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.

de

Mr. Slidell to Mr. Buchanan, Jalapa, February 6, 1846. "I reached this place on the 20th ultimo. Since my spatch 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.

66

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."

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.

"My note will be presented at the most propitious moment that could have been selected. All attempts to effect a loan have completely failed. The suspicion of intention to introduce a foreign monarch has tended very much to abate the clamor against the United States.

66

My letters from Mexico speak confidently of my recognition, but there is no safety in reasoning from the probabilities or analogies as to the course of public men in this country."

After reviewing the correspondence between the two governments, with an independence becoming the subject, and yet with the best possible spirit, Mr. Slidell says, in his letter to Don Joaquim Castillo y Lanzas, minister of foreign relations, under date of March 1, 1846,

"The president of the United States entirely approves the course pursued by the undersigned, and the communications by him addressed to the Mexican government. Had the then existing government continued in power, as no alternative would have remained, the undersigned would have been directed to demand his passports.

"The destinies of the Mexican Republic, however, having since been committed to other hands, the president is unwilling to take a course which would inevitably result in war, without making another effort to avert so great a calamity. He wishes, by exhausting every honorable means of conciliation, to demonstrate to the civilized world that, if its peace shall be disturbed, the responsibility must fall upon Mexico alone. He is sincerely desirous to preserve that peace; but the state quasi hostility which now exists on the part of Mexico is one which is incompatible with the dignity and interests of the United States; and it is for the Mexican government to decide whether it shall give place to friendly negotiations or lead to an open rupture."

MR. SLIDELL INSTRUCTED BY HIS GOVERNMENT STILL TO PER

SEVERE.

Mr. Buchanan to Mr. Slidell, March 12, 1846.

"I am directed by the president to instruct you NOT TO LEAVE that Republic until you shall have made a formal demand to be received by the new government. The government of Paredes came into existence, not by a regular constitutional succession, but in consequence of a military revolution, by which the subsisting constitutional authorities were subverted. It cannot be considered as a mere continuance of the government of Herrera. On the contrary, the form of government has been entirely changed, as well as all the high functionaries at the head of the administration. The two governments are certainly not so identical, that the refusal of the one to receive you ought to be considered conclusive evidence that such would be the determination of the other. It would be difficult, on such a presumption, in regard to so feeble and distracted a country as Mexico, to satisfy the American people that all had been done which ought to have been done, to avoid the necessity of resorting to hostilities.

"On your return to the United States, energetic measures against Mexico would at once be recommended by the president; and these might fail to obtain the support of Congress, if it could be asserted that the existing government had not refused to receive our minister. It would not be a sufficient answer to such an allegation, that the government of Herrera had refused to receive you, and that you were therefore justified in leaving the country, after a short delay, because, in the mean time, the government of Paredes had not voluntarily offered to reverse the decision of its predecessor.

“I transmit you, herewith, a sealed letter from the president of the United States, accrediting you in your official character to General Paredes, as president, ad interim, of the Mexican Republic. *

*

"You suppose that 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.

"In this critical posture of Mexican affairs, it will be for yourself to decide the question of the time of your departure according to events as they may occur. If, after you shall have fulfilled your instructions, you should indulge in a reasonable hope that, by continuing in Mexico, you could thus best subserve the interests of your country, then you ought to remain, provided this can be done with honor. The president reposes entire confidence in your patriotism and discretion, and knows no temporary inconvenience to yourself will prevent you from performing your duty.

"It may be that, when prepared to take your departure, another revolution might be impending, the result of which would enable you, by a timely interposition, to accomplish the great objects of your mission. Besides, in the present distracted condition of Mexico, it is of importance that we should have an able and discreet agent in that country to watch the progress of events, and to communicate information on which the department could rely."

UNITED STATES MINISTER AGAIN REFUSED BY MEXICO.

Mr. Slidell to Mr. Buchanan, March 18, 1846.

"On the 15th instant, I received from the minister of foreign relations a reply to my communication of the 1st instant, of which you have already been advised.

"It is a peremptory refusal to receive me in the capacity of envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary. I have consequently, in conformity to your instructions, applied for my passports, and, so soon as they are received, I shall proceed to Vera Cruz, there to embark for New Orleans.

"I am at a loss whether to ascribe his (Paredes) refusal to receive me, at a moment when his position is so critical, to the dread of having the pretext which he had so successfully used