The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1846-12-17

as had achieved their Independence, they
sought to be annexed to the United States
AT u general election in September, 1886,
they decided with great unau nifty in favor OF
annexation and in November following
the Congress of the Republic authorized the
appointment OF minister to bear their re-
quest to this government. This government,
however, having remained neutral between
Mexico and Texas during the war between
them, and considering it due to the honor OF
our country, and our Iar fame among the ma
tons of the earth, that we should not at this
early period consent to annexation, nor until
st should be manifest to the whole world that
the re-conquest OF Texas by Mexico was inn
possible, refused to accede to the overturcS
made BY Texas. On the 18th of April 1874,
and after more than seven years had elapsed
since Texas had established her indepen-
dence, u treaty was concluded for the annex
alton of that Republic to tile United States,
which was rejected by the Senate Finally,
on the first OF March, 1916, Congress passed II
joint resolution tor anneXing her to the u
nited States, upon certain preliminary con-
ditions to which her assent was required
The solemnities which character ized the de-
alterations and conduct of the government
and people of Texas ON the deeply interest
ing questions presented by these resolutions,
are known to the world. The Congress, the
Executive, and the people of Texas, in
Convention elected for that purpose, accepted
with great unanimity the proposed terms Of
annexation and thus consummatcd on her
part the great act of restoring to our Federal
Union vast territory which had been coded
to Spain by the Florida treaty more than
quarter of IL century before.
After the joint resolution for the annexa-
ton OF Texas to the United States had been
las.ed by our Congress, the Mexican Minis
ter ut Washington addressed Il note to the
Secretary OF State, bearing date on the 9Th
>of March, 1845, protesting against 1t as ian
iact of aggression, the most unjust which can
be found recorded in the annals OF modern
history; namely, that of despoiling friend
ly nation, like Mexico, of Il considerable por-
ton of her territory" and protesting against
the resolution OF annexation, as beng an act
whereby the province of Texas, an integral
portion OF the Mexican territory, is agreed
and admitted into the American Union > and
he announced that, as a consequence, his mis-
sion to the United States had terminated, and
demanded his passports which were granted.
1t was upon the absurd pretext made by Mex
leo, (hersef indebted for her independence
to successful rcvolution,) that the Repub-
lic of Texas still continued to be. notwith-
standing all that had passed. province Of
Mexico, that this step was taken by the Mex
lean Minister.
That have acted in the spirit of this as
surance, will appear from the events which
have since occurred. Notwithstanding Next
co had abruptly terminated all diplomatic in
tcrcourse with the United States, and ought
therefore, to have been the first to ask for its
resumption, yet, waiving all ceremony, en-
braced the earliest favorable opportunity "to
ascertain from the Mexican government
whether they would receive an envoy from
the United States entrusted with full power
to adjust all the questions in dispute between
the two governments" In September, 1S45,
] believed the propitious moment for such an
siastic and almost unanimous will of her peo-
pie, had pronounced in favor of annexation.
Mexico herself had agreed to acknowledge the
independence of Texas, subject to a condi-
ton, it is true, which she had no right to i'm
pose and no power to enforce. The last lin
gcring hope of Mexico, if she still could have
retained that Texas would ever again be-
come one OF her provinces, must have been
abandoned.
The consul of the United States at the
city of Mexico was, therefore, instructed by
the Secretary of State on the 18th OF Sep
TENDER, l845, to make the inquiry of the
Mexican Government. The inquiry was
male and on the 9TH of October l845, the
Minister of Foreign Affairs Of the Mexican
government, in 4 note addressed to our con-
sui, gave Il favorable response, requesting at
the same time that our naval force might be
Withdrawn from Vera Cruz while negotiations
should be pending. Upon the receipt Of this
note, our naval force was promptly withdrawn
from Vera Cruz. A minister was immediate
ly appointed, and departed to Mexico. Ev-
cry thing bore promising aspect for speedy
and peaceful adjustment Of all our difficulties.
At the date OF my annual message to Con-
greSs, in December last, no doubt was enter
tained but that he would be received by the
Mc Xican government, and the hope was
cherished that all cause of misunderstanding
between the two countries wonld be speedily
removed. In the confident hope that such
would be the result of his mission, informed
Congress that | forebore at that time to /" re-
commend such Interior measures of redress
for the wrongs and I'M uries we had so long
borne, as it would have been proper TO make
mad no such negotiation been instituted 10
my surprise and regret, the Mexican govern
ment, though soiemnly pledged to do so upon
the arrival of our minister in Mexico, refused
to receive AMI accredit him. When he
reached Vera Cruz, on the 30th of Novem-
Der, 1915, he found that the aspect of affairs
had undergone an unhappy change. The
Government of General Herrera, who was at
that time President of the Republic, was tot
tering to its fall General Paroles Ga militia
ry lealer) had manifested his determination
to overthrow the government of Herrera, by
military revolution; and one of the princi-
pal means which he employed to effect his
purpo,a, and render the government of Her
rera olious to the army and people of the
Republic, was by loudly condemning its de-
Termination to receive Minister Of Peace
from the United States alledging that it was