Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1848-01-28

III all MeNlCO, ana ne no Digger lndH UNI
Thumb, he would fight"
Yet further, Senator Ashley, of Arkansas,
in his speech, said-though not in the correct
ed eopy-"I will here add, that the present
boundaries of Texasl | have from Judge FL
lis-the president of the convention that form
cd the constitution Of Texas, and also a mem
Der of the first Legislature under that %consti-
tution-were fixed as they now are to the
Rio Grandel solely and proftssed!y with a
view OF having a large margin in the nego-
tlation with Mexico, and we had no erpecta-
fiOn of retaining them as they now exist on
our statute book"
We will now return to the mission of Mr..
Slidell, and state the facts so far as we can
gather them. We shall rely wholly on Off
cial documents accompanying the Presidents
special message of May 11th, 1916, "rela-
tive to an invasion and commencement OF
hostilities by MeXico."* 1t contains the cor
respondence of the American consul at Mex
leo, and MIR. Slidell, with the previous MeXl-
can authorities. This correspondence, how
ever, is but imperfectly published. The fire.
quent asterisks show how much is still con-
cealed from the public eye, no doubt for very
good reasons. The instructions of the Aineri-
can government TO Mr.. Slidell are not in this
document, nor do we remember TO have seen
them in print. What adds to the difficulty
is this: the documents of the Mexican au-
thorities are not published in their original
language, but in a translation, on which we
cannot always place entire confidence. In
deed, one very important phrase is made to
receive two very different translations, as we
shall presently show.
On the 18th of September. 1915, Mr.. Blu
chanan, at the command Of Mr.. Polk, desired
| NJ RIa.l. A.. r.,~;oon annsul Of MoEInn.
to ascertain from the Mexican government
whether they would receive an envoy from
the United States, intrusted with full power
to adjust all the questions in dispute between
the two governments" ~. 3. Mr.. Black
made the inquiry, and Mr.. Pena y Pena, the
+" minister of foreign relations and govern
ment," thus replied, Oct. 25th, 1915:
, "In answer, | have to say to you, that al
though the Mexican nation is deeply injured
} by the United States, through TIE acts com
t mitted by them in the department of Texas,
which belongs to this nation, my government
&; is disposed TO receive the commissioner Of The
. United States, who may CONF to this capital,
g Wih full powers from his government TO settle
S the present dispute an n peaceful, reasonable,
and honorable manner; thus giving a new
proof. that even in the midst of its injuries
and of its firm decision to exact adequate re-
"paration for them, it does not repel with con-
II tumely the measure of reason and peace, TO
which it isinvited by its adversary.
d "As my government believes this invita-
IS ton to be made in good faith, it also hopes
that the commissioners will be a person en-
dowed with the qualities proper for the at
tainment of this end that his dignity, pru-
dence, and moderation, and the discreetness
and reasonableness of his proposals will con-
n tribute to calm, as much as possible, the just
he irritation of the MeXicans, and in fine, that
a. the conduct of the commissioner on all points
to may be such as to persuade them that they
may obtain satifaction for their Injuries, thro'
Sc the means of reason and peace, and without
he being obliged TO resort to those of arms and
is force."-p. II.
Mr.. Polk asked if Mexico would receive
-, an envoy with full power to adjust all TN
no questions in dispute" Mexico offers to receive
of one with full powers TO settle the present dis
ii. pute in a peaceful, reasonable, and honorable
manner. She does not offer to receive a resi-
Ie dent minister, nor a special minister to settll
sail the questions in dispute" but only thu
"present dispute" namely, the d!BicHhie
5; grotoing out Of the matter Of Tears. Not
word is said in the correspondence about
,ct minister " to reside near the Mexican govern
,it ment," as a permanent representative. Per
os haps Mr.. Pena y Pena oughtto have distinct
ly stated that Mexico would not receive sue
IS. a minister. He only told what Mexico trout
he receive not what she would not. Still iul
mr. Their, it seems there was a "%council Of &c
in. vernment," whom Mr.. Pena y Pena did M
nj consult before answering Mr.. Blacks mott
and offering to receive a special %commlssio
1to er.
ne. Mr.. Slidell was sent, furnished with a lie
re-. ter of credence' from President Polk, autho
iZing him " TO reside near the government
the Mexican republic, in the quality of envc
extraordinary and minister plenlpotentiary
CT the United States. "-p. %. 1t is quite plai
Mr.. Slidell was not such a minister as Mex
i"h co had offered to receive. The difference b
mI tween an enjoy extraordinary and minist
Nv pienipOientidry, sent ito reside neal the &
res vernment," and a special commissioner sent
y adjust a single dispute, is as obvious as Il
difference between an egg and an apple.
After various preliminaries, Dec. Sth, NJ
lem Slidell asked to be accredited as envoy e
traordinary and minister plenipotentlary," 6
mid reside near the government of the MeXlci
,tes republic. As no formal answer came, he 7
newed the request on the 18th. The ne
day (Dec. lGth), the Mexican minister a
ion swers, that
The delay has "%arisen solely from certa
'eak difficulties occasioned by the nature of the
credentials, as compared with the proposals
made by the United States, through tn,
vor- consul, 10 treat peacefully upon The g6a'
may of Texas. 1t has been found necessary
In submit the said credentials to the council
,rld government, for its opinion with regard
ated lhem."-p. 25.
no
II of ITO be C~ontinued.)
ate -
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