Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1848-01-05
PEACE WIFE MEXICO.
by ALBERT GALLArIS.
(Con,inucd)
TRANSFORMATIONS AND WAR

In September. lS45, the President Of the Unite,
states directed their consul at Mexico 10 ASCERTAIN
from the Mexican Government whether i, wnuI,
receive an Enroy from the United States. en,rust
Gu win iu'i power to adjust all the questions in
dispute between the two Governments
The answer of Mr.. DE la Pena peno NJi,is,o,
OF the Foreign Relations of Mexico, was: ..'Ib,,
although the Mexican nation was deepv ,niured
oy the United States through the acts committed
ny them IN the department Of Texas, which he
longs TO his nation, his Government was disp,,s.d
10 receive the Commissioner of the United States
VINO might come 10 the capital, with full powers
!foii h's government 10 settle the present dispute
III peaceful, reasonable, aud honorable manne ~
thus giving lew proof that, eyet. in fbo MES -,
It's injuries and Of its firm decision to oxoc, Jae,
reparaton for them, The Goverauen, of NIexicu
docs not reply with contumel.' 10 the measures of
reason and peace, TO which il was invited Inv lie
adversary 80
The Mexican Minister at the same time intim,.
'eu mat the previous recall Of the whole naval force
Oh Tue United States, then lying ir sight of the
port oi 'era Cruz, was Indispensable, and this was
accordingly done by our Government
But IL is essential 10 observe that whilst Mr.
Black had, according TO his Instructions. incurred
whether the Mexican Government would receive
an ItRcoy from the United States with full nower
10 ADJUST all The questions in dispute between the
TWO Governments, the Mexican Minister had an
swered That his Government Was disposed TO re-
ccNe inc Con,n!'Ss'oner OF the United States who
n.Sn' co.'e win lull powers 10 settle the present
dispute III peaceful, reasonable, and honora HE
manner.
Mr. olideil was, in November following, an
pointed Envoy Extraordinary ard Minister Pleni
potentiary of The United States of America near
me government o! the Mexican Republic, and he
arrived IN NleX!co on the sixth of December.
Mr. Herrera, the President of Mexico. was IN
al IL
the two countries but taking advantage of The ir
ritaiion OF the mass Of the people, his political on
ponents were attempting To overSet him for I'M
made, as they said. unworthy concessions The r.
rival OF Mr.. Slidel disturbed him extremely: and
MI rena y Pena declared 10 Mr. Black ilat his
appearance In the capital at this time might prove
destructive TO the Government and thus defeat the.
Tue Wholea'Iair. Under these circumstances Gen
Herrera complained, without any foundation. that
Mr. Slide!l had come sooner than had been undcr-
stood; he rcsorted to several frivolous ohcc,ions
galhSt The ienqS OF his powers; and he Unlimited
iiiat The diitlcultes respecting Texas mus, be adj
Jus'ed before any other subject Of discussion should
be taken into consideration
Dnt the main question was, whether Mexico
should receive Mr.. Slidel in the character of En-
'oy extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to
reside In the Republic. 1t was insisted bv iba
Mexican Government that it had only agreed to re-
ceive Commissioner TO treat on The ouesiions
Whci liad arisen from the events i'm Texas and
ma nhhl this was done the suspended Diplomatic
intercourse could not be restored. and :, residinr
Minister PlenIpoeniiary be admitted.
why our Government should have insisted that
me intended negotiation should be carried on by a
residing Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Pleni-
poienaTy is altogether uninleigibe The ones
lions ut Issue might have been discussed and seirIed
as easily, fully and satisfactorily by commissioners
appointed Tor That special purpose, rs by residinr
ministers or ENJOYS. 1t IS well known that when
ever diplomatic relations have been superseded by
war, treaties OF peace are always negotiated hy
commissioners appointed for that special purpose.
VINO are personality amply protected by the law of
nations, but who are never received as resident
ministers till after the peace has restored the nr,
nary diplomatic intercourse. Thus the treaty Of
peace OF 1908, between France and England. was
negotiated ard concluded at Paris by British com
miSs'0ners, whom it would have been deemed ab-
surd TO admit as resident ENJOYS or ministers before
peace had been made.
lhS only distinction which can possibly be made
between The two cases is, that there was not as
yet actual war between Mexico and the ITnitod
o'ates But the annexation OF Texas was no ordi-
nary occurrence. Ii was most clear act Of unpro-
Voked aggression; a deep and most offensive iniu-
ry IN TACT, declaration Of war; IL Mexico had ac-
copied 1T such. In lieu of this that conntrv b.d
only feSoried To suspension of the ordinary dipln
maiic relations. 1t would seem as if our Govern
meht mad considered this as an act of unparalleled
audacity, which Mexico must be compelled to- re.
tract before any negotiations for the Arrangement of
existing difficulties could take place; as an insult
To the government and 10 the nation, which uinsi
compel 1t to assert its just rights and 10 ureare rs
injured honor. :
+ Ten. Herrera was not mistaken in his anticpa-
ions. Ills Government was ovcrset in the latter
ehd OF tne month OF December, 1915, and fell into
the hands OF those who had denounced him for hay
Ing listened To Overures Of an Arrangement Of the
difficulties between the two nations
| When Mexico felt its inability to contend with
the United States, and, instead of CONSIDERING The
annexation Of Texas TO be, as it really was tonta
mount to declaration Of war; only suspended In,
ordinary diplomatic relations between the two conn
tries, lis Government. il directed by wise counses
ana not impcded by popular irritation, should a
once, since IL mad already agreed to recognise tht
independence OF Texas. have entered into neUotja
! ion with the United States. At that time iher,
would have been no intrinsic difficulty in maxim,
1 Il maj arrangement, founded on an unconditional
recognition OF the ependence OF Texas within
lis legitimate boundaries Popular fccljno and lin,
ambition OF conending military leaders. prevented
/ That peaccabe termination Ci those unfortunate dis
! senSiOns.
! Yet. when Mexico refused to receive Mr.. SIidel
! as an Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Pe1jpo
/ lentary, the United States should have remember
ed Chat we had been the aggressors, that we ha,
committed an act acknowledged. as well by thu
| practical law of nations as by common sense an,
common Justice, TO be tantamount TO declaration
Of war; and they should have waited with paiienc,
TILL the feelings excited by our own conduct La,
subsidized.
Gen. Taylor had been instructed by the Wa
Department. as early as May %, 1916, TO caus,
the forces under his command to BE- pat i'm posi-
rui rnsat IL, al,
Iy act in defence Of Texas. in the event tina; i
should become necessary or proper TO employ then
for that purpose. BY Subsequent instructions an.
after the people OF Tbxas had accepted ibe propSi