Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1849-03-28
secret History Of the Protocol.

Secret History Of the Protocol.
The New Orleans Picayune tells the
following story Of the reason and cause OF
. making the protocol tothe Mexican treaty:
We have been cogniZant OF the facts in
part, since the ratification Of the treaty.
and have lately had them placed before
US, fully. clearly and mnutely. from au-
,hcn,ic sources. ard lay them concisciy
before our readers. as part Of the histo-
ry of the negotiations.
The very hour Messrs. Clifford and Sc.
vier, our Commissioners, arrived in Quer-
etaro-and the coincidence was deemed
omnous-thc treaty passed the Mexican
Senate. That night the Peace party cell
ebrated its passage by fire works, and
other demonstrations of joy. The next
dav the General in command OF the gar
rison waited on the Commissioners, and.
playing the host, sat at the head of the ia
ble. Senior Rosas. the Secretary Of State.
paid several visits, during the day. and
was profuse ia his attentions TO the Com
missioners and the officers of their escort.
Some of the most respectable families in
Queretaro resided opposite the American
quarters, and the ladies frequently APP
peared on the balconies. giving our man.
iv and accomplished officers an opportu-
nitv of admirin. their exquisite beauty.
| That night it was learned that the four
thousand troops in and about Mexico
were opposed to peace, to man. The
great majority Of the population. likewise.
manifested their repugnance to amitv, on
the condition proposed. In fact, if the
power and opinion Of all Mexico had
been concentrated in Queretaro, there
hoy froa
have had to drub Queretaro out Of its van
itv, as we did tie capital. There was no
use in pointing out to them that they had
been beaten in every field, as an argu-
ment that further resistance was hopeless.
They would reply, that they had been
commanded by inefficien, officers, cow
ards, and traitors. Let the Americans
come to Queretaro, and we will show them
wha, we can DO would the war dog add.
as he turned Oh his heel, and pompously
s,ru,ted Off This feeling. in its full ex.
tent. was latent, Until the Americans ap-
peared. Their presence developed all its
strength.
Penay Pena, the then Provisional Pres
ident, and his Secretary, Rosas. both
warm advocate of peace, became alarm
ed The second day the commanding
General failed to present himself in the
quarters of the commissioners. Rosas
never visited them but when business re-
quired it, and then the interviews were
short. formal, and cold. The beautiful
Senoritas. governed by the popular feel
ing. were no longer visible. Messrs. Cliff
ford and Sewer observed this coldncss.-
They Immediately requested .hat the .rea:
~ 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 as
soon as it arrived all would be right
The seal came, butthe Mexicans quibblcd
and procrastinated until within few DAYS
Of the lst of June, when the Armistice
would expire. and then, unless another
Armistice was entered into. hostilities
would recommence. Messrs. Clifford
and Sewer brought these facts TO the at
tcnton of fena Y Pena and Rosas. and
Told them pre-emptorily that unless the
treaty was signed the next day they would
prepare to depart. and instantly send an
express to General Butler. at Mexico, for
a sufficient escort to protect them 70 the
American lines, and provide for the con-
tingency Of the Armistice expiring before
they could reach Head Quarters. This
brought the gentlemen to 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 realized the'fact that a cont;n-
uation Of the vas would be the destruc-
ton Of the nationality Of Mexico. They
at once consented to affix their signatures
to the treaty. on condition that the COM
missioners give them something that
would shield them from the fury Of the |
war party, in case Of ala outbreak. They
were asked what they wanted! They ex-
planned. The condition was granted,
and the Protocol was given them for a !
barricade against their own countrymen,
and for no other purpose.
This explanation may make it very
clear that the protocol is no part Of the
treaty, but the conduct of our commits !
sioners in signing paper in their off cal
capacity. which they were given to under
stand. differed so much from the treaty. as
TO relieve the latter from the objection
made to it by the Mexicans who were op- |
posed to it. and the signing Of which by |
them would furnish the Mexican Commits. |
sioners with q barricade "against their
own commemorative conduct Of our
Commissioners in signing such a paper,
is, to say the least, Of very questionable
propriety. not to say honesty, of suspicion
it was in no respect relieved by the mys-
ferrous concealment OF it by Mr.. Polk.
NON-INEL1GIBILITY OF A DUELIsr.-The
Batesville (Ark Eagle says that Colonel
Roanc, if elected, cannot become Cover.
nor Of that State. The Inauguration oaths
requires the party to swear that he has
never been engaged in duel. either as
principal. second, or bearer Of a challenge.
Col. r. has however fought with Albert
Pike. The Senate of the State. at its re-
cent session. repealed the law. with IN
eve to the case Of Col. +. but the House
refused to pass the bill.
THE INPoRrANcE OF ONE VorE.-At an