The daily union., 1846-06-30

| ly sumulhteu ny puOuc functOnarleS. Armies were
levied, enormous loans raised, for the avowed pur-
pose of carrying on a war against the United States
II was not consistent with the duties Of his Office
for the President TO pass all this by entirely un-
noticed. He, however, assiduously avoided any act
or single word calculated 10 foment these hostile
feelings. While, therefore, he sssmbled in the Gulf
or Mexico squadron 10 resist any hostile move
ment and assembled, at the request of Texas troops
IN the neghborhood Of the frontier menaced with at
tack, he directed the respective commanders OF
these forces to abstain from all acts of aggression,
and only TO repel attack. These orders were faith.
fully and scrupulously obeyed. The most respect
fu Difference was exhibited towards the government
a nd people Of Mexico,
These military preparations were exclusively Of a
precautionary character, and were designed only for
defensive purposes Ii could not, however, escape
the observation of the President that this position
Of the parties could not be continued indefinitely.
1t was necessarily attended with many Of the incon.
yenences and much Of the expense Of actual war.
Commercial intercourse between the two countries
was at end. Still, oyertures for amicable settle
men OF the matter IN controversy were perseyering-
ly made. The wrongs which Mexico had perpe-
trated were of character demanding reparation.
The fact that they had been committed had been
conceded by treaties, and in still larger proportion
and wnh more dehnlteness as TO amount, had been
ludlcially examined and settled. The antagonstic
claims Of Mexico had assumed no definite character,
except in one particular. No one subject has ever
the single exception of Texas. On this point the
United States while fully satisfied, and therefore
serting that they had not overstepped any line
drawn by public law or the most rigid rules of JUS
tice or equity, had uniformly offered TO make Texas
subject Of negotiation, and of liberal and friendly
adjustment
The injuries perpetrated by Mexico were, how
ever, OF very different character Their exstence
was admitted the atrocy Of them was enormous ;
the character Of them was settled atonement in
general and in particular had been promised Indi-
vldual citizens of the United States had vested in
terests in them. The claims Of many were perfect
ed by Judgment, and the obligation TO pay them was
contaminated by distinct treaty agreement to that
effect. Others had only not attained the same con-
elusive character, in consequence Of Mexico haviag
In violation OF every principle Of natural Justice and
distinct obligation, eluded decision upon them
The claims upon Mexico were unquestIonable and
unquestIoned; the right Of the United States to de-
mand payment, and the obligation OF Mexico TO pay
II, rested upon no uncertain ground, these points
having been settled by mutual agreement
The reclamation made by Mexico upon the Uni
ted States rested in assertion the one side and de-
nia on the other. We had offered to make it the
subject of amicable discussion, but to this Mexico
lnsultlngly refused 10 accede. No alternative was
pIeseatedi we must acknowledge the wrong, and
proffer instant reparaLon and full atonement The
proper position of the parties was reversed. Her
perfect obligations were dsregarded her disputed
claims were to be Internationally yielded.
Such was the perplexlng attitude which the re-
spectlve parties occupied; caused, not by any in
trinslc dlttcuIty in any question directly involved
but by the extraordinary and anomalous position
which Mexico assumed. When nation interdicts
all the accustomed channels Of intercourse, and
threatens TO avenge real Fictitious causes of COM
plant by actual war, yet remains in state Of posi-
i've naction, it is difficult to address her.
The President, however, through a confidential
channel sought to learn the real designs and wishes
N natH u. r. 4 ii
any preex for complaint by appealing himself d.
recty to government. He sbstsined from placing
her IN the presicarnent Of being compelled either to
avow her resolution to hold no further intercourse
with US, or openly to retrace her steps. With deli
eacy and courtesy the President sought, through
confidential channel TO ascertain the views of Mex.
leo. Having received official information that mis-
sion OF peace would be received by her government
he withdrew the squadron from before Vera Cruz,
and despatched an envoy extraordinary, with am
pie powers to adjust all the pending differences;
Mexican territory, before fresh revolution broke
out A large body Of the army declared against the
existing government, and the avowed grounds upon
which Its overthrow was demanded was that it had
omitted to carry on the for the recovery of Tex.
as, and had reoPened diplomatic relations with the
United States.
With such declarations of the reasons of the
movement and the ends to be accomplished, it was
vain TO hope from the new administration any ami.
cable feeling or desire to friendly intercourse
with this country. Mr.. Slidel was not received or
acknowledged after stay of six weeks in the Mex
ican capital, but constrained to retire to Jalara,
city more convenient to the coast, in contemplation
Of return to the United States
This committee appeal with pleasure, not only to
the transaction which President Polk set on foot for
preventing conflict with Mexico, by sending min
lster there to make peace, but every sentiment Of
his annual message at the opening Of this session of
Congress, to the instructions of his Secretaries Of
War, the Navy, and the Department of State to
the military, naval and diplomatic officers Of the
United States, to all the proceedings and cores
pondence of every one Of those unctionares for the
conviction, which no Just mind can resist, that
peace was to the last the anxious desire of the
American government, and that, at almost any COST
1t was earnest in endesvors to prevent war, and
to provoke it,
Mr. Black, the American consul at the city of
Mexico, was instructed by Mr.. Buchanan the Sec
retary of State, in September, 1S45, in the absence
of any diplomatic agent in Mexico, to ascertain
from the Mexican government whether they would
receive ap envoy from the United States, intrusted
with full power TO dust all the questions in dis
pute between the two governments. Tho desire of
the President was strong to terminate the unfor-
tunate state Of relations with that republic
that, without waiting till the Mexican government
which had suspended the d plomatc relations be-
tween the two countries should ask that they may
be restored, he consented to waive all ceremony and
On the 10Th October, ls45, Mr. Black received
the Secretary of States letter Of the l7th Septem
ber next day, the llth October, made the commu-
nicasion to Mr.. Pefia y Pefa, the Mexican Secre-
tary of State, and forthwith arranged with him for
an exchange Of notes, dated accordingly the 18th
and 18th October, lS45, by which it was settled,
with appearances Of cordial agreement that the
Mexican government would receive minister from
the United States in the capital Of Mexico, with
full powers from his government to settle the dis
pu,e in peaceable manner the Mexican secretary
declaring that Mexico did not repel with conumely
the measure Of reason and peace to which it was in
vited by its adversary. By request of the Mexi-
can government the American squadron was with
drawn from the vicinage of Vera Cruz, and with
out imputing the vest perfdy to the President,
(Herera,) there is reason to doubt that he sin
cerely accepted the offer Of peace sincerely made
by the President of the United States. Mr. Pefa
Peha, indeed, intmated to Mr.. Black his apprehen-
sion Of the feelings and opinions Of the people,
which he said they must endeavor to reconcile; and
that strong opposition was daily calling the atten
ton OF the public to, and scrunizing and condemn
inc of the and TINT tho ooy-