Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-03-29
"Palace Of The GOrernmcnt Of Delico,
February 18th, lc42.

"Paace Of The Gorernmcnt Of .beltc0,
February 18th, lo42.
Mr. J. HAMlLToS
Nv dear SIR Mr. Packenhom, Minister Of her
Britannia Majesty, placed IN my hands in due time,
Your letter o. the 18th of last January, which had
reached ham by the steamer FORTH and at present ac-
knowledge lis receipt after The delay required by the
grave matter on which II treats.
"A letter written without previous acquaintance
with ne, either official personal, By man whose
very acts stamp him enemy OF my country, could
fail TO surprise me; and the more so, from the want
OF tact and decacy with winch certain propositions
addressed 10 one, who knows how much IS due To
his eminent POSITION and to his dignity and honor
You have placed me, under The necessity o being
VERY explicit and severe, because | cannot consent
that you and the partlzans Of your cause should de-
ceive themselves concerning the final resolution OF
Mexico in the question Of Texas can | omit the
expression Of the profound disgust which you have ex-
ced in me, by rudey coming forward, TO propose
TO me the sale OF Texas, and the acquisition OF an IN
fanny.
You commence by acknowledging yourself a citi.
zen of the L. States, and at the time agent OF
Texas for the recognition of lis ndepe ndcncc by the
European powers, and for the we!l-known and nnor-
tunatc negotiations for loans do not conceive how
you Gun preserve the title OF citizen of nation at peace
harmony and friendship with Mexico while at the same
tune you endeavor do her all the harm yonr pow
er and to cut of from her part of her territory, by
means which you have employed with such singular
activity. THIS SPECIES Of impudence with which you
represent Yourself a citizen of the L. States, exces
vivid recoecijons that your coun'rynen first com
menced the var introduced disorder into Texas and
siill maintan H. scandaous violation OF the treaties
which should N gooA faith, unite the two nations
But leaving this ,xamna,ion to The criticism oil the CT
vilsed world, which ignorant neither 81 the origin
nor the cnGenccs Of the gsurpaiion OF Texas, VIII
quickly show YOU that you mis,ken, and that too,
greatly in surprising Mexico deficient either IN the
strength or the wall to maintain her incon,estlble
rights
1--WE have fully wei ghed tho actual and the possible
value of the territory o Texas, the advantage eccru
ing 10 Mexico by rc,nning II IN possession, and still
By the precaroug situation To which she would lind
herself reduced, she TO permit colossu, To arise
within her own limits always ready to advance ana CO.
ve,ous 10 Obtain acquisitions by the tri,e title OF
theft and nsurpatian but were the soil ct Texas
mere desert Of sand, unprodncve save of thorns TO
wound he foot Of the traveller THIS pain useless Ste
rc and unproduc'iye, should be defended wih energy
and consistency, under the CONVECTION that the posses
sion of a right imposes upon nation the necessity OF
never abandoning with shame and disgrace 10 her
name. II Won are acquainted with The statistics nf
Mexico. you cannot be ignorant OF fts population and
s wealth. aud If you have read history, you will re-
member that the which peoples the American
continent, IS the same which, on many memorable
OCCASIONS has gwen signal proofs not only Of cons,an
cv but Of ohtinacy defence of their lands, their
hearths, aud their national Individuality.
eleven years of bloody and mortal strife, TO
que our eprndcnce will perpeually 10 prove
arms great crisis; and this very prolonged series Of
civil wars has formed here population rs warilke rs
thew are patent aud cmnenty capable Of action under
all the stimuan's Of glory, when controlled by go
vernmrnt which respects itself and cnforces respect
for the people, whose welfare is conided 10 il You
must clearly remember that in the beginning of lo3t
Texas toand herself suhugated, and that only freak
OF fortune, the unexpected conduct of The General
who succeeded me in command, withdrawing impro
pey the Mexican array. and other causes winch, even
,,o hons Tho
immense and dcate results OF the rapid succession Of
victories canned by this same army, under my orders
and direction Greater aud powerful efforts than
those still be made, and, Slr you must not doubt
that they VIII be made; for TO the know 70 OF my du
ties, unite consciousness of the power and the
sources almy control One OF the most grave and ve
hement charges preferred by the nation against the
Government which has just disappeared from office,
the apathy and criminal neglect with which 1t con
Quoted the affairs oil Texas and am not the man who
viii Just rrProach, will sanction by silence
or inactivity, of the mos, scandalous robberes of
the present century.
"Fcelng as do, all the merit and importance of Tex
as, all the basis of my countrys rights and The mpon-
derabe results OF their renunca,lon contri
bate to The recognition Of her fatal pendence i'll
say more never Will permit any to dare do that
which the nation will not sanction and he whoe yer
he may be- shall be considered and punished tral-
tor 10 the rights the NAME and the glory Of Mexico.
''Yonr proposals for five millions of dollars for the
c,ty Permit me, Sir, TO add yon that your, offer of
two hundred thousand dollars for the agents Of
The Government of Mexico is insult and namy un.
worthy of gentleman.
perhaps you have ventured upon this mprudence,
yielding TO the illusion that my return 10 power save
probability to the hope Of nsement favora.
bic 10 Texas if such was your opinion, you, like many
others, have been deceived for have changed neither
my convictions nor my resolutions am bound By
any pledge promise Whatever, that could give pau
sb'liiy unjust suspicion. ! promised in Texas,
beneath The rifles Of the tumulluary umullarious) SOL
diers, who surrounded me, that ,eouid procure hear
ing for tier commissioners from my Gorernnent, and
,cond ezeretse myinfuenee TO prtre for lifetime being
fatal struggle and this PROMISE whose objec, was 10 Sc
cure, without moeSa'on, the retreat, which the Mexi
can army had already commenced, and which learned
with the greatest from Gen. Wool, naturally
remained without effect, from my sad condition as pr
soner; because the aggessons of the Texans removed
even the possibility of tightening the evils of war; an
because they failed themselves in their promises the
annullsd the resolutions Of him whom they called their