The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-07-28

the court Of Mexico. What was the reception Of
that minister What was the spirit Of your Execu-
tveI What spirit did the Mexican government man
fest towards the reconciliation OF the pending differ
enees between the two countresl Did she seek for
peace Was not our peace offering, on the contra
ry, rejected ndgnantlyl-and that too, before any
action took place on the part Of our government,
which gentlemen now charge 10 have been the
OF this war; desire them particularly TO bear in
mind the fact that this action the part Of gov
eminent took place after minister rejected by
the Mexican government rejected because IIerreras
administration was apprehensiye t would totter and
fall " Il manifested the least friendly feeling towards
the United Staies. She had previously manifested
a disposition 10 receive minister. The passions
Of the people had been aroused and Herrera was in
duced to believe that his administration would not
be sustained Il he entertained these friendly feelings
towards the American government. He was right
tbs approximations were well founded; for in few
lays Paredes's Standardization esla bshed on the
downfall OF Herrera's What was the cause ofthis
indignation on the part OF the people of Mexico,
which induced them 10 hurl from power tho one and
put the other in his stead Was not the question
Of war or no war with the United States Was not
that the moving pnneipe'
Was not that the spirit, everything, which aetna.
Ted the Mexican government IN thus revoutonizng
the existing state of things and placing Paroles in
power' When did il happenl Towards the close
Of December, l845. All this had transpired on the
part OF the Mexican government here was the issue
presented to the people of Mexico--war or no wsr
with the United Shakespeare or war with this gov
ernment in relation to your Texan difficulties They
had manifested, by sustaining the revolutionary
movement Of Paredes that the pacific disposition Of
he previous government and Of Herrera met with
no response on the part Of the people, Now SIR
with these facts brought clearly and distinctly be-
fore our minds, can IL be thought-can the opinion
be entertained, for moment that a mo yement on
the part OF your troops, which took place three
months thereafter, caused the war between Mexico
and the United States When the question had thus
been settled by that people-when their determine
uon had been published TO the world-when they
had ayowed their intentions in the most formal man
ner in which people can avow them, by the over
throw Of the existing government, and the substitu
ton OF another in its place-the American people
are now to be told that all these things produced
effect whatever-thst the Mexican government was
paoihc IN It's Intentions inclined towards peace, and
that 1t was the fault OF our government that these
latons were disturbed
Mr. Chairman, from the commencement of this
administration, IN connexion with Mexican diff
hcues, what has been the policy OF the Executive,
as indicated IN the messages communicated TO this
House, and in the dispatches to our agents at Mex
leo and to that government tself' Has il been to
bring about a war with Mexicoi On the contrary,
has he not avowed on every occasion not only his
disposition, but his strong and urgent desire, for
pacific settlement of the existing troubles between
that government and our own Why, sir, he sent
government Ito which have already alluded.)
What was the motive that induced this mission No
credit Is to be given to his declarations or actions
with all the anxiety the Executive has manifested
on this subject, all approving voice from the other
side has been withheld There il. perhaps. one ex-
cepton to this statement. have before me speech
OF distinguished gentleman from Massachusetts,
on the other side OF this question, where he express
es what he conceives to be an act of Justice in him to
say ihatthe administration, in sending minister to
Fthe Mexican government, clothed with full powers
70 settle these difficulties and in expressing with ii
its strong desire that amcable relationship shall still
subsist between these two governments deserves the
tribute Of justice which he has paid it. will read
IT for the information of those who have endeavored
to create the impress the public mind that the
Executive in the pursuance Of his policy, from the
beginning to the end of this controversy instead of
desiring pacific settlement, has sought to bring
about the very state Of things in which we are now
unhappiy involved. l read sir from speech de-
livered by Mr.. WINTHROP, of Massachusetts, June
IS, 1876:
"Sr will do the administration the Justice to say that
in my Judgment IT adopted highly honorable and conc
atory in proposing send and in actually sending
minister to Mexico said this privately whom the fact
was first announced in the Presidents annual message and
VIII not hesitate to say SO publicly now And do not
think that Mexico stands justified upon the record for the
rejection OF that minister There the published
correspondence to warrant the idea that her distinction be-
thought Intended only to cover virtual retreat from her
| agreement to enter upon negotiations"
Now ask, if this sentiment be correct, (and with
it fully accord, nor will the documents before me
| Justify gentlemen in coming to any other concu-
sion)-if the administration has pursued .conci-
atory course;" if, in proposing to send and in
| tually sending, minister to that government, the
administration has shown proper, justin the
| language of the gentleman from Massachusetts,
I"conciliatory" spirit, ask how stands this judg-
men Of condemnation which the political associates
of the gentleman from Massachusetts, are now seek
| ing to pass upon the conduct of the President
Sir, adopting the idea of the gentleman from Mas
sachusetts, that the refusal to accept minister
a mere subterfuge, ian afterthought," if your gov
eminent had sent originally mere commissioner,
we have every reason to believe that the Mexican
government would have excepted to such course;
would have declared it dsrespectful to that govern
men that she entitled at least to the respect Of
a full minister at our hands ! ask gentlemen, then,
| if the Mexican government adopted this mere
afterthought;" If she rejected the offers of Ex-
ecutive if she manifested in both administrations
in the latter portion Of Herreras and in Paredes's,
which was elevated to power on that very ground
strong disposition not to submit to any pacific adj
justment Of these AFFAIRS is 1t just, is it right that
| the Executive should be condemned for the policy
he has adopted, and to which will now cali your
attention, with the belief that if he had adopted any
other policy than that he has pursued, from the
| same source he would have been more indignantly
condemned than at present for the he did
| pursue. -... ..H.
|
| army from Corpus Christi to the Rio del Norte
until after he was informed that your minister would
not be received After he had been informed that
| the prospect of an amicable adjustment could not
longer be entertained with any reasonable expecta-
ton Of such result, what did duty require
him to pursue them bring you now up to the Pc
| Rod, the very moment when the Executive was
satisfied that your minister would not be received,
| that your disputes could not be amicably settled,
| that peace could not be purchased by concession
from the Mexican government. What, then, was
his duty' Sir, if the territory lying between the
| Nueces and the Rio del Norte much dis
puted territory as to authorize this government to
set up claim to it, was il not the duty Of the Pres.
idsnt to adopt such policy would place il in the
power of your government to defend that disputed
territory Mark you, sir, we have arrived at the
period when the Executive is informed that Mexico
will not treat, that your minister will not be re-
ceived, that peace cannot be Obtained, that your
territory lies exposed on the Mexican frontier
territory which you claim, to which you say you
have a title (whether clear and unqpestionable
title or not, is mmaeral it is such title as gentle
men on the opposite side will endeavor to enforce