The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-03-13
score, H,,,orv or the protocoI.

Much ink has been shed, and many speeches
made ON the subject OF the Mexican protocol, re-
The secret history of document that has been the
theme OF so many pens and tongues, will not be
Misunderstanding. We have been cognlzant of the
facts. part, since the ratification OF the treaty,
clearly, and infinitely, from authentic sources,
and lay them concisely before our readers, as
part OF the history Of the negotiations.
The very hour Messrs. Clifford and Sewer, our
incidence was deemed omnous - the treaty
passed the Mexican Senate. That night, the
peace party celebrated It's passage by fire works,
and other demonstrations OF JOY. The next day,
the general in command OF the garrison waited on
the commissioners, and, playing the host sat at
the head of the table. Senior Rosas, the Secre-
tary Ct State, paid several visits during the day,
and was profuse IN his attentions to the
commissioners and the officers of their escort.
Some OF the naost respectable families in Quere
taro resided opposite the American quarters, and
the ladies' frequently appeared on tine balconies,
giving our manly and accomplished officers an
opportunity OF admlrlng their exquisite beauty.
That night it was learned that the four thousand
troops in and about Mexico, were opposed to peace
10 a man. The great majority of the population,
likewise. manifested their repugnance to amlty, on
the conditions proposed. In fact, if the power and
opinion OF all Mexico had been concentrated In
Queretaro, there would have been no treaty then.
We would have had TO drub Queretaro out OF its
vanity, as we did the capital. There was no use
In pointing out to them that they had been beaten
in every field, as an argument that further re
lance was hopeless. They would reply, that they
had been commanded by inefficient officers,
towards, and traitors. " Let the Americans come
to Queretaro, and we will show them what we can
do,' would the war-dog add, as he turned on his
heel, and pompously strutted off, This feeling, in
Its full extent was latent, until the Americans APP
peared. Their presence developed all Its strength
Pena Pena, the then Provisional President,
and his Secretary, Rosas, both warm advocates Of
peace, became alarmed. The second day the
commanding General failed to present himself in
the quarters of the commissioners. Rosas never
visited them but when business required it, and
then the interviews were short, formal, and cold
The beautiful Senorltas, governed by the popular
feeling, were no lon er visible Messrs. Clifford
ard Sewer observed this GOODNESS. They lmme-
olately requested that the treaty be signed. The
President and his Secretary hesitated. They
pleaded that the national seal was In the capital
that they had sent an express for it, and
it arrived all would be right. The seal came, but
the Mexcans quibbled and procrastlnated until
within few days of the LIST of June, when the
armlstice would expire, and then, unless another
armistice was entered into, hostllliies would
recommence. Messrs. Clifford and Sewer brought
these facts to the attention of Pena Pena
and Rosas, and ,old them peremptonly that UNI
less the treaty was signed the next day they
would prepare to depart, and instantly send an
express to General Butler, at Mexico, for suffi-
Gent escort to protect them to the American
lines, and provide for the contingency of the
armistice expiring before they could reach head
quarters i MS Drought the gentlemen 10 a sense
of their peril, or rather the peril of the nation.
Peace or war was to be decided on. They had no
army, no cannon, no resources They fully real
lied the fact that continuation of the war would
be the destruction Of the nationality of Mexico.
They at consented to affix their signatures to
the treaty, on condition the commissioners gave
them something that would shield them from the
Jury OF the war party IN case OF an outbreak. They
were asked what they wanted! They explained.
The condition was granted, and the protocol was
given them for barricaue against their own cOun-
of the treaty. 1t was not understood as such by
either party, and 1t Is evident the Mexcans do not
look upon it as qualifying that instrument, from
the fact that it has never been made public by
them. The emergency for which 1t WAS obtained
did not arise, and it was not used. Years may
have elapsed before it would have fallen under the
public eye, had not our inquisitIve aud suspicious
1t out.
Such is the secret history of the pretocol.-N.
Orleans Delta, Fsb %.