Page images
PDF
EPUB

Peña y Peña, also, to which this is a reply, if we had not determined to insert, for several reasons which will appear, his communication of December 11, 1845, addressed to the coun. cil. This communication embraces essentially and briefly his views, which are elaborately given in his letter.*

FOLLY OF MEXICO PRUDENCE AND PATIENCE ADVISED BY THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT.

Mr. Buchanan to Mr. Slidell, January 20, 1846.

"Should the Mexican government, by finally refusing to receive you, consummate the act of folly and bad faith of which they have afforded such strong indications, nothing will then remain for this government but to take the redress of the wrongs of its citizens into its own hands.

case.

www

"In the event of such a refusal, the course which you have determined to pursue is the proper one. You ought, in your own language, so to conduct yourself, as to throw the whole odium of the failure of the negotiation upon the Mexican government; point out, in the most temperate manner, the immediate consequences of so unheard-of a violation of all the usages which govern the intercourse between civilized nations; and declare your intention to remain in Mexico until you can receive instructions adapted to the exigencies of the This sojourn will afford you an honorable opportunity to watch the course of events, and avail yourself of any favorable circumstances, which, in the mean time, may occur. Should a revolution have taken place before the 1st of January, the day appointed for the meeting of Congress, (an event which you deemed probable,) or should a change of ministry have been effected, which you considered almost certain, this delay will enable you to ascertain the views and wishes of the new government or administration. The desire of the presi dent is, that you should conduct yourself with such wisdom and firmness in the crisis, that the voice of the American peo*See Appendix O.

ple shall be unanimous in favor of redressing the wrongs of our much injured and long suffering claimants.

"It would seem to be the desire of the Mexican government to evade the redress of the real injuries of our citizens, by confining the negotiation to the adjustment of a pecuniary indemnity for its imaginary rights over Texas. This cannot be tolerated. The two subjects must proceed hand in hand; they can never be separated. It is evidently with the view of thus limiting the negotiation that the Mexican authorities have been quibbling about the mere form of your credentials, without ever asking whether you had instructions and full powers to adjust the Texan boundary. The advice of the coun cil of the government seems to have been dictated by the same spirit."

[Advice of Order to General Taylor.]

"In the mean time, the president, in anticipation of the final refusal of the Mexican government to receive you, has ordered the army of Texas to advance and take position on the left bank of the Rio Grande, and has directed that a strong fleet shall be immediately assembled in the Gulf of Mexico. He will thus be prepared to act with vigor and promptitude the moment that Congress shall give him the authority.”

HONORABLE EFFORT AND PERSEVERANCE ADVISED BY THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT.

Mr. Buchanan to Mr. Slidell, January 28, 1846.

"After a careful and critical examination of the contents, [of your despatches,] the president entirely approves your conduct. The exposure contained in your reply to the Mexican minister of foreign affairs,* of the evasions and subterfuges of his government in excuse of their refusal to recognize you as envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of the

*See Appendix N.

United States, is so complete as to leave me nothing to add upon the subject. It is now, however, morally certain that the insurrection of Paredes has proved successful, and that a new administration of some kind or other at this moment controls that unfortunate country.

"The question arises, therefore, what course you should pursue in this contingency. In my despatch on the 20th instant, I have already anticipated nearly all that is necessary to say in answer to this question. The president is sincerely desirous to preserve peace with Mexico. Both inclination and policy dictate this course. Should the Mexican government, however, finally refuse to receive you, the cup of forbearance will then have been exhausted. Nothing can remain but to take the redress of the injuries to our citizens, and the insults to our government, into our own hands. In view of this serious alternative, every honorable effort should be made before a final rupture. You should wait patiently for a final decision on the question of your reception, unless it should be unreasonably protracted, or you should clearly discover that they are trifling with this government. It is impossible for any person not upon the spot, and conversant with the motives and movements of the revolutionary government now most probably existing in Mexico, to give you precise instructions how long your forbearance ought to continue. Much must necessarily be left to your own discretion. In general terms, I may say that you should take care to act with such prudence and firmness, that it may appear manifest to the people of the United States and to the world, that a rupture could not be honorably avoided. After this, should the Mexican government finally refuse to receive you, then demand passports from the proper authority, and return to the United States. It will then become the duty of the president to submit the whole case to Congress, and call upon the nation to assert its just rights, and avenge its injured honor."

REVOLUTION IN MEXICO PAREDES IN POWER.

Mr. Slidell to Mr. Buchanan, January 14, 1845.

"On the 2d January, Paredes entered the capital with his troops, those already stationed here joining his triumphal march. On the same day, a junta of military officers, convened by him, met and established a plan of provisional government, to be administered by a president elected by a body composed of two notables from each department. These notables, nominated by Paredes, met on the following evening, and, as you may readily imagine, unanimously elected him president, and on the 4th instant he took his oath of office. By the plan of the junta of officers, a constitutional Congress was to be convened, with unlimited powers for the establishment of a new government, &c.

"I shall not be surprised to receive, in a day or two, notice of the escort (which had been asked for in the early part of the month) being at my disposition. When received, I shall proceed, without delay, to Jalapa. If there be any disposition on the part of those now in power to reconsider the decision of their predecessors, I feel satisfied that my absence from the capital will tend rather to accelerate than to retard its manifestations."

UNITED STATES AND GREAT BRITAIN. DUPLICITY OF THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT.

Mr. Slidell to Mr. Buchanan, Jalapa, February 6, 1846. "I reached this place on the 20th ultimo. Since my despatch of the 14th ultimo, nothing has occurred to indicate the course likely to be taken by the existing government as to my reception; but I think it will mainly be controlled by the aspect of the Oregon question. Should our difficulties with Great Britain continue to present a prospect of war with that power, there will be but a very faint hope of a change of policy here. *

"I send a copy of a communication of Mr. Peña y Peña to the council of government, made on the 11th of December, inviting an expression of opinion of the council on the subject of my recognition, and suggesting his reasons why it should be refused.* This document presents in the most glaring light the bad faith of the late government; and, in connection with the statement of Consul Black, accompanying my despatch of the 17th of December,† shows in the most conclusive manner that, from the moment my arrival was announced, it had determined to avail itself of ANY PRETENCE, however frivolous, to refuse a reception, in the hope that by thus depriving its opponents of their chief theme of reproach and agitation, the impending blow would be averted."

WEAKNESS OF PAREDES.

APPROVAL OF GENERAL TAYLOR'S
ADVANCE.

Mr. Slidell to Mr. Buchanan, Jalapa, February 17, 1846. "Appearances justify the belief that Paredes will not be able to sustain himself until the meeting of the constitutional Congress; that his government will perish from inanition, if from no other cause.

"The advance of General Taylor's force to the left bank of the Rio (Grande) del Norte, and the strengthening our squadron in the gulf, are wise measures, which may exercise a salutary influence upon the course of this government.'

[ocr errors]

SOLICITATIONS FOR NEGOTIATION RENEWED BY MR. SLIDELL.

Mr. Slidell to Mr. Buchanan, Jalapa, March 1, 1846.

"In conformity with your instructions, I have addressed a note to the minister of foreign relations, resubmitting the question of my recognition for final decision.

* See Appendix O.

+ See Appendix P.

« PreviousContinue »