Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1844-12-20

lie is instructed furthermore, TO protest
against the renewal Of the war against Texas,
and especially against the barbarous manner
in which it is to be carried on and, in this
connection. Mr.. Calhoun urges upon him a
great variety of motives for pursuing with en-
ergy and prudence the project of Annexa.
ton. Every line of this document bears ev-
iicnce that il was intended to be a private
letter OF instructions, for Mr.. Shannon's guild
ancc. 1t was his business 10 use il, as OPP
por,unny offered, to presen, the several
views which it contained, as his own pru-
dencc and discretion nigh, dictate. lie was
furnished with plan Of operations, and its
success depended entirely upon the caution
and ingenuity with which II was carried into
effect. His very first step is to submit the
whole thing to the Mexican Secretary He
coolly copies Mr.. Calhoun's letter of instruc-
lions. signs his own name to it, and despatch
es il TO the Mexican government All the
private directions which Mr.. Calhoun has
given him the revelations of the secret
policy and intentions of the United States
the whole scheme by which our government
has long been seeking to dupe and ole the
government Of Mexico all are thrown
open, deliberately copied, and, with the sfg-
nature and seal of the American AmhassaA.
dor affixed, laid before the Secretary of that
government against which they are directed !
This, it must be conceded, was most re-
markabe beginning. But it is quite eclipsed
by what ensued. MI. Rejon, the Mexican
Secretary, replies to this letter from Mr..
Shannon, far less angrily than was to be an.
ticipated. Mr.. Shannon, repeating Mr.. CAL
honn's private information to him, had in
formed Mr.. RECON that far the last twentv
gears, (of course, before Texas had thought
of rebelng, while its righ!fn connection
with and submission to Mexico were undis.
puted,) the United States has been secretly
striving to gain possession Of her territory!
Mr.. Rrjon replies, that this is 4 virtual con.
fession that the United States have dealt
trcacherously with the Government of Mcxi.
CO, inasmuch as the fact now confessed. has
heretofore been repeatedly disavowed by
our Government. He presses hi. fac, upon
Mr.. Shannon's attention very forcbly and
with great ability. Indeed, his despatch is
one of the ablrst diplomatic papers ever is
r sued by Mexico, and if not answered will be
considered by the civilized world as placing
the United States in a most dshonorable no.
si'on, as having conquered Texas, first by
colonization and then by exciting insurrec.
ton against its sovereign. Mr.. Shannon,
after having henped upon Mexico ep,hets
far more opprobrious and insulting than any
he receives in return, complains that this
response is disrespeetMi; and, in offended
dignity, and without driyning to reply to its
reasoning or to expose what he calls its
"nscons,ruciions," deman's that it be rith
dramn! To which Mr. Srjon very properly
reinins that, so far from Withdrawing it, no is
instructed to repeat and insist upon it, IN
. every particular. And thus Mr.. Shannon |.
left, the most pijiable prcdicamcnt ever ell
, counered by a dipomatisl. lie cannot 70
on with his correspondence, without with.
drawing his own demand and thus make him.
self doubly ridiculous; and he attempts &c
! carry ont the game, and plunge the country
into war on his account, Congress will soon
bring him TO his senses in that particulars
Courier.