The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-12-17
CITY OF WASHINGTON.
FRIDAY NIGHT, DEC. II, ls47.
poeument. nom the state Department.

Docu nom the Stato DepArtnfcnf
We Law before our readers this evening the documents
from the Department of State which accompany the
Presidents message and which relate to the late negot
ons with Mexico. and TO the present condition OF the
Oregon Territory The letters of Mr. Buchanan forming
mari of these documents, exhibit the most distin
mhed ability which has marked all the important and
interesting diplomatic correspondence of ourgovemment
since the present administration came into power. We
refer our readers in PARTICULAR Mr. Buchanans letter
under date OF the 18th of April in reply to the Mexican
demand of the withdrawal of forces from Mexico,
ameiminary to negotiations The letter OF the Secrea-
r. of State in reply to this most extraordinary PROPOSE
,on is model of lucid and convincing augmentation
expressed language OF singular felicity dignity, and
force The views and sentiments of the letter in rea-
ton to the Territory OF Oregonsated as they are with
great ceaness and ablitywill also meet cordial and
unanimous response from the American people.
But the point in these documents which will most arres
and fix the public attention occurs in the following pas
sage of the letter of General Herrera TO the Mexican
Minister of Foreign Relations setting forth his reasoh'
for declining his appointment as commissioner 10 con-
duct the negotiations on the part OF Mexico:
"As Mexican who desires the welfare of his country
nvh to state 10 your exceency, that, being at the head
e rove nuen the year I3t3 passed. when the gov
eminent of the United States first moved in sending com
missioner to arrange differences which, account
the Texas question, disturbed the harmony which ought
exist between conterminous republics, for NO other d
tha shoeng there poud be obstacle t. ms prenns
In.,f and hapng his heard administration
,ras caaniated The most drocions nahner j" hls ar
one the repoluoa ,cch displaced me from the command ma
set on FOOT and were now to take part in the same q,e
ton it would gN occasion for renewal OF the scenes
ybc then took place and the best result from existing
circumstances through negotiations, however honorable
would received than it might be il they We're un
,4raken by persons who may have had part in tina
affair"
Here we have, upon the very highest Mexican author
N mos, conclusive and complete refutaon of those
who contend that the originated in the march of our
army to the Rio Grande or in any other measure of the
present administration President Herrera himself tells
us that he was deposed from power by movement
originating in the Mexican army. and controlled by one
of its leaders, that this party in Mexico was so vio-
lent and so desperate to charge crime against the
administration Of Herrera its willingness to hear the
propositions OF government looking to the preserva-
tion Of peace between the two countries; and finally,
that this Mexican party had seized upon the supreme
mower, in the full resolution of making immediate war
upon the United States. while our minister was yet IN
the MEXICAN capital with his diplomatic credentials
waiting to be received and while, as yet no order had
been issued 10 General Taylor to advance to the Rio
Grunde.
II is difficult imagine any avowal from the Mexican
government be calculated than this to silence and to
shame the charges against our government in regard te
the commencement of the war, which the wing leaders
and journals have constantly and caumnously re-
erated But, if any other proof can add weight and
concsiveness to the declarations on this point OF the
deposed President such further proof may surely be
found in the corresponding avowals OF the military
uslrper by whom he deposed AS soon as Paroles
heard of the intention of Herrera to open negotiation
with Mr. SdeIl, he FASTENED from San Luis de Poosi
with some of the troops he then had marched to the cap
a and overthrow Herrera, upon the express ground
that no negotiation to he entertained with us, but
war waged for Texas Soon after Paroles had usurped
the supreme power in Mexico. he published in the
Mexican official journal (he Diario) of April "a, s46
proclamation stating in terms, that when he assumed
the direction of public AFFAIRS sin the beginning OF the
year, he determined adopt more vigorous and decided
policy and in pursuance of that determination, she is
sued orders to attack" the troops of Gen. Taylor. Al
he beginning Of the year, when these orders is
sued Gen. Taylor was Corpus Christi, and remained
there some two months afterwards. In fact, Gen
Taylor did not leave Corpus Christi till the nth of March
1916 and did not arrive the east bank of the Ric
Grande till the 2sth Of that month, his arrival there could
hardly have been, by any possibility, known in the city
of Mexico at the time when Psredes issued his Proca
maon-or the Proclamation itself bears date of the 18th
Of April, though it did not appear in the Dario till the
2h At any rate, the "orders to attack General Tay-
o to which it REFERS are announced having been is
sued long before the Proclamation appeared and as hav
ing been aimed at our army while was yet supposed to
be, and in fact was, stationed at Corpus Christi!
Here, then we have the two Mexican exPresidens--
the head of the peace party and the head OF the war par
ty-the deposei and the in the decla-
ration that the revolutionary government established IN
Mexico on the st of January. 1916, came into power
pledged against all negotiation and resolved, at all haz-
ards 10 wage immediate upon the United States be
cause of the annexation OF Texas What more is needed
what stronger proof be furnished, or even i'm
agned of the utter fulity of the pretexts upon which
the wbig leaders and journals have so long sought to
fasen upon their own government AMI country the re-
sponsbty and the guilt Of pungng into an unjust and
aggressive war |!
correspondent from the city OF New York cheered us
last night with the prospect OF reunion OF the de-
mocracy in that State But the proceedings OF tina
legislative caucus, on Monday night. throw new diff
cultes in the way We touch this matter with reluc
lance We notice it. not because it relates to the internal