The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-06-28


| at this moment (if indeed they had any particular
motve) was TO inquire in the seizure of the
Mexican Commissioners a, Ssa on board of an Ame-
rican vessel, by the Texan squadron; an act which
had been complained otto him by his EXcellency Mr..
Bocanegra the Minister of Foreign Relations, in a
note, on the OF January, which note he Mr..
EllIs) had communicated by the mail leaving this
city on the same night, to the Government at Wash
ngton. Ii this visit had definite object in view, it
was, therefore, of the most friendly character to
Mexico.
He could assure the President that SO far as he vas
appried the United States was sincerely anxious to
cultivate, If possible, the most amcabe relations with
this Republic
President Santa Anna answered that this was what
he wished Two ne ghboring Republics should be
friendly. Mexico especially hoped for kind relations
from MON; and he desired Mr. Ellis to convey
the expression of his socude on this subject to the
President of the u. S.
AS an earnest of the sincerity of his remarks he
would now say TO the Minister of the United States
that soon as he received information from the com
mandant at Vera Cruz, that the vessels of war had
left he would release all the prisoners who had been
claimed by MIR. Ellis. He would be prevented from
doing so, previously, by due respect public opin-
ion which (according to the of the day might
presence of those vessels.
MIR. Ellis expressed his satisfaction with this pro-
ceeding of Pres dent Santa Anna, and assured hin
that he would cheerlully convey his wishes to the
President of the United States by whom and by
large of the people of the United States he had
no doubt this new act of the Chief Magistrate of
Mexico would be haRd evidence of his siacere
desire to cultivate friendship, and insure peace be-
tween the two nations
This conversation occurred in the presence of his
Excellency, Jose Marn de Bocanegra, his Excelency
Ignacio Trigneros, Minister of Foreign Relations
and Hacienda and Of the undersigned, by whom il
was reduced to wilmington the evening of the day OF
It's date.
BRANe.ssz MAYER,
Secretary of the Legation of the
u S. of America, in Mexico.
Interview with his Excellency, Jose Maria de Bo-
canegra, on Saturday. the 10th of April, 1912, in
relation to the prisoners alluded to in the interview
of the 18th Of April, 1912, with President Santa
Anna.
On the 10th of April, at the request of Mr.. Ellis
called, about noon, on Mr.. de Bocanegra to know
when the seven persons claimed would be liberated
as the vessels of war ofthe United States had left
Vera Cruz.
Mr. de Bocanegra said He informed me, with
much regr, t. that he wasunable then, to declare at
what moment they would be liberated, the Cabinet
had received information, in dispatches from the
north, which was OF an exceedingly disagreeable
character, and might influence the mind of the Pre-
sident. he said they learned that Franklin Combs
who had been liberated in January last, had placed
himself at the head of $50 men advancing upon M x
ico This was the cause of the interruption of the
affair; but he requested me to return at O'Clock in
the afternoon, when should receive more definite
| answer on the subject.
Accordingly, at o'clock, P. M, | called again at
the Foreign Off and saw the Minister In
this interview, he stated fpe points of difficulty
carrying into effect the promise of the President viz
lst. That young Combs had armed, and was at the
head of body of hostile persons under the name of
" emigrants, advancing upon Mexico.
End. That MIR. Spencer had been sent from the
United States with dispatches to Texas, and that i'm
mediately afterwards, and, in strange coincidence,
the Texan blockade of the eastern coast of Mexico
had been proclaimed.
3d. That Texas had proclaimed this blockade
4th That all the vessels Of war of the United States
had not yet left Vera Cruz.
5th That the publications in the papers of the Uni
ted States against Mexico, were most unfriendly in
fammatory, and hostile.
| did not think that my duty required me to enter
into an argument of tn Sc objections with the Minis
ter but desiring to understand how far they to
avail against the operation of the positive promise of
the President first asked him whether this Legation
to consider the negotiations in regard to the Sc
| ven individuals as terminated?
His reply That they were not to be consider
| ed as terminated
l then asked, if we were to consider the Mexican
Government as having withdrawn its word as to the
| release of these persons?
| His reply was: That such was certainly not to be
our Interpretation; that Mexico did not withdraw her
| word, but " suspended' its operation alone.
| Anxious to limit the period of their confinement |
next inquired if this matter would be concluded pri-
or to the departure of Mr. Ellis, as General Thomp-
| son had just arrived in the city, and would doubt.
less. soon present his credentials
| He replied That the case should be settled before
that time, and that the suspension of the act' should
be of but short duration, Ito use his own words
should continue but few moments"
| BRANTZ MAYER,
Secretary of the Legation OF the U. S. in Mexico
|
| On Monday the 18th of April Mr.. Ellis had an in.
tervew with their EXcellencies, j. M. de Bocanegra
and lgnacIa TrigDeros, in the Treasury Department
relative to the persons heretofore claimed b,
him.
| J. M de Bocanegra recapituated the five points
which he alleged in his conversation with me, on
Saturday last, caused the suspension of the Presi-
dents promise.
To the first five points, MIR. Ellis replied That be
had positive information that Combs had gone home
with his father from New Orleans to Kentucky, and
was not engaged in the Texan war upon Mexico.
| End. That Spencer was not bearer of despatch
es from the Government of the United States to Tex
as but had used the title Gas was rumored) to pro-
ect himself from, or to evade, charges affecting him
personally
| Sd. That the United States had no part, influence
or concern, in the Texan blockade and, moreover
that if the Government he represented entertained
hostile designs upon Mexico, (Which it did not they
would be manifested openly by our forces, and
| uol oeCIctly, through lHc NAVY OF announcer power.
| 4th That all the vessels of war of the United
States had actually left Vera Cruz.
| 5th That the prints of the United States were
| free-not under the control of the Government-and
not the organs of its opinions.
| After he had concluded J. NJ. de Bocanegra re-
piled That he would again beg Mr.. Ellis to under
stand that the promise o Mexico for the release of the
seven, was given-"i it was act concluded"-but
its operation only momentary suspended Mexico
did not, in any manner retract her promise
He held the negotiation to be entirely concluded,
and, if the Envoy from the Uni ed States touch
ed upon it, he should SO inform him.
The liberty of the seven persons was granted to
Mr. Ellis, and he ould, Immediately see the Presi-
dent, and hoped the conversation he had Just held
with Mr.. Ellis would satisfy his the President's)
ind tn ind, 10 he roll 6