The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-05-18
Mr.. Siid.H 10 Mr.. Buchanan.
LEeArlos OF rHn U. 5. or AnrarcA,


minister Of foreign relations the reply in relation to
myreception, which he had assured me would be
made so soon as he should BE informed Of the re.
suits Of the reference to the council of government
thought IL advisable TO avail myself OF the oppor-
1 tunity which his silence afforded TO correct the
statement made by him in his note Of the 10th in
stant that the United States had proposed through
their consul TO treat IN friendly manner respect
ing the affairs Of Texas. | accordingly addressed
him the communication, Of which you viii lind
copy herewith pointing out, briefly the error into
which he had fallen, with the hope rather than the
expectation, that il might induce him TO withhold
or qualify the reply which it known, from the
public declaration of the minister himself in the
Chamber Of Deputies, had been prepared, declaring
the refusal Of the President TO receive me. On the
2lst instant received from Mr. Peha Peha his
promised reply, conveying the formal and snqual
ifed refusal OF the Mexican government to receive
me in the character for which | am commissioned;
of thls most extraordinary document send "A copy
10 this | replied under date Of the oath instant
dsproylng the uufounded assertions Of Mr.. PeiIa
y Pela, and refuting the arguments upon which the
| refusal TO receive me was based. II would be SUI
| sThunuS for me to recaptuate what have said in
my letter to the minister Of foreign relations, and
shall refer you for particulars to the accompanying
| copy.
| am not without apprehension lest, in my ankle.
ty 10 preserve that tone OF forbearance IN my inter
course with this government, which has been so
strongly lnculcated upon me by your instructions,
may have failed TO anmadvert with becoming spirit
on its unparalleled bad faith, its gross Justification Of
the correspondence which led TO my appointment,
and the utter fuulty of the miserable sophisries by
which II attempts TO justify It's conduct. II have
erred in this respect, doubt not that you will find
| sufficient excuse for the error in the peculiarly Of
my position unprecedented believe, in our diplo-
matte annals; the absence Of all instructions in con-
urgency unlocked for and the feeling of self alb
| legation which has prompted me rather to subject
nv IN he Iuln nf UlD of
ness and energy, than TO take a course which could
scarcely have failed TO close the door upon all sub
sequent attempts at negotiation, and render war in.
evltable.
Apart indeed, from your Instructions two other
considerations would have operated TO restrain me
rom replying TO the note Of Mr.. PehA Peha
IN stronger terms-the conviction that 1t was dictated
rather by the fears than the feelings Of the existing
government, and the relative situation of the two
countries-whch would have rendered the language
Of menace and recrimlnation uEbecoming
You will observe that have signiied TO this gov
eminent my intention to proceed in few days to Ja-
apa there to await your final instructions. | have
not decided upon this course without due deibera-
ion, and hope that il will meet with your appro-
,ation My reasons were, first, to let this govern
nent understand, from my acts as well as my words,
he serious consequences likely to result from per-
nstence IN their present course; and, secondly to
void the possibility of any suspicion attaching to
he legation of interference of any kind in the srug
lie now going
With people Jealous and suspicious the
most innocent movements or associations liable
o be misunderstood and mlsrepresented; and
for that reason, | have since my arrival abstaned
| from all Intercourse with members Of either of the
tontending parties. To enable you better TO de-
| side upon the course proper to be pursued, will
sndeayor to give you, IN as few words as possible,
some idea of the present state of things here will
not enter into detail; for their phases vary SO much
| rom day TO day, and there are so many factions
and subdivisions of party, that, if possessed
The necessary Information, could not communicate
| AZ to you within any ordinary limits The two
great divisions Of party those of the federaliss
md centrallss; the former desiring the re-estabsh-
,nent of the constitution of 1924, which, with the
Exception of the absence Of religious toleraton was
very nearly counterpart of own the latter as
The name implies, advocating consolidated govern
ment, as the only one adapted TO the character OF
| he people, and possessing sufficient strength and
energy to preserve their nationality. But in these
Two great parties there many shades of opinion
some OF the federallsts, for instance being dis
posed to concede greater powers to the general gov
ernnent; while many Of the centrasts advocate an
| executive with unlimited powers, TO be exercised
either by sing person triumvrae; and some
would even go so far to abrogate all the forms Of
| republican government, and call for the establish
! ment OF a monarchy, in the person Of some foreign
prince, to be guaranteed by some leading European
Ipowers
General Herrera, the actual President, was elect
| ed but few months since, almost unanimously and
m accordance with the forms of the constitutions he
ame into power under auspices apparently the
most fatterng, and yet he will, in all probability,
soon vacate the national palace to be succeeded by
| some military chief, whose career, in turn, will be
| equally short-lived.
The associations of General Herrera have hereto
fore generally been with the federal party, and the
bias Of his feelings in that direction was indicated
| by the selection from 1t of ma orty of the men,
bers of his cabinet; but his failure to proclaim the
federation, and to throw himself frankly upon that
party, soon aienated the greater portion of it,
4 while the remainder have given him but feeble
and reluctant support, and the whole force of the
centraliss, comprising nearly all the officers Of the
army, and almost the entire clergy, has been array
ed against him. He is universally admitted to be
a man Of probity, and the persons Immediately
about him are said to be free from any anteccdent
stain, He
has endeavored to conduct the government purely,
and to correct some of the gross abuses which have
existed in every branch of the public service; this
has, OF course, enlisted against him the host of Of
hce-hoders throughout the country and he has not
shown that energy which necessary to carry his
good intentions into effect. The command of the d.
vision Of reserve destined to operate on the frontier OF
Texas, was intrusted to General Paroles, who, al.
Though he had from causes ofpersonal dissatisfaction
contributed to the overthrow Of Ana has always
been known as the advocate of centralism or rather
Of military despotsm. Ordered to advance, seve-
raj months since, TO the line of the Rio del Norte,
he has various frivolous preexts constantly dis
obeyed or evaded his instructions, and the govern
ment, although it cannot have been ignorant Of his
hostile intentions, has not dared to dsplace him
The force under his command is variousiy estinat.
: ed at from 5000 TO 200 men, and il said to com.
prise the most efficient troops of the republic. The
Intention of the government TO negotiate with the
: United States has been made tho great theme Of
Q Remuneration, and the opposition has been gradual
. rectIo
: The arrival of an American minister was TO be the
signal ofthe outbreak; toccurred sooner than was an
tlcipated, and consequently found them unprepared
until the 18th inst, and did not put his troops in
march towards this place until some days after; cor
: responding movement in the capital was expec,ed
TO have taken place Immediately on the receipt Of
Parsdess proclamation, and such undoubtedly wa,
the intention Of the revolutonsts but il seems tina
his "pian," as these insurectionary programmes
. are here called, dissatisfied some Of the leaders
they could not agree upon their course Of opera
Itions and the movement wes postponed This pay