Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1846-12-16

which can 81 found recorded in the annals
of modern hislofI pamely. that of despoil-
ing friendly 1oiion, like Mexico, Of a |
considerable pofiion of her ierritory;" and
protesting against the resolution, as being
an act !" whereby the province Of Texas,
an integral portion of the Mexican territory
is agreed and admitted into the American
Unions" and he announced that, as con-
sequence, his mission to the United States,
had terminated, and demanded his passports
which were granted. I: was upon the ABB
surd pretext made by Mexico, (herself in
debted for her independence 10 d successful
revolution) that the republic Of Texas still
continued to notwithstanding all that had
passed,a province of Mexico, that this step
was taken by the Mexican minister.
Every honorable effort has been used by
me to avoid the war which followed, bat
all have proved vain. All our attempts to !
preserve peace have been met by insult and
resistance on the part of Mexico. My ef-
forts tc this end commenced in the note Of
the Secretary of State of the tenth of
March, 1845,i answer to that of the Mex
ican minister. Whilst declining to re open
discussion which had already been ex-
hausted, land proving again what was known
to the whole world, that Texas had long
since achieved her independence, the Sec
retary Of State expressed the regret OF
this government that Mexico should have
taken offence at the resolution Of annexa-
tion passed by Congress, and gave assur-
ance that our ''most strenuous efforts shall
be devoted to the alnicable adjustment Of
every cause of complaint between the two
governments, and 10 the cultivation of The
kindest and most friendly relations between
the sister republics"
That have acted in the spirit Of this
= assurance will appear from the events
which have since occurred. Notwithstan1-
ing Mexico had abruptly terminated all d.
plomatic intercourse with the United States
: and ought. therefore, to be the first to ask
for its resumption, yet waving all ceremo-
ny, embrace ed the earliest favorable op-
portunity ito ascertain from the Mexican
government whether they would receive
an envoy from the United States intrusted
with full power to adjust all the questions
in dispute between the two governments.
In September l645, believed The propi.
tious moment for such an overture had
arrived. Texas by the enthusiastic and
almost unanimous will Of her people, had
pronounced in favor of annexation. Mex
leo herself had agreed 10 acknowledge the
independence of Texas, subject 10 con-
diion it is true, which she had no right to
impose and no power to enforce. The last
lingering hope of Mexico if she still could
have retained any, that Texas would ever
again become 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 fifteenth
Of September, ls45, to make enquiry Of
the Mexican government. The enquiry
was made, and on the fifteenth Of October
ls45, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Of
the Mexican government in note ad-
dressed 10 our consul, gave favorable res
ponse, 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 wus imme-
piately appointed, and departed to Mexico.
Every thing boresa promising aspect for a
speedy and peaceful adjustment Of all our
difficulties.
AT the date Of my annual message to
Congress, in December last, no doubt was
entertained but that he would be received
by the Mexican government, and the hope
was cherished that all cause of misunder-
standing between the two countries would
be speedily removed. In the confident
hope that such would be the result of his
mission,l informed Congress that forbore
at that time to "recommend such ulterior
measures Of redress for the wrongs and in
juries we had so long borne, as it would
have been proper 10 make had no such ne
gotiation been instituted" To my sur
prise and regret, the Mexican government
though solemnly pledged 10 do so. upon
the arrival of our minister in Mexico, re-
fused to receive and accredit him. When
he reached Vera Cruz, on the thirtieth of
November ls45, he found that the aspect
of affairs had undergone an unhappy
change. The government Of Gen Herre-
ra, who was at that time President Of the
republic. was tottering to its fall. Gen.
Paredes a military leader had manifested
his determination to overthrow the govern
ment Of Herrera by a military revolution
and one of the principal means which he
employed 10 effect his purpose, and render
the government Of Herrera odious to the
army and people of Mexico, vastly loud
ly condemning its determination to receive
a minister of peace from the United States
to dismember the territory Of Mexico, by
ceding away the department Of 1exas.
The government Of Herrera is believed
10 have been we'll disposed 10 pacific ad.
justment of existing difficulties; but proba-
bly, alarmed for its own security, land in or
der to ward off the danger Of the revolution
led by Paredes, violated its solemn apree-