The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1855-10-31

AT the time these instructions and this pro.
test were published by Congress, I was
charged BY certain class of politicians,
who let no opportunity, favorable or unfa.
vorable, pass to assail me, with having CO.
pied my instructions and sent them to the
Mexican Government. The charge was SO
absurd, it amounted to "felo de se''-it
killed itself. But since my appointment to
the office of Governor Of this Territory, it
has been revived in various shapes and for ms
furnishing luminous text for disparaging
comments in relation to myself. The facts
are these, and propose to state nothing
more:
Gen. Santa Anna was then at the head OF
the Mexican Government, and had issued
his decree for raising twenty thousand addi-
tional troops making the whole force of the
army sixty thousand. This was done for
the aVowed purpose of invading Texas and
driving the Americans out. Large military
stores and munitions of war were being col.
lected at various points; forced loans we're
ordered, and every preparation seemed to be
making 10 invade Texrs, and, to use the Ian
guage OF the Government paper in Mexico,
"To blot out the Texans" 1t was under
these circumstances, and at this time of i'm
minent peril to the people of Texas, and
while negotiations were pending ior the an.
nexatloD of Texas to the United States, that
the government at Washington determined
to send to the Mexican Government solemn
protest not only against the threatened iuva.
sion, but also against the right of Mexico to
keep up and proong these hostilities. 1t was
bold and vigorous policy determined on
by Mr.. Calhoun, then Secretary Of State, un-
der the direction Of President Tyler. 1t was
well known that the Mexican Government
at that time was in the habit Of publishing
all the important correspondence that took
place between the two Governments in rela.
ton to Texas, and that, consequently, this
protest, as soon as sent to the Mexican Gov
eminent, would be pablished in the Govern
ment papers, and thus find its way to the
public. 1t was also known that it was a doc.
ument that would bo severely c.i!icised AMI
commented on both ia Europe and this coun.
try Under these circumstances Mr.. Calhoun
drew up instructions to me, as Mini,ter, and
at the same time drew up the protest, based
on these instructions, sent both to me by a
special bearer Of dispatches, with directions
to make such notifications in the protest as
my knowledge Of facts, obtained on the
ground, would suggest as proper, and then
to sign the protest and send it to the Mexi.
can Government. done precisely as direc-
ted by my Government, as any Minister
would have done, having any knowledge of
his duties. 1t was document, as Mr. Cal.
houn in his unofficial note to me observed
in which the President preferred 10 express
his own IDEAS in his own words and to have
Its whole contents carefully considered and
agreed on before leaving Washington. Tho Q
acquainted with the mole of conducting di.
plomatic intercourse between two govern :
ments, know that this protest, at least in
conformity with the ordinary practice, had
10 receive my signature as Minister before
being sent TO the Mexican Government. or
in other words it had to be sent through the
Minister. When this protest and the IN.
slructions on which it was based we're cal
led for by Congress, and published. there
appeared to be an identity of ideas in the
protest and instructions. and in many cases
an identity of words. Both were drawn by
Mr. Calhoun. and were the well considered
productions of his great mind; and leave it
for the editors Of puclic journals, who have
commented on the identity of these two doc
uments, to determine among themselves
whether il is most likely they or Mr.. Cal
houn have fallen Into a diplomatic blunder.
Having rectfed your last paper as to my
self, | have the honor to be,
Yours with great respect,
WILSON SHANNON.