The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1846-05-02
From The Washington Union.

~ Hc 'rlN6W OIieduS JSilcTSuuldu vi
the 9th inst, contains the "officiaI cor
respondence between the Hon. John
Slidell, envoy extraordinary and min
ister plenipotentiary on the part Of the
United States. and the Mexican minis
ter of foreign affairs. We have trans
lated it with great care and accuracy
from the "Diario OGcial," orgovern-
ment journal, Of the a5th March, pub
lished in the city of Mexico" e
1t occupies three and half columns
of the "Jeffersonian," and we have no
room for it in this evenings "Union."
We adopt the brief analysis which the
"New Orleans Delta furnishes. 1t is
calculated to excite strong and indig-
nant feelings towards the government
of Mexico. We agree with the "Jef-
fersonian" that "Mr. Slidell sustained
the honor and rights of our country
with becoming dignity and spirit, and
with the great ability that was expect
ed of him."
sit shows, that on the 1st of March,
Mr.. Slidell addressed a communlca-
ton to the Mexican government, requir-
ing a defnitive answer as to its inten-
tion to recognise him as minister or not,
in which he says:
s"On the 10Th December, the under
signed was informed by Mr.. Pegna y
Pegna, that difficulties existed in rela-
ton to the tennor Of his credentials,
which made it necessary to consult the
councils government thereon; and on
the Goth Of the same month, he was ad !.
vised by Mr.. Pegna y Pegna that the
Mexican government had decided not
to recognise him in his capacity OF en-
voy extraordinary and minister pleni-
potentiary. ab
s"To this communication of the min
ister OF foreign relations, the undersign-
edreplied, under dates of goth and gath
December, refuting the reasoning by
which the refusal to recognise him was
attempted TO be sustained, vindicating
the course pursued by his government,
and declaring his inten ton to pro oceed
to Jalapa, there to await instructions,
adapted to an emergency SO entirely
unlocked for.
'"He has no W received these instruc-
tions. The President of the United
States entirely approves the course pur-
sued by the undersigned, and the COM
munica tons by him addressed to the
Mexican government. a..
"Had the then existing government
continued in power, as no alternative
would have remained, the undersigned
would have been directed to demand
his passports.
'"The President of the United States
would have submitted the whole case
to Congress, and called upon the nation
to assert its just rights, and ayenge its
injured honor.
wThe destinies of the Mexican re-
public, however, having since been
committed to other hands, the Presi-
dent is unwilling TO take course which
would inevitably result in war, without
making another effort to avert SO great
calamity.
'"He wishes, by exhausting every
honorable means of cancellation, to
demonstrate to the civilized world, that
if its peace shall be disturbed, the re-
sponsibility must fall upon Mexico
alone. .-e vtes.s ar rss
"He is sincerely desirousto preserve
that peace, but the state quasi hostility
which now exists on the part of Mexi-
co, is one which is incompatible with
the dignity and interests of tie United
States, and it is for the Mexican gov
ernment to decide, whether it shall give
place to friendly negotiation, or lead 10
open ruPture.
'"To this request he received an an
swer dated at Mexico on The 18th OF
March, peremptorily refusing to receive
him, and declaring among other things,
that the supreme government had de-
clared beforehand that they wonldlook
upon annexation as a cdSus belh; con-
lormable to this declaration, the nego-
tiations were, of necessity to be ended,
and war was the only recourse OF the
Mexican government. The letter
(Which is too long for republication in
our columns) then proceeds TO reiterate,
in a most offensive tone, all those charg-
es ofperfdy, spoliation, and aggression
on the part of the United States, with
which We have become so familiar,
when proceeding from the dignitaries
of Mexico for several years past.
s"To this communication, Mr.. Sill
dell replied on the 18th March.
He demands his passports--he replies
in an able and conclusive manner 10
the twenty times refuted calumnies of
tim Mexican ministers--and concludes:
The undersigned has alreadv ex-