The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-04-16

and he makes knotcn you has authority restUs from
Dier,eo offers for concluding peace You are informed
by has igslructions and the project Of treaty whiet he
ratification Of treaty Of peace By Me1oo, hoses I'm.
mediatey thereafter are 10 cease. Win oil these taes
fully made known 10 you "a ddeanee' you are directed
Iby the President 10 suspend hoses rsesiping trt.
tea notice from the commissioner that the Contingency
Ne conclusion and ratification Of treaty Of peace by
Mereo.-has happened. Under these eireunSanees can
you that commanding general Of the forces IN
Werloo, you hare the right 10 RAISE question upon your
duty 10 obey tis direction, coming as q does through
proper channel from your superiorthe oosmander-in
ehn1 Inmy opinion, you could not have wandered fur.
Their from the true view of The than by supposng
that the President or myself has placed you in the con-
dtion of deferng to the chief clerk OF the Department
of State, the question OF continuing disseminating hos
Titles" cannot conceive that any well-founded excep
ZION can be taken 10 the order you have received re-
ation TO suspending hostllies; and am fully persuaded
that, if the contingency requiring you to act upon il shall
ever occur you will promptly carry into full effect"
And, finally to block all possibility of escape from the
correctness OF the conclusions arrived at in the above ey
tracts from the letters of the Secretary of war, and 10
complete the record evidence OF the Coures gross as
cations subjon the letter from the Secretary of war
TO General Scott OF April l4th which is referred TO in
letters just quoted, and which, having been transmitted
by Mr. Trist to General Scott instead OF being, was
expected delivered in person, constitutes the whole pre-
text upon which the Couriers false statements OF inter-
ference, &c., were put forth Yet before quoting we may
make single comment upon it, Mr.. Tris carried out a
treaty of peace with him. article Of which provided
that after should be ratified by the Mexican govern
ment, hostilites should In no just sense OF
the term can such cessation OF hostilities be
called an armistice. 1t was not armistce. II
was termination Of the war, contemplating re-
newal except for cause Not only, then, had
Mr.. Trist himself power whatever the Courier
alleges to conclude armistice, but in fact armo
was named or contemplated in the treaty he bore with
him. He had authority to conclude peace basis Of
treaty spulations furnished to him beforehand and as
result of those stipHlatons This his whole author
y in that matter In the next place he had authority
and was directed to inform General Scott in writing Of
the ratification by the Mexican government of the treaty
of peace and upon the receipt of such written notice
that the war was closed General Scott directed BY
the President through the War Department, to bis
military operations.
We have given more space than they deserve 10 tn.
Couriers falsifcatons but the brutal nsolence OF its
whole article with which we will not copdescend to soil
our columns, and the brazen hardihood which led that
journal to refer to the subject again. when exposure Of
its mendaciy inevitable have caused us to put the
whole case before the public warning
We subjon the letter to which we have last referred
[Confdential.l
WAR DEPARTMENT
Washington, April IA, lSl7.
Sir: The signal successes which have attended our
military operations since the commencement OF the pres
ent war, would to justify the expectation that Mex
leo will be disposed to offer fair terms OF accommodation
With view to a result desirable, the President has
commissioned Nicholas P Trist, esq OF the State De-
parment to proceed TO your headquarters, or to the
Squadron, as to him may seem most convenient and be
readiness to receive anyproposa which the enemy may
see fit to make for the restoration OF peace.
Mr. Trst is clothed with such diplomatic powers as
will authorize him to enter into arrangements with The
government of Mexico for the suspension OF hosillle
Should he make known to you, in writing that the con-
tingency has occurred in consequence of which the
President is willing that further active military opera
tons should cease you will regard such notice d.,
recton from the President to suspend them until further
orders from this department. unless continued recon-
menced by the enemy; but, in doing, you will nore
tire from any place you may occupy or abstain from any
health safety of the troops under your command un
less consultation with Mr. Trist change IN the po
son of your forces should be deemed necessary to the
success OF the negotiations for peace Until hosIlhes
herein proposed, shall be lnermed you will continue
to carry your operations with energy and push your
advantages as far as your means will enable YOU 70 ao
Mr. Tst also the bearer of despatch to the Secre'
tary of Foreign Affairs of the government OF Mexcoh
reply addressed to the Secretary OF State here
You will transmit that despatch to the commander OF the
Mexican forces with request that il may be laid before
his government; at the same time giving information that
Mr.. Trst, an officer from department for foreign al.
fairs, rank it's chief, is at your headquarters
on board the squadron, as the may be.
You will afford Mr. Trist all the accommodation and
facilities in your power, to enable him to accomplish the
objects OF his mission.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant ser nov
Secretary of War
Major Gen. WINFIELD Scorr,
Comdg the army of the United States, Mexico.
IS. Should suspension of hostlites take place. you
will lose no time in communicating the fact to MaloT
General Taylor.