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

1
TO express the reliance of his Government on the
circumspection and good judgment of Congress to
defeat any unworthy views or designs with regard
TO the territory of Texas, IT would seem that his in
erpositon could not have been necessary in his
own view of the case. He either did or did not anti
cipate movement on the part of Congress more Sc
rious than simple discussion of the in ques-
ton. If he did, then the undersigned has not msun-
stood him he did not then the denunciation of war
was wholly gratultous and unnecessary, because it
was nude on a contingency which he himself did not
mean TO say even probable.
! Whether the Mexican Minister did or did not in
his letter of the 80 OF November, to impute TO
this Government some part OF It, the design TO
Texas TO the Union he undersigned cannot under
stand him meaning any thing else IN his eXpanato-
ry letter of the 18th. He his suspicion IF
such design in his attempt to show that he was JUS
tlhed in entertaining that suspicion and he does this
in the very passage Of his letter in which he endeay,
ors prove that the undersigned erred in attribung
such suspicion to him. Why else does he refer to
the exposition made 10y Mr.. Adams and other mem
bers of Congress the Sd of March last to the arti
cles IN public newspapers, and particularly those
which appeared in that which he styles the journal
| of the Government He declares that these proofs
together sufficient for him, and that he has
need u refer to other circumstances which, in his
opinion, authorizes the same conclusion
This conclusion is fortified, in the opinion of the
Mexican Minister, by the presumption, which he
thinks the circumstances OF the justify that the
which appeared in ''the journal of the Government"
were published with the knowledge Of the undersgn.
| ed The Mexican Minister may not be aware that
in the United states there journal Of the Gov
eminent. If he had known this, he would not pro-
baby have thought necessary to allude to the pre-
sumed agency or connivance OF the American Secre-
| tary Of Stale in those publications.
| The undersigned adverts TO this part of the Next
Minister'S letter only to show that he has not mis-
understood the Mexican Minister in this particular
/ He note lain hat no, tnfM rx~
suspects that this Government entertains design
to annex Texas to the Un.on but he thinks that 1t
was due to this Government that inquiry should be
made through the proper channels and in friendly
and respectful spirit, whether this Government real
iy entertained such designs not. Without such
previous inquiry, the denunciation Of war; the con-
sequence OF an attempt to carry them into execution
could not but be regarded an unnecessary threat
These designs were characterized by the Mexican
Minister in terms Of obloquy as strong the Ian
guage of his country afforded. In the opinion Of his
Government, at least they were highly discredable
to the United States; and yet processing TO be salts
fed with the proofs alre ady before him. and Without
asking Tor any explanation, the Mexican Minister,
upon mere suspicion, threatened war, in the name
OF his country, as the only adequate mode of resent
ing so great an outrage upon her rights. This is an
unusual course OF proceeding, and one to which the
just sei'respect OF this Government can by no means
submit Whether the suspicious Of Mexico were
well founded or not, it was due to this Government
ed States meditaed encroachment upon her rights,
real or supposed, great enough to justify so extreme
measure OF retaliation declaration of war.
| The undersigned regrets that he equally unable
to perceive from the Mexican Minister'S ex lanatons,
that he has been misunderstood in the second parcu-
lar specified by him. In his letter OF the 81 Novem-
Der he expresses the hope which animotes him. that
the circumstances whlcn have occasionod 1t (he let
ter would disappear and hut The Government of the
honorable Secretary of St,te would employ, the
proper Times, all he,means in Is power Illustrate the
pr Jcct Of the anne1ation thus saving its good
Name, and displaying pr. mntntly the lrncipi,s
winch ought TO. characterize Il Government Tree,
lghentd and just lis pol teal Transactions" Quo
ting these words, he how informs the undersigned
that nothing Is here manifested than desire,
hope, Cor expectation and he further says that,
IN expressing this hope, he has done than
second the desrts OF the American people who
wish then country 10 be conducted in he path of no.
nor, justice and reason" Does the Mexican Minis
ter know that the mere expression Of hope may be
ry. offensive! Does he perceive that when Mexico
expresses the hope that The United States will act in
such manner as TO save their good name in a ri, en-
case, doubt is implied whether they will do or
not 2 And when he tells the undersigned that the
course which he points out is necessary to save the
good name" OF The United Stats, how can he be 9th
erwise understood than pointing out TO the Secre
ary of State or his Government in what manner they
should fulfil their duties and take care of their repula
ton IL Is not received that he improve his posi-
ton when be tells the undersigned that in all ths he
(the Mexican nllister) does nothing than "se
cond he des res of the American people who vi h
tier countTy 10 be conducted IN the pa of honor Jus
tee, and reason" Surely he must have known that
the American people the nselyes the conductors
of their country and that their Government il but
the expression OF their will
In replying thus far TO the Mexican Minister'S ro,e
of the th ul,imo the undersigned has had no ether
object than to yndicate hs construction Of the Mex-
Minister'S letter of the ) and at he same time
intm- te his expectation that he will be addressed
IN language susceptible of construction dscourte-
tow ards his county Government. SO far as
/ the Mex Minis; or has dIsclamed the cOnstruc-
ton which the uadeIsgn f. himself co upelled to
place upo the ast mentioned note the undersigned
receives the disclaimer. lie does not desire TO sub
cct the language Of the MenC Minister TO csplious
criticism and lie would in indulge the Lope that in
the future correspondence between himself and the
! Mexican Minister there may e no room for u4iscon-
! slrucli'n or complaint on either side.
The Mexican Minister informs the undersigned that
he would be pleased 10 receive from him formal dis
yowal Of any purpose, on the part of the American
Government, TO annex Texas TO the Union. The
Mexican Minister must be aware that il is not in the
power Of the undersigned TO give any such dsayowal
50 far the Corgre,s of the United States IS con-
cerped and he cannot fail TO perceive that, consd-
ering the attitude which Mexico has chosen 10 as
sumo such disavOwal on the pant OF the President
cannot be reasonably expected, whatever his views
and intentions may be. il IS due however, 10 the
ranknes-, which Is the desire Of the United States
to display IN all their dealings with other countries,
that The undersigned should make to the Mexican
Minister the following explicit declaration
Near eight years have elapsed since Texas de-
clared her independence. During all that time Mex
leo has asserted her right Of jurisdiction and domin-
ION over that country and has endeayored TO enforce
II by arms. Texas has successfully resisted al such
attempts, and has thus afforded ample proof Of her
ability to maintain her independence this proof has
been so satisfactory TO many Of the most considerable
nations of the world that they have formally ac-
knowlcdged the independence Of Texas and estab.
llslcd diplomatic relations with her. Among these
nations the United States are included; aud in
deed they set the example which other nations have
followed. Under these circumstances the L. States
regard Texas IN all respects independent nation
fully conn etcnt To manage its own affairs and posses.
sing all tue rights OF other independent nations The
Government of tie United States Therefore will not
cons der II necessary to consult any other batou in
Transactions with he Government Of Texas The
Mexican Minister expresses his regret the dcclara-
an. If no uudt hat a