments of Europe, and with his own countrymen |
among whom il was widely distributed as soon as
he reached the Mexican territory, as prelude to his
last report to his Government, without xposing
that Government TO demand for redress for the in
jury sought 10 be inflicted by its representative
The ISLANDERS of private individual could not be Of
importance TO the United States; but the position
of Mr.. Gorosiza was equivocal il was deemed ne
cessary that the subject should be presented TO
his acts, mere citizen, as the representative |
agent of Mexico, should be marked and recognized
Occasion was taken therefore, in giving instruc-
TONS the 10th of December last, TO Mr.. Ellis to
make the explanations previously promised in re- |
gard to the movement of the troops under General !
Gaines to direct him to bring the of their minis
ter to the notice Of the Mexican Government, in |
these words:
at would be gratifying to the Presiden, If this
communication, which you will have TO make to
the Mexican Government, was limited to these ex-
plantations Unfortunately, the conduct Of its late
Minister Extraordinary has made it necessary to
touch upon even more unpleasant topic. You will
learn with astonisment that Mr.. Gorosiiza while
joying his diplomatic privilege, although after he
had declared his mission at an end published on
his own authority, pamphlet Ga copy of which is |
herewith sent TO you,) containing parts of his I'M
published correspondence with this Department, |
and extracts from his letters TO the Mexican Secre
tary ofForeign Relations, with long Introductory
preface. The publication OF his correspondence |
with the Department, without the authority OF this |
Government, is believed 10 be unexampled in the |
history of diplomacy and was not decorous 10 The
Government of the United States. The extracts |
from his correspondence with his own Government, |
and his introduction 10 the whole, contain statements
and comments dctamaiory of the Government and
people Of the United States, and obviously intended
10 injure the character of BOTH for honor and good
faith, in the eyes Of the world. This pamphlet al
though not circulated generally among citizens,
was in the hands of editors of newspapers who /
have published extracts from it; aud The President
has been informed that two copies Of il were sent by
its author, al the moment OF his departure from the
United States, TO some il not to all TIE members of
the foreign diplomatic body accredited here. This
act sill more extraordinary because il almost i'm
medaicly followed the communication of the Presi- |
dents intention 10 direct that explanations which he
believed would be salts factory, should be made TO
the Mexican Government, has excited but one sem
timent among those to whom il is known. In direct
ing you to make known the publication ofths pamph-
let TO the Mexican Government, the President does
not doubt the truth of the declaration made by lis
author, that this publication his personal
act for which he had no authority from his Govern
ment; will he permit himself to suppose for an
instant that il will adopt or sanction conduct SO
glaringly violating all the decorum of diplomotic |
usage; so disrespectful to the Government and peo
pie Of the United States; unworthy the represent
alive of respectable Government, and SO well cal
culated to interrupt the harmony and good will
which ought to subsist between the United States
and Mexico.
"How far the character of the Mexican Govern |
ment for dccorum and justice, and an honorable
desire to maintain respectable rank among the !
civilized nations of the world, requires distinct
manifestation of its just displeasure at such ex
traordnary step, are questions that belong to itself
alone to consider and decide.
"In giving you this instruction TO make known 10
the Mexican Government the conduct Of its Envoy,
without demand OF reparation at its hands, the
President is Influenced as well by the explicit dis
avowal of the Envoy of all participation on the part
of his Government, in the act complained Of as by
the sincere conviction, already expressed that step
so reprehensibe will be countenaDccd by il. But
if, contrary to all just expectation, the Mexican Go
vernment shall adop, that act or give sanction TO It
by approving of their Minister'S conduct, the con-
tnuance OF diplomatic intercourse between the two
countries longer be either useful or reputable
to the United States. However painful may be the
consequences, the honor OF the American people re-
quires of the President to instruct you, now do,
in that event. demand your passports and TO return
forthwith, bringing with you all the archeves of the
legation to the United States"
These instructions not received by Mr. Ellis
before his departure from Mexico; but a copy OF
them was subsequently transmitted TO the Mexican
Government, through its Charge de'Afares, Mr..
Castillo Prior TO Mr. Elis's departure, and within