American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1846-07-04
ADDRESS OF GEN. PAREDEs,

AT THE OPENING oFTHE MEXICAN CONGRESS.
We copy below, as translated for the Wash
ington Union, so much of the address of Presi
dent Paredes, delivered at the opening of the ex-
traordnary general Congress of Mexico, on the
list ultimo, as relates to the dissensions among
the troops, the condition of the finances of that
Republic, and the war with the United States
1t is document of peculiar interest at the pre-
sent moment:
81 announce to the Congress, with feeling
of profound grief, that in the course of my ad-
mnistration the public order and tranquility
have been disturbed in the south of tue depart
ment of Mexico, and in a part of the depart
ments of Puebla and Oa aca, in the departments
of Sinaloa and Sonora, and recently in that of
Jalisco. In the south of Mexico, and where
that department adjoins those of Oaiaca, Pue-
bla, Michoacan, and Jalisco, there exists old
and rancorous elements Of disorder, which are
developed and augmented in all the convulsions
which agitate the republic The benefits of
civilization have not there begun to be felt, and
it would be most provident and phIanthropc
measure to hasten to introduce them, in order
that such elements of perdition as are there uni
ted may not increase and be propagated. 1t
]
in that district, that they have seized upon the
vessels destined to compose the expedition to
the CALIFORNIA;, and the abundant supplies which
the preceding administration had provided -
This frlghtful and parricdal crime was consum-
mated in Mazatlan, by the military force des-
tined to protect that peninsula, which the troops
of the United States had begun to invade. How
can these men ever justify their refusal to ac-
knowledge the government at a moment, when
they were in the receipt Of their orders and sup
plies for the purpose of proceeding where they
were summoned by the holy duty of defending
the integrity the national territory? The u
nited States have reckoned as a part of their
resources the disturbances which thew have Der
haps, fomented, and have rejoiced in the idea
that government resolute and firm against
their aggressons, would not be able to sustain
itself against simultaneous attack of all fac
tons. Those who promote new dssensions
which directly injure the country, do not reflect
that they light against its existence and leave it
at the mercy ofthe enemy, who, of old, has TO-
mented disunion among the Mexicans, thwart-
ed their government, and wholly disconnected
society in its principles, its maxims, and its ad-
ministraton. The government has checked
the progress of the revolution in the south, has
directed the march of numerous and faithful |
troops to the capital of the department of Jalis-
CO, and will not leave UNPUBLISHED the mutinv,
purely military, in Sinaloa. The occurrences in
Sonora are entirely of a local nature, and the
government hopes that the honest inhabitants
OF that department will declare in favor of the
advantages ofan impartial and Just government
which will secure them the rights that they
have so much interest in preserving. When
there is such an urgent necessity for moving
our regular troops to the frontier and to threat
ened points, the most iudiciOus arrangements
are frustrated, because factions, in this or that
quarter disturb the public repose, and it is ne
cessary TO re-establsh it in order that govern
eminent may exist for the purpose of attending
to the defence OF the country against an enemy
who has already proclaimed himself the con-
queror of the MeXicans. 1t is no less painful
than necessary that the country should know
its dangers, in order that it may redeem itself,
by simply willing TO do so, by availing itself of
its immense resources. The history of the |
youthful existence of the nation contains many
glorious pages, and we will not disgrace them
by forgetting that destiny calls upon US to make
great sacrifices i'll order to vindcate great in
terests.
81 have approached insensibly the mention
of the gravest event in our passing history
On taking possession of the reins of govern
met by the engagement, contracted by the pre-
Vious administration, to receive a minister pleni-
potentiary from the United States, to treat of
the Texas question. The government, being
firmly resolved to maintain, ut all hazards, the
most Just ofcauses, and not to suffer the nation
to be despoiled of that portion of its territory,
was making its preparations for war; but, at
that same time, DESTROYS of sparng the blood of
Mexicans, II that could be done without de-
rogating from the good name of the republic,
and by dignified and decorous negotiations, de-
termined to hear what the said minister had
to communicate. AS was to be expected, how
ever, from the deceitful policy of the United
States, the minister had no sooner presented
himself than the bad faith with which they
were acting was evident in their having nomi-
mated Mr.. John Slidell, not as minister ad hoe
to treat OF special business, but as minister
fesident-as if the relations between the two
countries had undergone no change. The
| government, III various notes, made known to
HIM on the most decisive terms its rrevoca5le
determination not to receive him, except in
character purely special, for which qHason he
asked for and Immediately had sent to Elm pass
ports to leave the national territory. This has
served as pretext to the said States for ac-
cusing the republic of being the first to mani
fest hostility, and Of provoking them to con-
test as if the hostilities could have no other
origin than the refusal to enter into negotia-
tons in which deceit had palpably been dis
played; and when recourse had been had to
arms, not to defend Texas alone, but other
frontier departments invaded by the troops of
that government
The American minister not having been re-
ceived, because it did not comport with the
dignity of the nation, at the time when an army
of the Uuited States was on its march to the
Rio Bravo of the North, when our ports on
both seas were threatened by its squadrons, and
when some Ct their troops were treading the
CALIFORNIA;, found myself compelled, on the