Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1846-12-17


men uf General Herrera, who was a, tha, time
President of the Republic. was louering 10 its
fall General Paredes Ia military leader) had
manifested his determination TO overthrow the
government of Herrera, by military revolution;
and one of the principal means which he
ployed TO effect his purpose, and render the go
vernnent of Herrera Odious 10 the army and
people of Mexico, was by loudly condemnlDg
It's determination 10 receive minister OF peace
from the United States. alleging that it was The
intention Of Herrera, by treaty with The Uni
ted States, 10 dismember the territory of Mex.
co, by Cedlng away The department OF Texas,
The government OF Herrera is believed 10 have
been well disposed to pacific adjustment of
existing difficulties but, probably alarmed for
its own security, and in order to ward off the
danger of the revolution led by Paredes, viola
led lis solemn agreement, and refused TO re-
ceive or accredil our minister; and this, although
Informed that he had been invested with full
power to adjust all questions in dispute between
the two governments.
Among the frivolous preiexls for this refusal,
the principal one was, that our minister bad not
gone upon special mission, confined to The
question Of Texas alone, leaving all The outra-
ges upon our flag and our cltlZens unredressed.
The Mexican government we'll knew that bOh
our national honor and The protection cue 10 our
Clllzens lmperailvey required that the TWO
questions of boundary and indemnify should be
treated together as naturally and lnsepaTably
blended, aud they ought to have seen that this
course was best calculated 10 enable the United
States To extend 10 them the most liberal us-
tlce On the lhirlleIh of December, lS45, Gen
eraI 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 Pa
redes, and The supreme power in Mexico passed
INTO the hands OF a military usurper, who was
Known to be bitterly hostile 10 he Unlied States.
Although the prospect OF pacific adjustment
with the new government was unpromslng,
from the known hostility of its head 10 the Unit
Ted Staes, yet, determined that nothing should
be left undone on our part 10 restore friendly
| relations between the TWO countries, our mlDIs-
ter was instructed TO present his credentials To
the new government, and ask 10 be accredited
| by it in the diplomatic character in which he
| had been commissioned. These instructions
| he executed by his note Of the first of March,
1916, addressed 10 the Mexican Minister of
| Foreign Affairs, but his request was lnsulIingly
refused by the minister in his answer of the
twelfth OF the same month No alternative re-
malned for our minister but 10 demand his pass
ports, and return 10 The United States.
! Thus was the extraordinary spectacle pre-
sented TO the civilized world, of government
in violation of lis own express agreement, hay
ing twice rejected minister of peace, invested
with full powers TO adjust all the existing dli-
! fore hoI,r tho Iun n
ner just and honorable 10 both. | am not aware
that modern history presents parallel case, IN
which, in time OF peace, one naIlon has refused
even 10 hear propositions from another for teG
mnatng existing difficulties between them.
Scarcely hope OF adjusting our difficulties,
even at a remote day. or of preserving peace
with Mexico, could be cherished while Paredes
remained al The head of the government He
had acquired the supreme power by military
revolution, and upon the most solemn pledges
TO wage war against the United States, and TO
Teconquer Texas, which he claimed as a re-
voIted province of Mexico. He had denounced
as guilty of treason all those Mexcans who
considered Texas no longer constituting q
part of the territory of Mexico, and who were
friendly 10 the cause OF peace. The duration
OF the war which he waged against the United
States was indefinite, because the end which
he proposed, OF the reconquest of Texas, was
hopeless. Besides, there was good reason 10
believe, from all his conduct, that il was his in
,ention to convert the republic of Mexico into a
monarchy, and to call foreign European prince
10 the throne. Preparatory 10 This end, he had,
during his short rule, destroyed The liberty of
the press, toeraing tha, portion of il only which
openly advocated the establishment of a mon
archy, The better to secure the success of his
ultimate designs, he had, by an arbitrary de-
cree, convoked Congress-not 10 be elected
by the free voice of the people, but TO be cho-
sen in manner to make them subservient TO
his will, and to give him absolute control over
their deliberations.
Under all these circumstances, il was beiey-
ed that any revolution in Mexico founded upon
opposition TO the ambitious projects OF Paredes,
would tend 10 promote the cause of peace, as
well as prevent any attempted European inler-
ference In the affairs Of The North American
contnent-b both objects of deep interest to the
United Slales. Any such foreign interference
II attempted, must have been resisted by the
United Stales. My views upon lha, subject
were fully communicated TO Congsess IN INV
last annual message. In any event, il was Ger
tain that no change whatever in The government
of Mexico who would deprive Paredes of pow
er, could be for the worse, so far as The United