Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1847-01-07

md addressed to his Excellency Don Jose joaquin
Herrera, President Of the Mexican Republic. This
letter OF credencc was enclosed by Mr. Slidell to
MIR. Pena y Pcna, the Sth of December, lS45:
Now where is the authority for this appointment
and mission as envoy2 And where is To be found
the solemn agreement of the Mexican government
TO receive an envoy extraordinary and minister
penipoentiary resident the government OF the
Mexican Republic? On the contrary they ex-
pressly agree to receive commissioner oniy s'to
settle The present dispute IN peaceful reasonable
and honorable ,cGy."
This letter of Mr.. Slidell not being immediately
answered. he addressed another ON the 18th of the
month, enquring of Mr. Pena Pena the cause of
the delay; which, OH the 10TH the Mexican Min
lister answers, by saying ''that the delay has been
'occasioned by the nature of his credentials which
''made it necessary to submit them to the Council
'of government for its opinion in regard to them -
''assuring him, meanwhile, that the government of
''Nexico Is ready to proceed dgrceabiy to ,chat it
proposed IN its ans,cer the subject" and this
letter is addressed to ellis Excellency John Slidc
&c, &C." he not having been received as Minis.
ter. Well here was 4 chance for settling the
question and avoiding war, if Mr.. John Slidell
could only have been persuaded to screw his di-
mansions down, from envoy extraordinary and
minister penipoten,iary residing the court of
the Republic of Mexico, to the capacity of a COM
missioner to treat for peace. But what is a war
TO the United States 2-what is the treasure of thu,
nation and the blood pour citizens, when it comes
In collision with dignity and etiquette Especially
when treating with poor humble Mexico! This
great Nation, this gigantic Republic sticking for
and going to war, for form, etiquette and dignity
with Mexico, whom we profess to despise for her
imbecility and weakness. INDUSTRIOUS provocation.
indeed, for warl!l Mr.. John Slideli, however,
goes for ''e ac,oie none - and in his letter to
MIR. Buchanan, of the 18th of December he SAYS.
'fou will observe that this note is addressed to
me In my official capacity the omission to do so
sis certainly not accidental He tells Mr. Blu
canan; ''that in his representative character, he
cannot suffer any mark of disrespect; that he shall
address note TO the Minister. reminding him of
the inadvertence, and suggesting the expectation
~'that it will not be repeated.' Now, ask. if the
desire for peace such Mr.. Polk represents it,
and all honorable means reSorted to- to pre-
serve 1t, why was this opportunity not embraced {?
why was not Mr.. John Sldell sent there in the
capacity in which the Mexican government had
agreed 10 receive him? Or why, after he had
been sent with long title hanging to his coatta
and the Mexican authorities assured him. as Mr.
Pena Pena did in his letter of The 10Th that the
Mexican government was ready TO proceed '.to treat
peacefully upon the affairs of Texas" with him as
commissioner, agreeably to what it proposed in its
answer on that subject why, saw was not Mr.
John Sllde instructed to op off little of his title
preserving still his dignity, and settle the difficult
Ties growing out of the question of annexation-lea
wing the matter OF payment of indemnities recog-
nzed, to gro on as when they were first interrupted
and the balance to be settled by the Convention as
before agreed upon; and await the action of the
Mexican Congress upon the two amendments adopt-
ed by the Senate OF the United States (Which
would no doubt, have been Promptly acted upon
as soon as this bone of contention was removed
1t was not until the month of March that Mr..
Siidell was instructed to make Il peremptorv de-
mand to be received as envoy, or TO receive his
passports and return home 1t which time the ar
my OF the United States had invaded the territory
or Mexico, and was in full possession of the left
nj no R;n(r
to receive him and she did right; unless we claim
1or Mr. Folk the right to require the Mexican au-
thcrtles to degrade their country, as he has deora
ded his own.
In the month of March he demanded his lass
ports and returned home. Prior to his return how
ever but as soon as MIR. Polk heard that there was
difficulty on the part of the Mexican government
IN receiving Mr. Slidell under long name, (eyen
as early as January,) although the same DESPATCH
TO VIII, Mr.. Slidelts letter to Mr.. Buchanan of
the Eth December, enclosing Mr.. Pena Pena s
letter of the 10th ) informed him of their WILLING
ness to receive Mr.. Sdell comm ssioner to treat
peacefully upon the affairs of Texas, vet he rot
warke endeavols 10 repair his blnnder and sus-
tam the dignity OF his appointed envoy, to whom
he was said to be indebted for the vote of Louisiana
In IA, (and surely one good turn deserves another
even at the OF wary and directly marches of.
the army. under Gen. Iaylor's command, from the
.'WeStern frontier Of Ieras,' where it was. as he
himself had informed Congress- Gin q Dosit;on tn
defend our o,c'l, and The rights of Teas. and tn
repet any iaUasion Of the Team te,ritoru ,,hicb
might be attempted by the .Mcrican forces - into
the dominlons and possessions Of Mexico and point
ed his loaded guns upon Matamoras upon which
the Mexican army crossed (Gen. TAYLOR being first
required to retire to the Neuces which was yirtu-
ally surrendering their claim to Texas the Rio
Gnnde, and the battles of Paio Alto and Resaca de
Ia Palma ensued and thus the war began and thus
was MIR. Polk the aggressor Is the proof wanting,
that this point Of etiquette and false dignity alone
involved this country III war, by marching the ar
my into Mexican territory and taking military pos
session, when, as he says, .Heric0 had ,aade mo
aggressive increment? Then look to his MESSAGE
In May, already quoted, in which he SAYS .'This
force was concentrated at Corpus Christi. and re-
NAMED there until after had received such nS,r-
nation from Mexico as to render it probable if not
certain, that the Mexican government would re-
fuse to receive our envoy
Again, in speaking of the orders to Gen. TAYLOR
which were issued the 18th January last. TO
leave Corpus Christi and take his position on the
Rio Grande, nc says: s'Before these orders were
issued, the despatch Of our Minister in Mexico.
transmitting the decision of the council of govern
Inent OF Mexico, which was unofficial. for Mr..
SideIl, IN his letter says: ''the deliberations of
council, although ostensiby confidential, soon be-
came known out OF doors, advising that he should
not be received, and also the despatch of our con
sui residing in the city Of MeXco-the former bear
ing date on the 18th, and the latter on the 18th of
december, $40, were received at the Department
Of State
In another part OF his communication he virtual
ly admits that he would not treat for 2 peaceabe
settlement Of the boundary question, unconnected
with the question of indemnity for he saws: ssJbe
Mexican government well knew that both our ma
t0nai honor and the protection due TO orr citizens