Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-12-11


have been met by insult and resistance on The
part Of Mexico. My forts 10 This end com.
meEced in the note OF The Secretary OF Stale OF the
tenth Of March, lS45, in answer 10 that Of the
Mexican Minister. Whilst declining 10 reopen
discussion which had already been exhausted.
and proving again what was known 10 the whole
world, that Texas had long since achieved her
independence, The Secretary OF Stale expressed
the regret OF this Government that Mexico should
have taken offence al the resolution OF aunexa-
ton passed by Congress, and gave assurance that
our most strenuous efforts shall be devoted 10 The
amcable adjustment Of every cause Of complaint
between the two Governments, and 10 the cult
walton Of The kindest and most friendly relations
between The ssler Republics"
That have acted in The spirit Of this assur-
ance, will appear from the events which have
since occurred. Notwithstanding Mexico had
abruptly terminated all diplomatic intercourse
with The United States, and ought, therefore, TO
have been the ls, 10 ask for lis resumption; yet,
waving al ceremony, embraced the earlies. ia
vofable opportunity TO asceita in from the Mexi-
can Government whether they would receive an
envoy from the United States, inlrusted with fnl
power 10 adjust all the questions in dispute be-
tween the Two Governments" In September,
1916, believed The propions moment Tor such
an overture had arrived. Texas, by The enthu-
siastic and almost unanimous will oil her people,
had pronounced in favor Of annexation. Next
CO herself had agreed 10 acknowledge the inde-
penJence Of Texas subjec, 10 condition, il is
true, which she had no right 10 impose and no
power 10 en- orce. The last lingering hope Of
Mexico, ii she still! could have retained any, that
Texas would ever again become one oil her pro-
vinces, must have been abandoned.
The consul OF The Uniled States at The city OF
Mexico, was, therefore, instructed BY The Secrela-
ny Of State, on The fifteenth Of September, lS45,
10 make the inquiry OF The Mexican government.
The inquiry was made, and on the fifteenth III Oc-
! lcber, 1915, The Minister Of Foreign Affairs OF
The Mexican government, in note addressed 10
our consul gave favorable response, requesting,
al The same time, that our naval force might be
Withdrawn from Vera Cruz while negotiations
should be pending Upon the receipt OF This noe.
our navaliurce was promptly Withdrawn from We
IA Cruz. A minis er was Immediately appointed.
and departed TO Mexico. Everything bore pro,
missing aspect for a speedy aid peaceful adjust.
menl of all our difficulties. Al The date oil my
annual message TO Congress, in Decr mber last,
no doubt was entertained but that he would be
received by the Mexican government, and Inc
, hope was cherished that all cause Of misunder-
standing between the Two countries would be
speedily removed. In The confident hope thai
such woult be The result Of his mission, INFORM
ed Congress that forbore a, that time 10 "fecom-
mend such Interior measures OF redress for the
would have been proper 10 make had no such ne.
gotialion been insiriet." To my surprise aad
regret, the Mexican Government, though solemn
~ pledged To DO So upon the arrival OF our minis-
ter in Mexico, refused 10 receive and 2ccredi,
him. When he reached Vera Cruz, on the ,hir-
lelh Of November, lS45, he found that The as
pecl Of affairs had undergone an unhappy
change. The government, II General Herrera,
who was al that time President o The republic,
was locfins to its fall. General Paroles "a
military ,adeD had manifested his deieTmina-
iun 10 overthrow the Government oil Herrera BY
military revolution; and one Of he principal
means which he employed 10 effect his purpose.
and render he Government Of Herrera odious 10
The army and people VI Mexico, by loud
" condemning its determination ~ receive a
minister oil peace from The United States alleging
that il was The intention Of Herrera, by treaty
with lhe United States 10 disnember the lelf.
tory u Mexico, By ceding away The department.
ot Texas. The Government IL Herrera is be
lered 10 have been well disposed 10 a pacific ad-
ustment Of existing difficulties; tui probably
alarmed for lis own security, and il order 10 ward
of The danger Of the revolution led by Paredes
violated It's solemn agreement and refused 10 Ie-
ceive or accTedit our minister; i'll this, although
informed that he had been invested viii iul.
