The North-Carolina standard., 1849-03-14

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has been shed, and many speeches made, the sub
ject of the Mexican Protocol, recently placed before
Congress by the President The secret history of a
document, that has been the theme of many pens
and tongues, will not be uninteresting. We have
been cognlZant of the facts part, since the rat
cation of the treaty, and have lately had them placed
before u.s. fully, clearly and infinitely, from authen-
tic sources, and lay them concsey before read
ers, as part of the history of the negotiations.
! The very hour .Messrs. Clifford and Sewer, our
Commissioners, arrived in Queretaro-and the coin
cidence was deemed ominous-the treaty passed
the Mexican Senate. That night the Peace party
celebrated its passage. BY fire works, and other
demonstrations of joy. The next day the General
IN command of the garrison waited on the Commis-
soners, and playing the host sat at the head of the
table. Senior Rosas, the Secretary Of State, paid
several visits, during the day, and profuse in
his attentions to the Commissioners and the officers
of their escort. Some of the most respectable fami
lies in Queretaro resided opposite the American quar-
ters and the ladies frequently appeared the balco
nies, giving our manly and accomplished officers an
opportunity of admiring their exquisite beauty.
That night it was learned that the four thousand
troops in and about Mexico were opposed peace
man. The great majority of the population, like
wise, manifested their Tepugnance to amity, on the
conditions proposed. In fact, if all the power apd
opinion OF all Mexco had been concentrated in Quere
taro, there would have been no treaty then. We
would have had to drub Querearo 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
dS IurLnor resistance was nOpel6SS.
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, he
turned on his heel and prompously struted off. This
feeling, in its full extent, was latent until the Ameri
cans appeared. Their presence developed all ITS
strength.
Pena Pena, the then Provisional President and
his Secretary, Rosas, both advocates of peace,
became alarmed. The second day the commanding
IL
the commissioners. Rosas never visited them but
when business required it, and then the Interviews
were Short formal, and cold: The beautiful Senori-
tas, governed by the popular feeling were longer
coldness. They Immediately requested that the Tea-
ty be signed. The President and his Secretary hesi-
tated. They pleaded that the National Seal was in
the Capitol that they had sent express for il, and
as soon as it arrived all would be right. The seal
came, but the Mexicans quibbled and procrastinated
until within few days of the 1st of Jine when the
Armistice would expire, and then, unless another
Armistice was entered into, hostiles would
mence. Messrs. Clifford and Sewer brought these
facts to the attention of Pena Pena and Rosa and
told them peremptoly that unless the treaty sign
ed the next day they would prepare depart and in
stanty send express to General Butler at Mexico,
for sufficient escort to protect them to the Ameri-
can lines, and provide for the contingency of the Ar
mistice expiring before they could reach Head Quar-
ters. This brought the gentlemen of their
peril, or rather the peril of the nation. Peace
was TO be decided on. They had no army, cam
non, noTeseurces They fully realized the fact that
continuation of the would be the destruction of
the natienalityof Mexico. They at once consented
to ax their signatures to the treaty, condition the
commissioners gave them something that would
shield them from the fury of the party, in case
of outbreak. They were asked what they wanted
They explained. The condition was granted, and
the Protocol given them fora barrfcade against
their own ceuntrymen, and for no other purpose. 1t
was part of the treaty. 1t not understood as
such by either party, and it is evident the Mexicans
do not look upon il as qualifying that instrument,
from the fact that Il has never been made public by
them. The emergency for which it was obtained did
not arise, and it not used. Years may have
elapsed before it would have fallen under the public
eye, had not inquistve and suspicious Congress
very good qualities by the way-drawn it OUT.
Such is the secret history of the Protocol. -
s'-. 5-.l->-s - Netu Orleans Della.