Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1846-12-18

yorable opportunity "to ascertain from the Mexi.
can government whether they would receive an
envoy from the United States invested with full |
power TO adjust all the questions in dispute be-
tween the two governments" In September, |
Is45, believed the propiIious moment for such |
an overture had arrived. Texas, BY the enthu- !
siastc aud almost unanimous will OF her people,
had announced in favor of annexation. Mexico
herself had agreed 10 acknowledge the indePen-
dence Of Texas, subject TO condition, It is true,
which she had no right 10 impose and no power
10 enforce. The last lingering hope Of Mexico,
if she still could have retained any, that Texas
would ever again become one Of her provinces,
must nave been abandoned.
The consul ofthe United States at the city Of
Mex co was, therefore, instructed by the Secre-
tary o! State on the 18th Of September, l845, 10
make the inquiry Of the Mexican government.
The inquiry was made, and on the 18th Of Octo-
Der I845, the Minister Of Foreign Affairs Of the
Mexican government in q note addressed TO our
consul, gave favorable response requesting, at
the same time, that our naval force might be
Withdrawn from Vera Cruz, while negotiations
should be pending.
Administer was Immediately appointed and de.
parted to Mexico. Every thing bore promising
aspect for speedy and peaceful adjustment of all
our difficulties. At the date Of my annual mes
sage to Congress, in December last, no doubt
was entertained but that he would be received
| by the Mexican government, and the hope was
cherished, that all cause of misunderstanding be-
tween the two countries would be speedily re-
moved. In the confident hope that such would
be the resultof this mission, informed Congress
that forebore at that time to recommend such
r I I
| injuries we had so long borne, as it would have
| been proper to make had no such negotiation
been instituted" To my surprise and regret,
the Mexican government, though solemnly pledg.
ed to do so upon the arrival Of our Minister in
| Mexico, refused TO receive and accredit him.
When he reached Vera Cruz, on the 30th Of No
vember, I845, he found that the aspect Of affairs
had undergone an unhappy change. The gov
ernment Of General Harrera. who was at that
time President of the republic, was tottering 10
its foundation. General Paredes, a military
leader, had manifested his determination 10 over
throw the government Of Herrera, by military
J revolutions; and one ofthc principal means which
he employed TO effect his purpose, and render
the government Of Herrera odous 10 the army
and people of Mexico, was by loudly condemn
ing its determination TO receive minister oil
peace from the United States, alleging that it was
the intention of Herrera, by treaty with the U
States, TO dismember the territory of Mexico, by
cedng away the department of Texas. The
!, government of Herrera is believed to have been
well disposed to a pacific adjustment for existing
difficulties but, probably alarmed for its own Sc
curity and in order TO ward of the danger Of the
revolution led by Paredes, violated It's solemn
agreement, and refused to receive or Sccredit oul
minister; and thus, although informed that he hat
been invested with full power TO adjust all ques
tions in dispute between the two governments
Among the frivolous pretexts for this refusal, the
principal one was that our minister had not gone
upon special mission, confined to the question
ofTexas alone leaving all the outrages upon oul
flag and our citizens unredressed. The Mexi
can government well know that both our nation
al honor and the protection due to our citizens
imperatively required that the two questions o
boundary and indemnity should be treated Of to
gether, as naturally and inseparably blended
and they ought TO have seen that this course wa
best calculated to enable the United States 10 ex
tend 10 them the most liberal Justice. On The
: 3Oth of December, I845, General Herrera resign
ed the presidency, and yielded up the govern
; ment to General Paredes without a struggle
Thus a revolution was accomplished solely BY
the army commanded by Paredes, and the su
preme power in Mexico passed into the hands o
military usurper, who was known TO be bitterl,
hostile TO the United States.
Although the prospect Of pacific adjustmen
! with the new government was unpromisng
from the known hostility of its head TO the Uni
ted States, yet, determined that nothing should b
left undone on our part TO restore friendly rela
- oinies
> instructed 10 present his credentials TO the ne,
government, and ask to be accredited by it in tn
diplomatic character in which he had been com
: missioned. These instructions he executed b
:, his note Of the first of March, 1885, addressed
= = the Mexican Minister of Foreign Affairs, but hi
e request was nsultingly refused by that minlste
in his answer of the 18th Of the same month";
: No alternative remained for our minister but {
:" :, demand his passports and return to the Unite
:. States.
ct Thus was the extraordinary spectacle presen
" cd to the civilized world, of a government,
Ia violation Of its own express agreement, havr
twice rejected minister Of peace, invested wit
Of full powers to adjust all the existing diferenc,
" between the two countries in manner just ar
r honorable 10 both. | am not aware that model
q. history presents parallel case, in which in tin
II. of peace, one nation has refused even to he
,,t propositions from another for terminating exis
Ia ing difficulties between them. Scarcely ho
a of adjusting our difficulties, even at reno
lie day, or of preserving peace with Mexico, cou
70, be cherished while Paredes remained ut the he
,ct of the government. He had acquired the S
al preme power by Il military revolution, and up,
nd the most solemn pledges to wage war against I
m. United States, and 10 reconquer Texas, viii
he he claimed as revolted prvoince Of Mexico.
his He had denounced as guilty oil those Mexica
he who considered Texas as no longer conslituti
hi. part of the territory of Mexico, and who we
lu. friendly to the cause of peace. The duration
led the war which he wagcd against the U. Sta
ro. was indefinite, because the end which he prop
:, i ac H. 80 corouest nf TaYos was honele