power 10 ad Ius all questions in dispute between
| The two Governments. Among lGe frivolous pre-
prelex,s for this refusal, the principal one was.
that our minister had mol gone upon srecia.
mission, confined 10 The question Of Texas alone,
leaving all the outrages upon our flag and our ci-
zens unredrcsse1. The Mexican Government we'll
knew that both our nationa honor and The proicc-
lion due 10 our CITIZENS mperaively required lha,
the Two questions Of boundary and indemnify
should be treated Of together, as naturally and in
separately blended. ard they ought To have seen
that this course was hest calculated TO enable tho
United States TO extend 10 Them the most liberal
justice. On the lhirtielh q; December, lS45, Ge-
neral Herrera resigned The Presidency, and yield
ed up the Government 10 General Paredes with
out struggle. Thus a revolution was accom-
plished solely by the army commanded by Pare
des, and the supreme power in Mexico passed IN
10 the hands oil military usurper. who was
known 10 be bitterly hostile 10 The United States.
Although the prospect oi pacific adjustment
with The new Government was unpromisns,
from The known hostility OF lis head 10 The Uus-
led States, yet, determined that nothing should DO
left und"ne on our part 10 restore friendly rela-
tons between The Two countries, our minister was
instructed 10 present his credentials 10 the new
Government, and ask 10 be accredited hy il in the
diplomatic character in which he had been COM
missioned. These Instructions he executed by
his note oi The frs; Of March, 1916, addressed 10
the Mexican Minister of Foreign Affairs bur
his request was iG>ultirg'y refused by lha, minis
lrr in his answer ri The twelfth oi the same
month. No alternative remained for our minis
Ter hu' 10 demand his passports and return 10 The
United States.
Thus was The extraordinary spectacle present.
ed 10 The civilized world ii Government, III vio-
lation Of It's own express agreement, having twice
rejected minister y, peace, invested with tai!
powers 10 ad]us; all The existing differences be-
tween the two countries il d manner just snd
honorable 10 both. am mol aware that modern
history presents parallel case, IN which, 10 time
Il peace, one has nation refused even 10 hear pro
positions from another for terminating existing
difficulties between them.
Scarcely hope u adjusting our dfiiculies.
even j, a remote day. or OF preserving peace
with Mexico, could be cherished while Paroles
remained a, The head Of The Government. He
had acquired The supreme power hy a military
revolution, and upon The most solemn pledges 10
wage war against The Uniicd States, and 10 re-
conquer Texas, which he claimed as rcvolled
province Of Mexico. He had denounced as gull
ly OF treason all those MeIicans who considered
Texas as no longer constituting part Of The ter
riiory OF Mexico, aud who were friency 10 The
cause of peace The duration OF The war Which
be waged against the United States was iadrf.
nile, because The end which he proposed, oil The
recoDquest Of Texas was hopeless. Resices,
there was good reason TO believe, from al his
conduct that i, was his intention 10 convert he
foreign European Prince 10 The throne. Pre-
paraoTy 10 this end, he had, during his shor rule.
destroyed the liberty OF the press, tolerating ,ha,
portion Of il only which openly advocated
The establishment Of a monarchy. The better 10
secure the success Of his ultimate designs, he
had, BY an arbitrary decree, convoked Congress
NOT 10 be cccrd by the free voice OF The people,
but to be chosen in manner 10 make them sub
servien 10 his will, and 10 give him absolute con-
troll over their deliberations.
Under all these circumstances il was believed
that any revolution in Mexico, founded upon OPP
position 10 The ambitious projects Of PaTedrs
would lend 10 promote The cause Of peace as we'll
as prevent am attempted European interference
In the affairs Of The North American Continent
-boh otec,s OF deep interest 10 The United
Sia.ts Any such foreign interference, if al
tempted, must have been resisted by the United
STATES. My views upon tina, subject were fully
communicated TO Congress in my last annual