The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-07-10

The Political HistoSy or Msxico.
Colonel Vidal y Rvss, relative OF General
Santa Anna, being now in New Mexico, sends us
the following communication. Mr.. de Vidal was
the last Minister appointed by General Santa
Anna to represent Mexico at Washington, a. the
successor OF General Almonte:-
TO TIE EDITOR OF The HERALD.
Mr.. Arroyo, of Mexico, having IN speech de'
ted Q series Of historical blunders, tending to
dsfgure the annals of his country and to misrepre-
sent the Mexican nation and its leaders, beg
leave to address you the following lines, with
q prayer to publish them in one of your issues.
NV object il not to answer the speech delivered
by Mr.. Arroyo; not to speak of his person; since,
Is he says It himself persons have but secondary
interest.
All wish here is simply to rectify few facts
which he misrspresents. l would have done II
sooner had not few days afterwards meeting Of
Mexican emigrants been announced, in which
was decided to redress the errors committed by
Mr.. Arroyo, and to state what have to say here.
gratulate the Mexican emigrants on i'll deem
proper not to delay any longer my answer to Mr..
Arroyo.
Ny main object in this letter is 10 call the attes.
ton Of the Americans to the profound mistakes
and inaccuracy Of Mr.. Arroyos statement when
he takes the liberty Of advancing that under Gene.
ral Santa Annals last administration the General
Almonte received from his government the order
under Mr.: Pierce, that monarchy would soon sue
coed in Mexico the republican form of government.
The existence Of such communication cannot DO
proved BY any official document, for this reason
that such document does not exist. Mr.. Arroyo
has all imaginable facility, here and in Mexico to
verify the truth Of my assertion.
Omclal notes are never despatched to public
functonaries unless the resolutions preceding them
are signed by tho President Of the republic him
self. The collection of these resolutions il de-
posted in the archives Of the Minister of Foreign
AfYairs in Mexico.
Further, during the last administration of Cen
erai Santa Anna was the only director or editor.
n-chief the official journal of tho government and
can say here that what happened there is quite the
reverse OF that Mr. Arroyo says. Here is, in few
words, an account Of what took place on that occa.
sion:-At that time the idea Of European pro.
Aectorate for Mexico and other Hispano- American
This idea having been reproduced by the indepen-
dant press Of Mexico. which was discussing it's
propriety, the General President ordered to pro-
test against 1t. 1t was done as he had ordered.
Of his government and % humiliating to the pride
Of the nation. If the idea of protectorate was
thus received at that time, how could the idea of
kingdom and empire to which Mr.. Arroyo alludes
Mr.. Arroyo added that under General Paroles,
% during General Santa Annals last admnistra-
ton, the Mexican conservatives attempted the es-
tablishment of q monarchy with Spanish prince.
10 the conservatives belong the task of answering
this accusation.
One Of the brightest and most popular acts of
General Santa Annals last administration was tho
PIebiscit he addressed to the Spanish nation ask
ing whether her desire was that he should remain
in power or leave his Office; and IN the first case,
what would be the privileges conferred upon him
by the people!
Some districts and few ayuntamientos having
expressed the opinion that he should be crowned,
the General President ordered these acts 10 be sent
= n on1f had hat ow oho NIL
be mentioned IN the report addressed to the Coun-
Gil of State. This body declared that the will Of
the nation was that General Santa Anna should be
elected President for life, with the power to ap.
That he should be called Captain General (great
marshaD of the armies Of the republic, with the
title Of Serenissime Highness. and that he should
receive an income of sixty thousand dollars.
All the General agreed to accept was the title
Of serenissims HigRness, because he believed Il
better suited to the 6rst magistracy of the repub
lie, and because generals ministers and other high
functionaries shared with him, before this popular
vote. the common title Of Exceliericy. In this the
General modelled himself on tho great Mdalgo,
who was thus called, and on General Iturbide, who
took and received the same title.
II was like an homage paid TO historical trsdi.
tons.
History and Mexican chronology are not better
known to Mr.. Arroyo, whom, out Of ignorance, he
fixes the reappearance of the monarchicsl idea in
the year 1874, under the administration Of General
Paredes.
Long before. in the year 1888, under Louis Phil.
lppsI reign, France sought to introduce it along
with the expedition Of Admiral Baudin and Prince
de Joinville, under the administration Of General
Bustamente. II was during the same administrs-
ton that Mr.. Gutierrss de Estrada advocated that
idea in . series Of famous publications.
Mr.. Arroyo dares assert that this idea 10 purely
Mexican, that the empire has been established BY
Mexican hands, and that European intervention
has been provoked BY the Mexicsns themselves.
w Auv asu hat NJ tutAv
vention, such % has taken place, has been the
same ~ that which was decided upon In the treaty
Of London! Was the Assembly Of Notables called
upon and convened by Mexican functionsryl ID
can government? Are those whs contributed u
establish II still in ONCE and supporting IL, Have
the legitimate exigencies of tho Mexican nation
been complied with! Has the faith Of our fathers
proclaimed so loudly 1t lsuala by the Ubsratsr,
Let the people answer for me; but facts answer
for them.
The idea 90 much vauntsd By Mr.. Arroyo Of the
tween Mexico and the United States, which he a.
tributes 70 the present government. 70 not . new
one. The steamers Texas and 0rizsbs performed
that service long and long before. The concession
had been granted by the General Santa Anna to
Mr.. Arroyo assais with the Violence oi
those whe believe themselves victorious, and
for . long time victorious, some Presidents
and . few leaders Of my country. Whomso
ever they may be, and however great their faults
and mistakes, the courage, energy and patriotism
they have shown against tho foreign invaders q
their country il enough to wipe Chem out forever
Their names ~ well ~ their persons are above
vulgar accusations, and their blood shed for tn.
defence Of our rights absolves them in the pas
and glorihes them In the eyes Of the Mexican re
public end of the whole world.
l.. G.. DE vIDAS RIVAS.
NEW YoRK, June Is, 1865.
Railroad Casualties.
HORRIBLE ACCIDENT AT ELIzABRTH, y. y.
stranger while attempting to get the nine o'cioc
train of the Central Railroad 1t Elizabeth on the evenin