The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-12-17
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,


SIR have the honor to acknowledge the receipt
of your exceencys note of the 22d of February last
in answer TO mine Of the 18th of January, proposing,
the part Of the President Of the United States, i'm
medatcy 10 despatch either to the Havana or Jalapa
the Mexican government may prefer, one more of
most distinguished citizens commissioners, clothed
with full powers conclude treaty OF peace with similar
commissioners the part of Mexico, he shall
be officially informed that the Mexican government will
appoint such commissioners"
The President deeply regrets the refusal of the Mex-
government to accede 10 this friendly overture
less the raising of the blockade of he Mexcan) ports
and the complete evacuation of the territory of the re-
public by The invading forces shall be previously accept
ed as preliminary condition"
The President has instructed 10 inform you that
this preliminary condition is wholly inadmissble
Sucha condition is by the honor, nor
toned by the practice OF nations II It were, this would
tend opolong wars, especially between conteminous
countries, until the or the other power entirely
subdued. No nation which, at the expenditure of blood
and treasure, has invaded its encmys country, and
acquired possession Of any considerable portion Of his
territory, could ever consent 10 withdraw its forces
preliminary condition to the opening OF negota-
lions for peace This would be at once to abandon
all the advantages it had obtained in the prosecu-
ton Of the war. without any certainty that peace
would result from the sacrifice. Nay, more should
such negotiation prove unsuccessful, the nation which
had thus mpudently withdrawn its forces from the
mys territory mghtnot be able recover without
OF blood and treasure equal TO that first expended the adj
vantaseous position which il had voluntarily abandoned
Fortunately for the OF peace and humanity, the
history of nations at affords sanction to sucha
preliminary condition The United States jealous
OF their national honor any power the face OF the
earth and yet entered into the contemplation of
the great statesmen who administered our government
during the period of last with Great Britain to
insist that the latter should relnqush that part OF our
territory OF which she actual possession, before
they would Consent to open negotiations for peace On
the contrary, they took the initiative, and appointed COM
missoners TO treat Tor whilst portions of
try were held by the enemy; and remarkable fact
that the treaty OF Ghent concluded by the penipo-
enares OF the two powers whilst the war was raena
on both SIDES and the most memorable of the conflicts d
which il gave rise took place upon our own soil after
the negotators had happily terminated their labors His
tory full of such examples Indeed, far as the nm
dersgned is aware, there not to be found at least in
modern times, single case, except the present. in which
it has been considered necessary preliminary that an in
vadng army should be withdrawn before negotiations
for peace could commence between the parties to The
war.
1t would also be difficult TO find precedent for the
pursued by the Mexican government in another
particular The President anxious to avohl the now
existing sent minister of peace TO Mexico for this pur
pose After the Mexican forces had attacked the army
of General Taylor this side Of the Rio Grande, and
thus commenced the war; the President actuaed by the
same pacific spirit made repeated overtures the gov
eminent OF Mexico to negotiate for It's termination and
although he has, from the beginning, solemny declared
before the world that he desired terms hut such as
were just and honorable for both parties yet the Mexican
government by refusing 10 receive minister in the
1irst place. and afterwards oy not accedng
open negotiations for peace, has afforded
10 this government even the opportunity Of making