ASSURANCE OF GENERAL TAYLOR THAT FRIENDLY RELATIONS WOULD NOT BE INTERRUPTED.

General Taylor to Adjutant-General Jones, July 20, 1845.

"The department may rest assured that I will take no step to interrupt the friendly relations between the United States and Mexico."

GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES PROPOSES TO NEGOTIATE. APPOINTMENT OF MR. SLIDELL MINISTER TO MEXICO.

The desire for peace was universal and sincere with the people of the United States, and it pervaded all the acts of our government. The olive branch was made a part of the national banner, and peaceful negotiation was invited at every step and movement of our army by our government. From evidence that was deemed authentic, it was generally believed, in this country, that the people of Mexico were averse to war with the United States, and that they would be glad to have an opportunity to sustain their government in any measures that would secure a permanent peace. Constantly alive to the best good of that Republic, and a consistent friend to peace, the president of the United States thought that an act of condescension on the part of the more powerful government might have a salutary effect in conciliating Mexico, and in preparing her to listen to those dictates of prudence which one would suppose she would be at no loss to find in her own distracted condition. In his message of December, 1845, the president says, "After our army and navy had remained on the frontier and coasts of Mexico for many weeks, without any hostile movement on her part, though her menaces were continued, I deemed it important to put an end, if possible, to this state of things. With this view, I caused steps to be taken, in the month of September last, to ascertain distinctly, and in authentic form, what the designs of the Mexican government were;

whether it was their intention to declare war, or to invade Texas, or whether they were disposed to adjust and settle, in an amicable manner, the pending difficulties between the two countries. On the 9th of November, an official answer was received, that the Mexican government consented to renew the diplomatic relations which had been suspended in March last, and for that purpose were willing to accredit a minister from the United States. With a sincere desire to preserve peace, and restore relations of a good understanding between the two Republics, I waived all ceremony as to the manner of renewing diplomatic intercourse between them; and, assuming the initiative, on the 10th of November, a distinguished citizen of Louisiana * was appointed envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary to Mexico, clothed with full powers to adjust and definitely settle all pending differences between the two countries, including those of boundary between Mexico and the State of Texas." * * "He has been instructed to bring the negotiation with which he is charged to a conclusion at the earliest practicable period; which, it is expected, will be in time to enable me to communicate the result to Congress during the present session. Until that result is known, I forbear to recommend to Congress such ulterior measures of redress for the wrongs and injuries we have so long borne, as it would have been proper to make had no such negotiation been instituted."

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This was magnanimity such as could only come from a nation conscious of its accountability, greatness, and power. A feeble nation would lose its rank, and be stigmatized as wanting in courage and self-respect, that should assume the initiative in renewing diplomatic relations that had been suspended by the acts of another power. It was an act worthy of this Republic, and, if any evidence were wanting fully to confirm the sincerity of the government declarations manifesting a strong desire for peace, this must be deemed conclusive

*Hon. John Slidell.

by all who do not wish to deceive themselves by forced convictions that cannot bear the test of truth. But this appoint

ment, and the results of it, will be best understood by a perusal of the government documents.

PROPOSAL OF THE U. S. GOVERNMENT TO MEXICO TO RESTORE FRIENDLY RELATIONS.

Mr. Buchanan to Mr. Black, U. S. Consul at Mexico, September 17, 1845.

"Information recently received at this department, both from yourself and others, renders it probable that the Mexican government may now be willing to restore the diplomatic relations between the two countries. At the time of their suspension, General Almonte was assured of the desire felt by the president to adjust amicably every cause of complaint between the governments, and to cultivate the kindest and most friendly relations between the sister Republics. It was his duty to place the country in a condition successfully to resist the threatened invasion of Texas by Mexico, and this has been accomplished. He desires, however, that ALL existing differences should be terminated amicably by negotiation, and not by the sword. He is anxious to preserve peace, although prepared for war.

“Actuated by these sentiments, the President has directed me to instruct you in the absence of any diplomatic agent in Mexico-to ascertain from the Mexican government, whether they would receive an envoy from the United States, intrusted with full powerto adjust all the questions in dispute between the two governments. Should the answer be in the affirmative, such an envoy will be immediately despatched to Mexico.

"If the president were disposed to stand upon a mere question of etiquette, he would wait until the Mexican government, which has suspended the diplomatic relations between the two countries, should ask that they may be restored. But his desire is so strong to terminate the present unfortunate state of our

relations with that Republic, that he has consented to waive all ceremony, and take the initiative.

"So soon as you have received the answer of that government, you will communicate a copy of it, without delay, by some safe opportunity, to F. M. Dimond, Esq., our consul at Vera Cruz. You will also transmit a copy to this department. It is of great consequence that you should use as much despatch as possible in executing this important commission. "The future course of this government may, and probably will, depend upon the answer which you may receive.

**

"There will be a vessel of war at Vera Cruz ready to receive your despatch, and to convey it to the United States with the least possible delay."

HOW THE PROPOSITION WAS RECEIVED APPREHENSION OF THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT.

Mr. Black received the letter of the secretary of state on the 10th of October, and on the 11th, had a confidential interview with the minister of foreign relations in Mexico. He manifested an earnest desire that negotiations might take place, but there was an evident solicitude in regard to the effect that such a negotiation would produce upon the people. He was fearful that it might prove fatal to their then existing government. He requested of our consul a communication in writing, expressing the wishes of the United States government, and promised an explicit answer. All interviews and communications were to be confidential, and yet no regard whatever was paid to the most solemn injunctions of secrecy.

Mr. Black, in his letter to Peña y Peña, October 13, 1845, very judiciously gave the precise words of Mr. Buchanan embracing the proposition, which we have quoted, and adds with evident pleasure his own convictions upon the subject. He says, "The undersigned can assure his excellency, that it is with the most heartfelt satisfaction he sees, in the preceding proposition on the part of the United States, (notwithstanding

the preparations for war on both sides,) that a door is still left open for conciliation, whereby all existing differences may be amicably and equitably adjusted, and the honor of both nations preserved inviolate."

MEXICO ASSENTS TO THE PROPOSITION OF THE UNITED STATES.

On the 15th of October, Mr. Peña y Peña sent Mr. Black his answer, from which the following extracts are made :

"I have informed my government of the private conference which took place between you and myself on the 11th instant, and have submitted to it the confidential letter which you, in consequence of, and agreeably to, what was then said, addressed to me yesterday. In answer, I have to say to you, that although the Mexican nation is deeply injured by the United States, through the acts committed by them in the department of Texas, which belongs to this nation, my gov ernment is disposed to receive the commissioner of the United States, who may come to this capital with full powers from his government to settle the present dispute in a peaceful, reasonable, and honorable manner; thus giving a new proof, that even in the midst of its injuries, and of its firm decision to exact adequate reparation for them, it does not repel with contumely the measure of reason and peace to which it is invited by its adversary. ***

"What my government requires above all things is, that the mission of the commissioner of the United States, and his reception by us, should appear to be always absolutely_frank, and free from every sign of menace or coercion. And thus, Mr. Consul, while making known to your government the disposition on the part of that of Mexico to receive the commissioner, you should impress upon it, as indispensable, the previous recall of the whole naval force now lying in sight of our port of Vera Cruz. Its presence would degrade Mexico, while she is receiving the commissioner, and would justly subject the United States to the imputation of contradicting, by acts, the