The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-06-05
Communicated.
WASHINGTON, June 3, I845.
Navy DEPARTMENT,
June 4, l845.

WASHINGTON, June 3, l845
Sir: In your paper of the I'd June, read the fol-
lowing extract from the New Orleans Picayune:
Mr shannon late Ameri minister had engaged his
passage vessel and would sail about the
18th instant for New York does not appear that he pos.
sessed any knowledge of the political affairs OF the capital
of Mexico and he is not considered in any other light than
obscure American citizen whose name Is never alluded
to as one at all connected with the important transactions OF
the day"
This paragraph has been copied into other papers,
coupled with the inquiry, what has become of Gov.
Shannon In reply il is due to Gov. Shannon to
state that he has been very ill., and in consequence,
unable to take part in the important transactions OF
the day." even had the present posture of our rea-
tons with Mexico permitted him TO do so; which
has not been the case. Our relations with Mexico
having been interrupted, and Gov. Shannon's func-
tons having ceased, his connection with "the i'm
portant transactions of the day' necessarily ceased
with them. II was not therefore to be expected
that we should hear Of his taking any active or off.
cia part in the ''poca affairs of the capita;e and
if indeed he was ignorant or neglectfu OF them the
state Of his health explains the causc. The inform
ant Of the Picayune is mistaken in saying that
Gov. Shannon is regarded in Mexico obscure
American citizen. The statement is incorrect, not
to say malicious, on its face. Any one who has
been in Mexico and understands the Spanish char
acter, knows that he who has held the important
post of minister of the United States of America,
"Be thou chaste as ice, pure as snow, thou
shalt not escape calumny.n A while ago, when
the news of the action Of Congress- upon the Texas
resolutions reached Mexico, Gov Shannon received
note from the Mexican minister, enclosing his pass
ports. To this he replied acknowledging the receipt
as courtesy and custom required, and intimatng his
intention of remaining in the country until he re-
ceiyed the dispatches which he daily expected from
home. For writing this note, which was, in its
tone of mildness and forbearance, consistent with
the UNMARRIED policy of our government towards Mex
leo, Governor Shannon has been severely censured,
on the ground that he ought not to hold any COM
munication with the Mexican government after hav-
ing received his passports.
And now, again, after all diplomatic relations
have ceased, and Governor Shannon (his mission
ended) is returning TO the United States, and only
detained in Mexico by sickness, he is spoken OF as
an obs,tre American citizen because he was not In
Mexico and figuring in the farce of paltry intrigue
by which the British government, or at least It's
agents, think to defeat annexation How difficult
il 10 please all tastes, and how much to CEN
sure others for doing badly than to do well our
selves.
So also was il with Governor Shannon's cores
pondence with Don Manuel C. Rejon, the late min
lister of foreign relations under Santa Annas govern
ment. That correspondence has been censured by
persons three thousand miles distant from the scenes
for which it was intended and entirely ignorant OF
the motives or reason for the course adopted IL is
my intention to explain the state Of things in Mex
leo at that time, and the circumstances and objects
of that correspondence; but not to make this com.
municaton too long, must defer 1t to another time.
Your obedient servant