Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1847-12-24
bert Gaiiaih's Essay on "Icace wih !
Negotiations and War.

In September, 1S45, the President of Che Uni
ted States directed their consul In Mexico, 10 rs
certain from the Mexican Government, whcthc
it would receive an Enroy from the Unite,
States, intrustcd with full power to adjust all ii,
questions in dispute between the two Govern
ments.
The answer Of Mr. DE Ia Penay Pena, Minis
ter of the Foreign Relations Of Mexico, was
ihat although the Mexican nation was deeply
injured by the United States, through the act
committed by them in the department of Texas
which belongs to his nation, his Government
was disposed to receive the Commissioner Of III,
United States who might come 10 the capital
with full powers from his government 10 settle
the present disputes in peaceful, reasonable
and honorable manner" thus giving new proc
that even in the midst of its injuries and Of il,
firm decision to exact adequate PREPARATION fol
them, the Government Of Mexico does not re.
ply with contumely to the measures of reason
and peace, to which II was invited by its adver
sary.
The Mexican Minister at the same time int.
mated, that the previous recall Of the whole ma.
val force Of the United States, then lying in
the port OF Vera Cruz, was indispensable and
this was accordingly done by our Government
But II is essential to observe that, whilst Mr.
Black had, according to his instructions, inquir-
ed, whether the Mexican Government would re-
ceive as an Enroy from the United States, with
full power to adjust all the questions in dispute
between the two Governments. the Nfexican
Minister had answered, that his Government
was disposed to receive the Commissioner of the
United States, who might come with full powers
TO settle the present dispute in a peaceful. rea-
sonabe and honorable manner
MIR Slidell was, in November following. an
pointed Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plen-
ipotentiary of the United States of America
near the Government of the Mexican Rcpub-
lie and he arrived in Mexico on the sixth of
December.
MIR Herrern, the President Of Mexico. was
undoubtedly disposed to settle the disputes be-.
tween the two countries. But taking advantage
OF the irritation of the mass of the people, his
political opponents were attempting to overset
him for having madecas they said, unworthy con-
eessions. The arrival of Mr. Slidell disturbed
him extremely; and Mr. Pena Pcna declared
to Mr. Black, that his appearance in the capital
at this time might prove destructive to the Gov
eminent, and thus defeat the whole affair. Un-
der these circumstances General Herrera COM
planned, without any foundation, that Mr. Slidell
had come sooner than had been understood; he
resorted to several frivolous objections against
the tenor Of his powers; and he intimated that
the difficulties respecting Texas must be adjust
ed before any other subject of discussion should
be taken into consideration.
But the main question was, whether Mexico
should receive MIR Slide in the character of
Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotenti-
airy, to reside in the republic. 1t was insisted by
the Mexican Government, that il had only agreed
to receive commissioner, to treat on the aues
ton which had arisen from the events in Texas
and that until this was done, the suspended d.
plomatlc intercourse could not be restored, and
residing minister plenipotentiary be admitted.
why our Government should have insisted
that the intended negotiation should be carried
on by residing Envoy Extraordinary and Min
lister Plenipoentiary, is altogether unntelligible
The questions at issue might have been dis
cussed as easily, fully and satisfactorily, by COM
missioners appointed for that special purpose, as
by residing ministers or ENJOYS. Its we'll known
that whenever diplomatic relations have been
superseded by war; treaties of peace are ALWAYS
negotiated by commissioners appointed for that
special purpose, who are personally amply pro-
tected by the law of nations. but who are never
received as resident ministers, till after the peace
has restored the ordinary diplomatic intercourse.
Thus the treaty of peace of 1888, between
France and England, was negotiated and con-
cluded at Peris by British commissioners, whom
it would have been deemed absurd to admit as
resident ENJOYS or ministers, before peace had
been made.
The only distinction which can possibly be
made between the two cases is, that there was
not as yet actual war between Mexico and the
United states. But the annexation of Texas
was no ordinary occurrence. 1t was most clear
&C. Of unproyoked aggression deep and most
offensive injury in fact declaration of war, il
Mexico mad accepted 1t as such In lieu of this,
.n e country mad only resorted to suspension
Oh tne ordinary diplomatic relations. 1t would
ne an act of nnnar.ilaiaS a5a;,' i:"L Nm 'n:'
co mnst he comnellad ~ ,a,rac, a csn ,.,,
gotiat;ons for III arranos,art - ,y IA, ;s
sules co,ld tsLe ,l.c.. ~ =. ~ 1
ernment and 10 NJ ns,o, sl;ah 80 ~ ''e
Il ~ assert ,s Inc, ,.;ah,s "a =, u..
honor - 'e'''' "''1 - '''''s' 10 "v"sa
General Ua,rer. ,... No, .,;...,. :, ~.
t;c;nat;ons M ~ ~ ';'s
latter end oe ~, 800, ~ n,,,' 80 =, IN
fell into the hands Of those who bad denounced
him for having listened 10 oyertures of an ar
raneement Of the diffculties between the two
nations.
When Mexico felt its INABILITY N contend
with the United States and. instead of cons;d-
erinq the annexation of Texas 10 be. as Il really
was, tantamount to a declaration Of war, only
suspended the ordinary diplomatic relations be-
tween the two countries, its Government, if d.
,.ootaI H.. ,,.,o ,.o,,,,.oi. - =. :..-I-1 :