The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-07-21
IMPORTANT CORRESPONDENCE
BETWEEN THE
Secretary of State and the Mexican
Government,
Relative to the Mission of Mr. TriSt.

SOVOA AAHOAty
Relative to the Mission of Mr.. TriSt
An extra of the Republicans of Mexico of the 2sth
OF June has been received at the Department Of State
containing copies Of two notes from the Minister of For
egn Affairs Of Mexico dated the aad Of june last and
translation Of the letter addressed to the Mexican
ernmen by our Secretary Of State on the 10th of April
previous We here present TRANSACTIONS the
first mentioned together with copy in the original Of
Mr. Buchanan's letter; all Of which win doubtless be
Historical documents published in the Repubicano of
the 2sh of June, lS47
rRANsLArIoN.
DEPARTMENT OF INTERNAL AND FoREIoN RELATIONS.
To the most ereelient Secretaries Of the Sovereign Con-
Con AND LInrRry-Mexico June %, ls47.
Most ExcELLENr SIRs: By order of his excelency,
council of ministers, have the honor to place in the
hand Of your exceencies that you may submit it to the
sovereign Congress at its first meeting copy Of the
United States to this government under date of the
Of April last in which he declares that the President
that republic intends to DESPATCH commissioner to
the headquarters Of the army operating In Mexico
Nicholas P. Trst, Esq., with full powers to conclude
deinitive treaty OF peace with the Mexican United
States.
likewise transmit to your excellences for communi-
cation to the sovereign CONGRESS copy of the answer
Gil of minister's to have made to the above mentioned
note his Excelency feeling assured that the august
sembly to which Is reserved the determination the
affair to which the present communication relates will
despatch it with the promptness and wisdom to be
eminent.
repeat to your excelences, on this OCCASION the as
DOMINGO IBARRA
TO his EreeHency the Minister of Foreign Relations
81 the Merican Republic.
DEPARTMENT STATE,
Washington, 10Th April, ls47
Sin; have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of
your Exceencys note of the 22d February last in an.
to mine Of the 18th of January proposing on the
part Of the President Of the United States, immedi-
ately TO- despatch either to the Havana Jalapa,
as the Mexican government may prefer, one more
OF our most distinguished citizens commissioners,
clothed with full powers to conclude a treaty peace
with similar commissioners the part of Mexico,
soon as he shall be officially informed that the Next
can government will appoint such commissioners
government to this friendly overture Gun
less the raising Of the blockade of the Mexican)
me cVmpe.e evacuation OF the territory OF
accepted as a preliminary condition"
The President has instructed me to inform you that
this preliminary condition. is wholly inadmissable
such condition Is neither required by the honor nor
sanctioned by the practice of nations If it were this
would tend to proong wars, especially between con-
termnous countries until the or the other power
was entirely subdued No nation which, at the expen-
dture of blood and treasure has invaded its enemys
country and acquired possession Of any considerable
portion OF his territory could to withdraw
its forces as preliminary condition to the opening Of
don all the advantages it had obtained In the prose-
cuton Of the without any certainty that peace
negotiation prove unsuccessful the nation which had
thus imprudenty withdrawn its forces from the enemy
territory might not be able to recover without cost Of
blood and treasure equal to that first expended the ad
vantageous position which had voluntarily abandoned
Fortunately for the Of peace and humanity the
history OF nations at war; affords sanction such
preliminary condition The United States are as lea
ous of their national honor any power the face
the earth and yet entered the contempla-
ton Of the great statesmen who administered GO
yernment during the period Of last war with Great
Britain to insist that the latter should renqush that
Y The in fualta
sion before they would open negotiations
peace On the contrary. they took the initiative and
appointed commissioners treat for peace, whilst por
tions OF our country held by the enemy and it is
remarkable fact that the Treaty of Client concud
ed by the penpotentaries of the two powers whilst the
war was raging both sides and the most memorable
OF the conflicts to which gave rise took place upon
their abors History Is full Of such examples Indeed
SO far as the undersigned is there is to be
found at least In modern times single except the
present, in which 1t has been considered necessary
preliminary that invading army should be withdrawn
before negotiations for could between
1t would also be difficult to find precedent for the
course pursued by the Mexican government another
particular Tho President anxious to avoid the war
now existing sent minister Of peace to Mexico for this
purpose. After the Mexican forces haa attacked the
army of General Taylor this side Of the Rio Grande,
and thus commenced the war the President, actuated
by the pacific spirit, made repeated
the Government Of Mexico to negotiate fer its tsrmna
ton And although he has from the beginning soemny
declared before the world that he desired
such just and honorable for both parties yet
the Mexican government, BY refusing to receive our
acceding to our overtures to open negotiations for
peace has never afforded to this government the
opportunity OF making known the terms on which we
would be willing to settle questions in dispute between
the two republics. The war never end whilst
Mexico refuses to hear the proposals which have
always been ready to make for peace.
The President will not again the offer to nego.
tate at least until he shall have to believe that it
would be accepted by the Mexican government. De-
voted however, to honorable peace he determined that
the evils Of the war shall not be protracted day
longer than shall be rendered absolutely necessary
the Mexican republic For the purpose Of carrying this
determination into effect with the least possible delay
he will forthwith send to the Of the army
in Mexico, Nicholas p. Trist Esq, the officer next in
rank to the undersigned in our department of
foreign affairs as a commissioner invested with
full powers to conclude denitve treaty of peace with
the united Mexican States. This gentleman possesses
the entire confidence of the President and eminenty
worthy Of that of the Mexican government.
The undersigned refrans from all comment upon the
concluding paragraph, well other portions Of
your Excelencys note because the strong which
he entertans Of their injustice towards the United
States could not be uttered in the friendly tone which
he desires to in the present communication
ne turns from these therefore to dwell as he does with
unfegned pleasure upon the sentiment contained in
early part Of the note the Mexican govern
ment expresses how painful it is Ito disturbed the
sincere friendship which it cultivated with your (our)
republic whose continued progress it has always ad-
mired and whose institutions have served il as model
This feeling Is most cordially reciprocated by the
President, earnest desire 1t that the United
Mexican States under institutions similar to our own
may protect and the liberty OF their people and
maintain an elevated standing among the nations OF the
earth.
The undersigned embraces this occasion to offer TO
your Exceency the Of his distinguished
consideration JAMES BUCHANAN.
TRANSLATION
To His ErceItency the Secretary Of State Of The United
States Of .4mericd,
FEDERAL PALACE, June ~, 1S47.
The undersigned Minister Of Internal and Foreign Re-
ations had the honor to receive your Exoeencys note
dated 10Th April last in which you declare that his Ex
ceency the President of the United States intends to
despatch commissioner to the headquarters of the
army operating In McKee, Nicholas r. Trist, Esq, the
officer next In rank to your Excelency with full powers
to conclude definite treaty of peace with the Next
United States and the most excellent President ad
interim of this republic to whom the undersigned i'm
mediately made known the contents Of your Excel
lencys said official note has determined that you should
be informed, in reply, that the decision tbs affair in
question being to the sovereign Congress OF the
nation your excelency's said note is transmitted by
him that body in order that IL determine what