The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-05-19

| dispute Indeed, your excelency admits that the
title Of the diplomatic agent is of no Importance, by
| using the words commissioner and plenpotentIsry
| dd hoe, convertible terms.
Your excellency repeatedly and expressly admits
that the Mexican government accepted the PROPOSE
ton Of the United States, made through It's consul
| TO send an envoy to Mexico. That proposition was
| frank, simple, and 1nambiguous in its terms. II
your excelency acting the organ Of the Mexican
government, intended TO qualify or restrict in any
degree the acceptance Of the proposition, such in.
entIon should have been manifested in terms not u
| be misunderstood; and the undersigned unhesIa-
ungy rejects a superstition, which would be incon-
sstent with the high respect which he entertains foI
Mr. Peha Peda that your exceIlency did not in
Tend to respond TO the proposition IN correspond
| ing spirit of fTankness and good faith.
The answer of your eXcellency to the consul
having been forwarded by him, the President Of the
United States promptly complied with the assurance
which had been given that envoy would be sent
to Mexico with full power to adjust all questions in
dispute, by the appointment Of the undersigned,
thus acting in accordance with the friendly feeling
which prompted hegoyenment oflhe United States
| spontaneously las your excellency correctly OBJ
/ seyes) TO make peaceful oyertures 20 the Mexican
government; for the consul, IN Submhns tho prop
Osltlnn 10 your excelency, said in conformity with
his Instructions that 'if the President of the United
states had been disposed stand upon mere ques-
ton Of etiquette, he would have waited until the
Mexican government, which had suspended the
diplomatic relations between the two countries
should nave asked that they might be restored; but
his desire IS so strong TO terminate the present I'M
fortunate state of relations with this republic,
that he has consented to waive all ceremony
| and take the initiative"
| The appointment of an envoy extraordinary and
minister plenlpOtentary, the highest grade Of diplo
matte agent ever employed by the government Of
| the undersigned, afforded renewed proof il any
such proof could have been necessary of the sin
DfI The Of he -,
terminate the present unfortunate state Of their rea-
tons with Mexico. What will be his surprise
when he is informed that this additional manifesto
lon Of his friendly feeling, invited by your excel
lency, has been rejected by the Mexican govern
ment with contumely' for notwithstanding the pro-
testations OF peace and good will with which the
rejection Of the undersigned is accompanied he must
DO excused If he look to the acts rather than the
words Of the Mexican government as the true ex-
| ponents Of its feelings.
| There remains another argument on which Mr..
de la Peha Peha bases the refusal to receive
| the undersigned, which will be briefly no
uced. Your excellency says that although it is
true that in the letter Of credence of the undersigned
| is said that he is informed of the desire which
| the President Of the United States has to re-esab
| iah, cultivate, and strengthen the friendship and
| good correspondence Of the two countries, yel
neither that clause, and still less the single word r.-
establish Is sufficient 10 give TO the undersigned the
| special character Of commissioner, or, what is
equivalent % ben sea Of penipotentiary ad hoe TO
make propositions on the affairs of Texas, capable
Of establishing peace and avoiding the evils of war,
I by means of competent arrangement. Your ex-
cellency is pleased to say that it will not escape
| the discenment Olustracion) Of the undersigned
that the powers of such plenipotentiary should be
relative, adequate, and confined by their terms to
the business for which he Is nominated, and that the
nomination which has been made in his person. con-
ierrng upon him the character Of full and general
minister OF an ordinary pIenipotenuary to reside
near the Mexican government, is very far from of
fering those qualities. The undersigned is free To
confess that your excellency has paid unmerted
| compliment TO his dscernment IN supposing that
this distinction could not have escaped him; for by
the very terms Of his credentials he is not merely
an ordinary plenipotentiary, but envoy extraord-
nary; and, SUCH he is Entrusted with full pow
to al Just all the questions in dispute between the
| two governments; and, a necessary consequence
the special question of Texas.
| 1t is not usual for minister to exhibit his DOW
FRS until he has been accredited and even then
they not called for until a treaty is either to be
made concluded a particular affair of import
ance negotiated. Still had your excelIency thought
proper TO intimate a wish TO be informed on this
subject, the undersigned would not have hesitated
furnish him with a copy of his powers, by which
your excellency would have perceived that the
undersigntd is, in due form invested with full and
all manner Of power and authority, for and in the
name of the United States, to treat with the Next
can republic of and concerning limits and bounda-
ries between the United States Of America and the
Mexican republic, and Of all matters and subject
connected herewith, and which may be interesting
the two nations, and to conclude and sign treaty
or convention touching the premises.
Your excellency says the supreme government Of
the republic cannot admit the undersigned to the ex
ercise of the mission which has been conferred upon
him by that of the United States; but as it has not
in any degree changed the sentiments which your
excellency manifested to the consul in his commu-
nicaon Of the l4th Of October last, he repeats
Them adding that he will have the greatest pleasure
in treating with the undersigned, he shall
present the credentials which would authorize him
expressly and solely to settle the questions which
have disturbed the harmony and good intelligence of
the two republics, and which will lead them to war
f they be not satisfactorily arranged; which settle
nent was the object Of the proposition Of the gov
eminent of the United States and was the express
condition of the Mexican government in accepting
1t; without it, the undersigned cannot be received in
the capacity in which he presents himself, since il
would compromIt the honor, dignity, and interests
of the Mexican republic The undersigned con.
ours fully with your exceIency in the opinion ex-
ressed by him, that the questions which have dis
turbed the harmony and good intelligence of the
two republics will lead them to war, II they be not
satisfactorily arranged IF this, unfortunately, |
should be the result, the fault will not be with the
United States; the sole responsibility of such ca
amty with all its consequences, must rest with the
Mexican republic.
The undersigned would call the attention Of your
excelency to the strange discrepancy between the
sentiments expressed in the clause Of his letter last
cited, and the conclusion at which he arrives, that
the reception Of the undersigned would compromit
the honor dignity, and interests Of the Mexican
public. Your excelency says that he will have the
greatest pleasure in treating with the undersigned,
so soon as the undersigned shall present credentials
which would authorize him expressly and solely TO
settle the questions which have disturbed the har-
mony and good intelligence of the two republics. |
What are these quesuons' The grievances alleged
by both governments; and these the undersigned is
fully empowered to adjust. Does the Mexican gov
eminent, after having formally accepted the PROPOSE
ton of the United States, arrugate to itself the right
of debating not only the rank and title which their
diplomatic agents shall bear, but the precise form
Of the credentials which he shall be permitted to
present. and to trace out, in advance the order in
which the negotiations are to be conducted? The
undersigned, with every disposition to put the most
favorable construction on the language Of your ex-
cellency, cannot but consider an absolute and
unqualified reputation of all diplomatic intercourse
hstu Inc q