The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1843-12-15

of the legislative bod when that body has not yet been
| assembled What the undersigned and his Govern
ment have said is, that The shercan Government has
,cs grounded reasons 10 beiere tG IN the approaching
essio ofLhs General Congress Of the United SlaeS the
question as 10 the ane1ation Of part Of us Territory
TrasJ 10 the United States oiA be discussed 1aiara
Here il is clearly that neither the undersigned
nor his Government have said that Congress will take
m (5afara) the subject Of the annexation of Texas
but that the subject Of the annexation of Texas will
be discussed in its sessions en- ceSioae tratara
that is to say, that this question Will in some man
ner, be agitated in its body that it will afford mate
rial for discussion, (disesion for which as The Sec
rotary of State well knows, II will be sufficient that
| petition be presented, that some member should
make proposition 10 the effect in Congress, for
discussion TO take place, even though II were Tor no
olher object than 10 admit or reject such PROPOSE
ZION. This is what the undersigned and his Govern
ment have said and, in order that the Secretary oil
State may that what has been said by both is not
without foundation II will be sufficient for the under
signed, without need Of reference to other clrcum-
stances in proof, to cite the exposition The subject
of the annexation Of Texas, made the Sd OF March
last by thirteen members, among whom is found the
ctable name OF the Hon. John Quincy Adams,
eX-PresiGent OF this Republic.
Since that time, articles have been constantly APP
pearng in the newspapers OF the South, and especial
ly in the official journal of the Govern nen IN favor
of the annexation of Texas; respecting which, the
latter paper has gone far to say, that Il (the
nneXation is Of such npo, tance that The individual on
ndirdua rho may contribute the most 10 eGect an 90
ject advantageous for The Union and so anIously de-
sired by The Teams acU receire the applause Of the
try and hereafter. II is very possible that these
expressions may have been written without the know
ledge of the Secretary OF State, and the undersigned
desires TO believe IL but, in truth, presumptions
! indicate the contrary.
The Secretary OF State, moreover seems TO consider
il strange that the Government of the undersigned
| should nrt have hitherto made any inquiry of hIn as
TO the facts upon which HI protest Is founded thu
giving it To be understood that be il ignorant OF any
project being ent' rianed Centre manos-ln hand) for
the of Texas TO the Unite States, that
II Is in contemla Use rate to submit such ques-
ton to the deliberations of the ensuing Congress
The undersi n ID would high value formal declare
ton thal eii The part # the Secretary OF Stale,
in order 10 be able to transmit 1t without delay to his
| Government, as it would show, in most unequvocai
manner that if any in the nlted States be en-
gaged In Vaccinations (maqure) against the ntegr ~
OF the Mexican territory the Executive OF the Union
is eniirey ignorant of il. The undersigned can as
sure the Secretary Of STATE that such dec ration
would be highly important and satisfactory for las Go
vernment and that it would contribute effectively TO
preserve unaterabe he relations of friendship which
actually exist between the Two countries. In fac, the
prot which the designed has made has been
conditional; hat Is To say, 1t applies to the case IN
which the Government of the United States should,
contrary TO The expeditions Of the Mexican Govern
men, unfortunately carry into execution the act
against VIII On the protest Is directed.
he second misunderstanding consists in the sup
position that the undersigned has meant point
TO the Secretary OF Stale or his Government in what
manner they (i) should fulfil their (s) duties, and
take care of their Gts) reputation. The undersigned
has taken upon himself no such Office. What he has
sci fol tn In his note is the ho which apimates him.
that the circumstances which have occasoned it (the
noie) would disappear and that the Government Of
Il honorable Secretary of Stale would employ at the
proper times all the means In It's power to illustrate the
project OF tie annexation, thus saving lis good
name and displaying prominently the principles which
ought 10 characterize Government free, cng hten-
ed, and jus, in It's political transactions" Nothing
ore is here NANTES ed than desire, hope, or ex-
pec,ation.) Whence could the honorable Secretary
o. ate then, have drawn the inference that the
designed meant to adm0nish his Government as 10
the course which it should pursue? eel praneo que
debe obSerrar) Does not the Secretary OF State see
I that the undersigned has done than second
/ the desires of the American people, who wish their
country to he conducted IN the path OF honor justice,
and reason?
The undersigned, therefore does not know to what
to attribute the not very decor language (nguage
POGO decoroso) which the honorable Secretary OF
has employed In saying that the observations (inad-
| rertencias wal nings) of the undersigned
cessaTy IN the commu ncaons which he may In future
address 10 the D,parmt Mt of State and in declaring
that the Government OF the United States is under
no necessity to from that of Mexico what is due
TO It's own honor or The rights of other nations.
ne Undersigned mas also observed, WIN TegIe' +,
that the honorable Secretary of State in the concu-
sion of his aforementioned note declares that his
Government has not, m time past, done any thing In
consisted with the Just rights of Mexico i be I'M
dersgned is gre,ed to be Obliged 20 think far other
wise; and, although he might on this demon
strate the lnJurlts which his country has received
from tie Y nped ~ ties, he will dispense with doing
So because his intention not TO revive old crcum-
stances OF difference, TO lrritate feelings, but TO
j reconcile and t:anquize them much possible.
la iu-io he al Al his In.
y (Seree caSo) To repeat to the Secrary Of State
In order that he may Ice pleased 10 communicate il 10
his eIcellency the Pr dcDt that neither he bis
Government have intended, and hat 1t should not
have been supposed that they would have INTENDED
to cast impuallon (agrdrin) upon the Legislative
body, and much less to admonish the Executive as 10
Is duties. His desires have tended solely the main
tenancc of the pace and harmony hch ought TO sub
sist between two neighboring and friendly nations ;
and though the undersigned has declared by express
order OF his Government, that war will he the new
table consequence of the annexation of Texas t. the
VI tied States, ne certainly has not done with the
( object Of intimidang the Government of the lnor
able Secretary of State but with the view Of showing
how far Mexico would carry her resistance to an an
neIaiiOn Of that nature Ard in truth, the honora-
bic Secretary Of State should not regard this any
otEer than very natural feeling; it is most clear
that, II Mexico or any other Power should at empt
TO appropriate 10 herself portion Of the territory OF
the United States, the latter would not II
wahout first appealing TO arms, whatsoever might be
the result to which the ortune of war might subject
! them.
The undersigned has the honor to renew to the Sc
cretary Of State the Of his very high and
D distinguished consideration
p in. ALMoNTE.
Hon. A. P. UPsHUR Secretary Of State.
Hr. Upshur 10 Gen. Almonte.
DEPARTMENT or STATE,
WAsHrNGToN December J. l643.
The undersigned, Secretary Of State of the United
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