The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1847-12-16

rupture, Mr.. Slidell, as we have seen, was
commissioned "to reside near the govern
ment Of the Mexican republic, in the quality
OF envoy extraordinary and minister plenipo-
tentiary of the United States of America"
There is not the slightest allusion to Texas,
or any other subject, in his credentials, upon
which he was sent to negotiate. To have re-
Ceived him, after she had recalled her own
minister of like grade and quality, on account
of the act of war, which she alleged had been
committed against her, in the affair of Texas,
before a settlement of that cause of grievance
had been effected, would have been an ac-
acknowledgements on her part, that she had no
such cause Of complaint as justified her in re-
calling her own minister, and thereby tcrml-
mating diplomatic Intercourse between the
two governments.
There is, therefore, every reason to believe
that Mr.. Polk intended, when he appointed
Slidell to give him such Il general letter of
credencc, as would ensure his uon-reception
by Mexico, that he might make use of it, for
the two fold purpose of covering his hypo-
critical prctensions to a desire OF avoiding
hostilitios with Mexico and also, that he
might illuminate the falsehood, as he has done
80, repeatedly in his messages; and which
has been echoed by the presses Of his party
throughout the land, that Mexico refused to
receive our minister, after she had promised
TO do so. Mr. Sidell still remaining in Mex
leo and corresponding with our government
under the imposing caption Of, LEGATION
OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMER
ICA, applies again'to be received, in letter
,latcn March l, 1916, and addressed to Don
Lanzas, the new minister of Foreign Rela-
lions, &c., the executive government having
passed from Herrera to Paroles, the then
President In this letter, after referring to
the correspondence with his predecessor, Mr.
Pena, and his refusal to receive him, and
limiting at the torbcarancc Of Mr.. Polk, in
not directing him to have demanded his pass
ports on that occasion, he says:-" The des-
TIMES of the Mexican republic, however, hay
ing since been committed to other hands, the
President is unwWing to take n course which
would inevitably result in war, without max
ing another effort to avert SO great calam-
ty." This letter. be Remembered, in which
Slidel re-aflirns the strong desire of the
President to aCcH so great Il calamity as war,
was dated March LIST; Whereas the order to
General Taylor to march his army into Mex
leo, was dated the 18th Of January before.
To this letter the Mexican minister replied
under date Of March 18th, in which, after re-
viewing the conduct Of the United States in
relation to Texas, and recapitulating the cor
respondence which was had with his predc-
cessor, Mr.. Pcna, he says -" From these ex
tracts it is manifest. that it was the firm in
tenton of the Mexican government to admit
only plenipotentialy from the United States
clothed with powers dd h0c--that is to say,
special powers to treat upon the question OF
Tcvas, aud upon this alone, as preliminary to
the revival of friendly relations between the
two countries if the result should be such as
to admit OF their restoration, and then, but
not before, Of the reception Of an envoy ex-
traordinary and minister plcnipotcntiary near
the same government Nor could the gov
eminent Of the republic extend its engage
mcnts beyond this for to admit any person
sent by the United States, in the character
simply of ordinary agents between friendly
nations whilst the grave question OF Texas
was still pending, directly and Immediately
affecting rs it does, the integrity Of the Mex
lean territory, and the very nationality itself,
would be Equivalent to an acknowledgment
that this question was at an end, thus pre-
Judging it without even touching it, and to a
recognition that the relations OF friendship
and amity between the two nations were
from that moment in fact re-cstablishcd."
SO very simple truth is this, that the ap-
pointncnt of an envoy extraordinary and
minister plcnipotentiary hy the executive of
the United States, Notwithstanding all that
was set forth ON the subject by the govern
mcnt of Mexico, causes this act to appear as
an attempt which the undersigned does not
permit himself ito qualify" at good faith
presidcs, as is to be supposed, over the dis
position Of the government OF the United
States, what motive could exist Tor so anxious
lyrcpelilng the indispensable restriction with
which Mexico has acce0ep 10 the proposal
spontaneously made by the former Z III 1t
was really ana positively desired 10 Tic up
ngain the bonds OF good understanding and
friendship between the t"o nations, the way
was very easy; the Mexican government Oh
tered to admit the plenpotcnt'ary, or com