"EXECUTIVE Department, WASHINGTON, TEXAS, June 6, 1845. } "SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your excellency's letter of the 20th ultimo, which, together with the the official documents referred to in it, and by which Mexico has given her assent to the preliminaries of peace with Texas, upon the basis of an acknowledgment of the independence of the latter, were handed me by Mr. Elliott, chargé d'affaires of her Britannic majesty near this government, on the 2d instant. "For your kindness and courtesy in transmitting these interesting and important papers, as well as for your valuable services in producing the result which they announce to me, and the offer of a continuance of the same good offices whenever they can be useful, I beg you to accept my best thanks. Should the result be the establishment of a good understanding and a lasting peace between the governments of Texas and Mexico, with the concurrence of their people, the cause of humanity will assuredly be greatly indebted to your efforts in its behalf. "I have the honor to transmit to you herewith, for such disposition as you may think proper to make of them, certified copies of the proclamation issued by me on the 4th instant, announcing to the people the agreement of Mexico to the preliminaries of peace, and the consequent cessation of hostilities between the two countries. "The Congress of Texas will assemble on the 16th of the present month, and a convention on the 4th of July proximo. These bodies have been convoked to consider the propositions made by the government of the United States on the subject of annexation. The subject of our relations with Mexico will also be presented to them, their decisions will necessarily govern my future action in reference to the same. 66 Accept, sir, the assurances of high consideration and respect with which I remain your excellency's most obedient humble servant, "ANSON JONES. "His Excellency the BARON ALLEYE DE CYPREY, &c. &c." K. MEXICAN CIRCULARS. "OFFICE OF WAR AND MARINE, } "The United States have consummated the perfidy against Mexico by sanctioning the decree which declares the annexation of the department of Texas to that republic. The injustice of that usurpation is apparent, and Mexico cannot tolerate such a grave injury without making an effort to prove to the United States the possibility of her ability to cause her rights to be respected. With this object, the supreme government has resolved upon a declaration of war against that power, seeing that our forbearance, instead of being received as a proof of our friendly disposition, has been interpreted into an acknowledged impossibility on our part to carry on a successful war. "Such an error, on the part of the United States, will be advantageous to Mexico, because, suddenly abandoning its pacific attitude, it will to-morrow communicate to Congress the declaration of war, and excite the patriotism of its citizens to sustain the dignity of the nation, and the integrity of its territory, now treacherously attacked, in utter disregard of all guaranties recognized in this enlightened age. "You will readily appreciate the importance of this subject, and the necessity of preparing the troops under your command to march towards any point which may require protection against these most unjust aggressions. I am directed by the provisional president to enjoin you, as general-in-chief of your division, and as a citizen of this republic, to hold yourself in readiness to repel those who seek the ruin of Mexico. The government is occupied in covering the deficient points on the frontiers, and in collecting the necessary means, so that nothing may be wanting to those whose glory it will be to defend the sacred rights of their country. “I have the honor to communicate for your intelligence, and to direct your conduct. "God and liberty. "MEXICO, July 12, 1845." GARCIE CONDE. This Circular to the Authorities subordinate to this Office. "MOST EXCELLENT SENOR: As my notes of the 30th of March and 7th of April of this year, concerning the deserters and recruits for the army, have not produced effects which his excellency the president ad interim desired, as the governors have not been able to gather a number of men by any means adequate to the wants of. the army, his excellency has ordered your excellency to provide the material to enable the different departments to furnish their quota, and complete the contingent of troops required by the decrees of the 29th of December, 1843, and 2d July, 1844; for although the supreme government has not exacted with punctuality, the complement from the departments, she now sees herself under the necessity of doing so, for the war which she wages against the United States, the perfidy and treachery of which power put her in possession of a part of this Republic. "His excellency, the president ad interim, requires that your excellency inform the governors of the necessity which exists of detailing the number of men, so highly necessary to fill the ranks of the army, and to excite the zeal and patriotism of the authorities, that their preparations shall be so effectual as to fulfil the desires of the government, and prevent the dignity of the nation from being in any measure compromised. "I have the honor to communicate to your excellency the following, to be used as occasion may require. "God and liberty. GARCIA CONDE. "July 16, 1845." Most excellent Senor, Minister of Foreign Relations and of Police. Transmit to the Authorities depending upon your Department. "MOST EXCELLENT SENOR: It being necessary that the troops of the line should cover the frontiers of the republic, and march towards Texas, to conquer that department, now usurped by the United States, his excellency the president ad interim has commanded me to transmit you this note, to excite the zeal and patriotism of the governors, that they place under arms, in their respective districts, all the force which can be collected in defence of the law, to be ready to serve as a safeguard of the respective departments, according to the decree of the 4th of June of this year, and the regulation of the 7th instant. "Your excellency will communicate to the governors this supreme resolution, and will inform them of the obligations under which the citizens are to contribute to the defence of their country, and to sustain rights violated by a nation which refuses to acknowledge them, and obliges Mexico to maintain them by force-which it most undoubtedly will, or fall in the struggle. She will not consent to give up one half of her territory, from the base fear of losing the other. Hoping your excellency will furnish me with information as to the number of men which can be devoted to this important object, your excellency will please to accept my most high consideration. “God and liberty. "MEXICO, July 16, 1845. GARCIA CONDE. "To the most excellent Senor, minister of foreign relations and police." L. MR. SLIDELL'S LETTER OF CREDENCE. "JAMES K. POLK, "PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. "GREAT AND GOOD FRIEND: I have made choice of John Slidell, one of our distinguished citizens, to reside near the government of the Mexican republic, in the quality of envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of the United States of America. He is well informed of the relative interests of the two countries, and of our sincere desire to restore, cultivate, and strengthen friendship and good correspondence between us; and from a knowledge of his fidelity and good conduct, I have entire confidence that he will render himself acceptable to the Mexican government, by his constant endeavors to preserve and advance the interest and happiness of both nations. I therefore request your excellency to receive him favorably, and to give full credence to whatever he shall say on the part of the United States. And I pray God to have you in his safe and holy keeping. "Written at the city of Washington, the tenth day of November, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty-five, and of the independence of the United States the seventieth. "Your good friend, "By the President : "JAMES K. POLK. "JAMES BUCHANAN, "Secretary of State. "To his Excellency DON JOSE JOAQUIM HERRERA, "President of the Mexican Republic." M. LETTER. Mr. Peña y Peña to Mr. Slidell. "PALACE OF THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT, MEXICO, December 16, 1845. "The undersigned, minister of foreign relations, in answer to the letter which his excellency Mr. John Slidell, was pleased to address to him yesterday, has the honor to inform him that the delay in his reception, to which he alludes, and the consequent delay in answering his preceding note, making known his arrival in this capital, and accompanying a copy of his credentials, have arisen solely from certain difficulties, occasioned by the nature of those credentials, as compared with the proposition made by the United States, through their consul, to treat peacefully upon the affairs of Texas, with the person who should be appointed to that effect; for which reason it has been found necessary to submit the said credentials to the council of government, for its opinion with regard to them. "The undersigned will communicate the result to his excellency without loss of time; assuring him meanwhile that the government of Mexico is ready to proceed agreeably to what it proposed in its answer on the subject. "The undersigned avails himself of this opportunity to offer to his excellency Mr. Slidell, the assurances of his very distinguished consideration. "MANUEL DE LA PENA Y PENA. "His Excellency JOHN SLIDELL, &c. &c." |