Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1852-07-07
HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY,
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""o"P", 1'A"y, iOf''
SIR have just received your note of yester
day, accompanied by communications to me from
the Secretary of War, and one (seaed y from
the Department of State to the minister of for.
eign affairs of the republic of Mexico.
You are right in doubling whether there be a
government, even de tdcto, in this republic
General Santa Anna, the nominal president, has
been, until within day or two, in the neighbor-
hood of Oriziba, organizing bands of rancheros,
banditti, or guerillas, to cut off stragglers of
this army, and, probably, the very train, all i'm
portant to us, which you propose to accompany
into the interior; the safety Of which train has
detained me here and caused me high degree
of solicitude. Hence regret that Colonel Will
son, commanding at Vera Cruz, has allowed him
SELF second time, to be persuaded to detach,
TO bring up dispatches, for your accommoda-
tlon,) material portion of the force had relied
upon as the escort of that train. The other de-
tachment to which allude came up some days
ago to escort Lieut.. Semmes, of the navy, duly
accredited by Com Perry, to the Mexican minis
ter OF foreign affairs, to negotiate the exchange
of Passed Midshipman Rodgers, now prisoner
OF war; That matter, also seems to have been
considered to important too be entrusted to my
agency
But, to return to the actual government of
Mexico. Senor Anaya is, believe, president
ad interim. But you may have learned that the
Congress, after hearing of the affair of Cerro
Gordo, passed many violent DEGREES, breathing
war, to the uttermost, against the United States :
declaring that the executive has no power, and
shall have none, to conclude treaty, or even
an armistice, with the United States, and de-
nouncing as traitor any Mexican functionary
who shall entertain either proposition. | have
communicated copy of those DEGREES to the
War Department, and, until further orders there
upon, or until change of circumstances, | very
much doubt whether can so far commit the
honor OF my government as to take any direct
agency in forwarding the sealed despatch you
have sent me from the Secretary Of State of the
United States.
On this delicate point, however, you will do
as you please; and when, if able shall have
advanced near to the capital may, at your in
stance, lend an escort to your flag Of truce; and
1t may require large fighting detachment to
protect even flag of truce against the rancho
ros and banditti who now infest the national road
all the way up to the capital.
see that the Secretary of War proposes to
degrade me, by requiring that !, the commander |
OF this army, shall defer to you, the chief clerk
OF the Department of State, the question of |
continuing or disseminating hostities.
beg to say to him and to you, that here in
the heart of hostile country, from which, after
a few weeks, it would be impossible to with
draw this army, without loss, probably, of half
Its numbers by the uomito, which army, from
necessity, must soon become a self.sustaining
machine, cut off from all supplies and reinforce
ments from home until, perhaps, late in Novem-
ber-not TO speak Of the bad faith of the govern
ment and people of Mexico--I say, in reference
10 those critical circumstances, this army must
axe m,i'lary security for its own safety
Hence, the question of an armistice or no arms.
ice is, most peculiarly, military question, APP
pertaining, of necessity if not Of universal right.
n the absence Of direct instructions, to the com.
nander OF the invading forces; consequently, if
'ou are not clothed with military rank over me,
IS well as with diplomatic functions, shall de-
nand, under the peculiar circumstances that, in
our negotiations, if the enemy should entertain