The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1843-12-13

ties, who cannot be supposed 10 wish to alarm
their Government by uncertain and groundess lnior-
nation. The Government relied on the faith which
should be placed on those authorities and consider
ed that they, when addr sslng their Government on
subject so serious in all its relations and aspects,
did 20 the discharge the functions civil and mil
itary which they exercise in their respective depart
ments. ~ ~ u \.
their agents; and if they deprived Of this means
for the support OF their measures, what other eau te
have In order to become acquainted with the circum-
stances which require their attention! ge .o.E ,gl
In the Offices of the Department of State are docu-
ments which induced the belief in, new INVASION
and the order Of General Houston for its cessation de-
stroys all doubt on the subject. ~ Az
With regard TO the incorporation Of Texas IN the
United States the principal object oil this hote, and
on which the honorable Mr. Thompson treats in his
reply of the oath Of August last, the information
still more positive to an ALTAR which neither is
nor can be Indifferent to the Supreme Government of
Mexico because it has calculated and foreseen the
exaggerated pretensons Of those who in the United
States support the pretensons of the adventures Of
Texas. The communications, public and private
from that country, lis newspapers aud the rumors
there current, ard the invitations signed Washing
ton on the 9Th OF March of this year. are circumstan
ces which cannot be treated as vague rumors. The
fact that the General Congress Of the United States
has already been occupied with the subject Of the an
nexaton OF Texas Is not only moi destitute of foun
dat'on but most positive proofs Of it have been OBJ
tanned and ii is not therefore of those anecdotes
which editors are in the habit of introducing into
their newspapers 10 order orender them more pleas
ng It is thing certain---most certain, unless the
publications of the enlightened John Quincy Adams
And the opposition made and now in preparation
ngsns this project at the head Of which that person
age stands, be fables.
To insist on what is positively known, that the
States of tie South are promoting and agitating the
aggression upon Texas, would be offence to the
enlightenment and judgment Of Mr. Thompson.
The probabilities are that the Congress al Wash
ington will again take up this affair at lis next
sion, and that the reason, JUSTICE and crcumspec-
ton Of body which, from its nature, proceeds With
the utmost caution (nadr.z deberation in affairs Of
less Importance, will Illustrate pretensions based sole
ly on private interests. The undersigned hopes,
with good reason, from the principles Of justice
which ought to preside the deliberations of the
Congress of the United States, that it will never lis
ten to suggestions, nor to private interests detrimen
tai TO the law of nations and International law but
as it may happen that ambition and delusion may pre-
vail over ublic proprety that personal views may tr
umph and just ideas, and that the vigorous
reasoning of MIR. John Quincy Adams and his CO.
laberers may be Intellectual, how can IL be consider
ed strange and out of the way that Mexico, un!e:
such suppostion, should announce that she will re-
gard the annexation Of Texas act Of decara-
ton of war; Mexico, therefore, does not threaten,
and still less does she provoke and excite; what she
says is that which cannot be denied to her-that she
wilt regard the annexation Of Texas to the United
nOStllc lnaSmucn as ln1s act Involves
violation of the law Of nations, and particularly
Of international law by its inlracton Of the first
article of the treaty of April s., 1881, published in
Mexico in 1912, which says "I'herc shall be
firm, nviolable, and universal peace and true and
sincere friendship, between the United Mexican
States and the United States Of America, in all the
extent of their possessions and rritores, and to-
tween their people and citizens, respectively, wi h
out distinction of persons or places"
Mexc, has always taken care to fulfil her spu-
lations, because she knows what she owes to other
nations but she wishes also that what is due to her
self should be observed and maintained and if on
these principles she has protested and does protest,
she does in this no more than fu fl an obligation
which is peculiar to her sovereignty and Inde pend
ence, without proposing, distantly to inmi-
date or 10 warn, but 10 show what it is proper for
her to do
The undersigned here wifi repeats to the Hon.
Waddy Thompson The assurances of his most dstin'
guished consideration.
JIM DE BoCANEGRA.
Hon. WAppy THOMPSON,
Enpoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiny
efhe United States # .lmerica.
Mr. Thompson to Mr.. De Bocanegra.
LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
MEXICO, September a. lS43
The undersigned, Envoy Extraordinary and Minis
ter Plenpotentary Of the United States Of America,
has seen in the "Daro del Gobierno' of the Odd in
the Republic Of Mexico prohibiting foreigners, after
the expiration Of six months, from engaging in the
retail business Of any kind
The third article Of the treaty of amty, commerce
and avigaton between the United States and the Re-
public OF Mexico is in the following words:
" The citizens Of the two countries respectively
shall have liberty freely and securely 10 come, with
their vessels and cargoes to all such places, ports
and rivers Of the United States of America and Of
the United Mexican States to which other foreigners
permitted 10 come, to enter into the same and
remain and reside in any part of the said territories
respectively; also, to hire and occupy houses and
warehouses for the purpose of their commerce. and
TO trade therein in all sorts of produce manufactures
and merchandise and generally, the merchants and
traders of each nation shall enjoy the most complete
protection and security Tor their commerce"
Language more comprehensive and clear, in the
judgment Of the Undersigned, could not have been
employed.
1t cannot now be alleged that the Term " trader
meant only 10 imply buying and selling by whole
sale Such is not the true meaning Of the term and
if such had been the intention of the parties 10 the
treaty. the term should have been qualified and
stricted
But il is perfectly clear that such not their in
tenton. The terms merchant" and GRADER are
both used. If wholesale commerce meant, the
term "merchant" was al-sufyie lent; and why was the
other term str 3del' also used But the te ''tra-
DER has in English distinct and specific meaning,
and that meaning, IN It's general accepaon, is not
only not buying aud selling by wholesale, but exactly
the opposite.
The term commercial" (the Spanish word used, J
according 10 the " Diccionaro dc la Academia is
defined thus "Negociar trqfcar, comprenado ven
diendo permutando gcneros'-to trade trofi :,
buying aud selling or exchange Of goods.
The meaning Of the word "negociar," as given by
the same authority, is "traar which is also defined
TO trade or traffic
II seems, therefore, that the privilege Of trading
and trahckng by wholesale or retail without any re-
stricton, is secured by the above article of the urea.
ty, as clearly by the Spanish terms employed as by
the English; and the undersigned therefore soIemnly
protest. against the said order Of the 23d instant as
direct violation of the treaty between Mexico and
the United States and he further protests against
the same on another ground.
American citizens have come TO Mexico with large
stocks OF goods under the supposed security above
alluded to- and when such regulation those no