The Somerset herald and farmers' and mechanics' register. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 183?-1852, 1846-05-26

! cers
Determined to leave no effort untrled
! TO effect an amicable adjustment with
Mexico, directed Mr.. SIidell TO presen!
his credentials to the government of Gen.
/ Parades, and ask to be officially received
by him. There would have been less
ground for taking this step had Gen.Par-
] edes come into power by aregular consti-
/ tutional succession. In that event his
administration would have been consider
! ed but mere constitutional continuance
! of the government of Gen. Herrera, and
the refusal of the latter to receive our
minister would have been deemed conclu
sive unless an intination had been given
bv Gen. Parades of his desire to reverse
the decision Of his predecessor.
But the government of Gen. Parades
owes its existence TO a military revolution,
by which the subsisting constitutional au-
thorities had been subverted. The form
of Government was entirely changed, as
well as all the high functionaries by whom
ii was administered.
Under these circumstances, Mr.. Slidell,
in obedience to my direction, addressed
a note to the Mexican minister oil foreign
relations, under the date of the lst OF
March last, aski re 10 be received by that
government, in the diplomatic character to
which he had been appointed. This min
lister in his reply, under date of thel2th of
March, reiterated the arguments of his
predecessor, and in terms that may be
considered as giving just grounds of of
fence to the government and people of the
United States, denied the application of
Mr.. Slidell. Nothing therefore, remain
ed for our envoy bat to demand his pass
ports, and return to his own country.
Thus the government of Mexico, though
solemnIy pledged by official acts in Octo-
Der last, to receive and accredit an Ameri-
can envoy, violated their plighted faith,
and refused the offer of peaceful adjust
ment Of our difficulties. Not only was
the offer rejected, but the indignity Of its
rejection was enhanced by the manifest
breach of faith in refusing to admit the
envoy, who came because they had bound
themselves to receive him. Nor can it
| be said that the offer was fruitess from
the want Of opportunity of discussing it:
our envoy was present on their own soil.
! Nor can it be ascribed to want of suffi-
cient powers: our envoy had full pow
ers TO adjust every question OF differ
ence Nor was there room for complaint
that our propositions for settlement were
unreasonable: permission was not even
given, our envoy to make any PROPOSE
ton, whatever. Nor can il be objected
that we, on our part, would not listen 10
any reasonable terms of their suggestion:
the Mexican government refused all ne
gotiation, and have made no proposition
of any kind.
In my message at the commencement
Of the present session, informed you that
upon the earnest appeal both of the Con-
gress and convention Of Texas, had or
dered an efficient military force to take a
position "between the Nueces and the
Del Norte.' This had become necessa-
rv to meet threatened invasion of Texas
by the Mexican forces, for which extern
sive military preparations had been made.
The invasion was threatened solely be-
cause Texas had determined, in accord
ance with a solemn resolution Of the Con-
gress Of the United States to annex her.
self to our Union; and under these circum-
stances, il was plainly our duty 10 extend
our protection over her citizens and soil.
This force was concentrated at Corpus
Christi, and remained there until | had
received such information from Mexico
as rendered it probable, if not certain,
that the Mexican government would re-
fuse TO receive our envoy.
Meantime Texas, by the final action Of
our Congress, had become an integral
part of our Union. The Congress of Tex
as by its act of December 10, 1888, had
declared the Rio del Norte to be the boun-
dary of that republic. Its jurisdiction had
been extended and exercised beyond the
Nueces. The country between that riv-
er and the Del Nortc had been represent
ed in the Congress and in the convention
of Texas, had thus taken part in the act
OF annexation itself; and is now included
within one Of our Congressional districts.
Our own Congress had, moreover, with
great unanimity, by the act approved De-
cember 3lst, l645, recognized the coun-
try beyond the Nueces as part of our
territory ,byincluding it within our own rev
enue system, and revenue officer to re-
side within that district has been appoint
ed by and with the advice Of consent OF
the Senate. 1t became, therefore, of ur-
gent necessity to provide for the defence
Of that portion of our country. Accord
ingly, on the 18th of January last, instruc-
+ tons were issued to the general in COM
mand Of these troops 10 occupy the left
bank Of the Del Norie. This river, which
: is the southwestern boundary of the State
of Texas. is an exposed frontier.
From this ouarter invasion was threat.