merce pursued in Mexico, is nearly the same as that of Spain, and appears to have in view only the best mode of impoverishing the people, and confiscating the products of their industry to the use of the officers, for the time being, in possession of power. The effect of this system has been the continued predominance of the military, and the utter physical and moral exhaustion of the country. For the last fifteen years it has been not only manifest to all the statesmen of Europe, but the thinking portion of the leading men in Mexico, have been convinced, that the ultimate fate of that country must be its inevitable absorption in the American Union, either by purchase or by annexation. Whoever has contemplated the progress of the United States as a nation, and observed the process by which tract after tract of wilderness has been settled, organized into a government and erected into a state, to take its place as a member of this confederation, has become convinced, that no landmark or territorial boundary has had any restraint upon the movement, which has been one of individual interests, most vigorous amidst the most profound peace. The colonies of Spain and France were peacefully invaded and finally annexed to the Union. The cession of the country south of the Sabine to Spain, did not in the least retard the progress of emigration. Although a state of Mexico, it became populous through the influx of Americans. The people exercised the sacred right of revolution, declared themselves independent of the military dictatorship of Mexico, and obeying the impulse of their affinities, annexed themselves to the United States. The Spanish rulers of Mexico, from the earliest times, foresaw the danger in which their possessions stood, as exposed to the constant pressure of a more vigorous race, and they twice committed the mistake of supposing that a colony of that race could be subjected to Spanish rule, as an out-work to protect the remainder of the territory from farther aggression. In 1786, when Spain held the lower valley of the Mississippi, she had aided the United States incidentally in its struggle for independence, by subjugating Florida; yet no sooner was peace declared, than she began to dread the progress of the Union. She sought through intrigue for a separation of the settlement on the Mississippi from the rest of the United States, in order that they might form a separate republic, that might fall under the control of Spain. Events frustrated the intrigues, and the territory passed into the possession of the United States. When Texas became a part of Mexico, the same desire to form an American settlement as a frontier to Mexico, became apparent, and great inducements were held out to settlers from the United States The government of Spain, in the arrogance of the Spanish character, really supposed that a great and populous state would grow up in Texas, and, subjected to Spanish rule, form an impassable barrier to the future encroachments of the United States. The Anglo-Saxon race in possession of Canada, on the north, held inviolable the colonial territory of Britain, and as the Indian hunter is said, when overtaken on the prairie by the flames of burning vegetation, to root up that in his vicinity and fire it, in order that it may oppose the progress of the glowing ocean that surrounds him, so did the feeble Spaniard suppose that he could stay the progress of the Union, by holding in his control a state peopled by the same race. He overlooked the fact, that the sturdy American character could not bend to the treacherous despotism of Spanish rule. He discovered his error when the infant state burst from his feeble grasp, and defied his power to shake her new fledged independence. Had that state remained independent, or even have passed under the control of a European power, Mexico would have been satisfied, because, still the object of having a barrier between her territories and the dreaded enterprize of the United States settlers, would have been attained. The moment annexation took place,

*Sparks' Life of Washington, vol. I., p. 467.

New Mexico became exposed, as Texas had been, to the progress of the United States pioneers, and the process of absorption was renewed. Hence the statesmen of Mexico, what few there are deserving the name, recognized war as the only means of preserving their whole country from following the fate of Texas. The same desire to throw a barrier in the way of our future progress was manifest in the stipulation in the late abortive treaty proposed to Gen. Scott, viz., that the country between the Neuces and the Rio Grande should remain a perpetual desert. The leading fear of the Spaniards is further absorption. Not only did all the patriotic Mexicans regard a state of hostility as her only policy, but all the diplomatists of Europe were convinced of its necessity. As an instance, we may allude to the work of M. Duflot de Mofras, from which we have formerly quoted, entitled, "Exploration du Territoire de l'Oregon," and published by order of the King of the French, under the auspices of Marshal Soult, President of the Council and Minister of Foreign Affairs. The explorations of M. de Mofras were made in the years 1840 and '41, and contain most inter esting information in regard to the political condition of Mexico. In relation to the progress of dismemberment he says:

"The Congress of Texas is in favor of annexation to the United States; and it is easy to couceive how much this measure, if it be accomplished, will make worse the position of Mexico, which will thus find herself in danger of being gradually swallowed up,-at the south, by the Americans of the new State,-at the north, by those who have already attempted the conquest of New Mexico, and at the west, by those who aim to make of Upper California another Texas.

It is interesting to consider the successive dismemberments, which, within a few years from now, the old Spanish Viceroyalty, transformed into the Mexican Republic, will have undergone.

"It will have lost, at the south and east, Guatemala, Yucatan, Chiapas, and Tabasco; at the north and west, Texas, Cohahuila, Chihuahua, New Mexico, Sonora, and the Californias. It may be said of these provinces, as the famous Marquess of Bedmar said of the Venetian possessions on the mainland; That the Republic preserves them only for the want of somebody to choose to take them.'

"A column of three thousand troops, with some corvettes at hand, on both seas, would suffice to subjugate the empire of Montezuma, the conquest of which would be easier now than it was in the time of Heruan Cortes."—Tom. ì. p. 27-29.

We happen to know, that these views were fully entertained by the most reputable men of Mexico, among whom Gen. Almonte stands deservedly high. That gentleman, as minister of Mexico near this government, addressed to Mr. Upshur, the Secretary of State, a protest under date of November 3, 1843, against the annexation of Texas, expressing himself as follows:

But if, contrary to the hopes and wishes entertained by the government of the undersigned, for the preservation of the good understanding and harmony which should reign between the neighboring aud friendly Republics, the United States should, in defiance of good faith, and of principles of justice, which they have constantly proclaimed, commit the unheard of act of violence (inaudito atentado) of appropriating to themselves an integral part of the Mexican territory, the undersigned, in the name of his nation, and now for them, protests in the most solemn manner against such an aggression; and he moreover declares, that on sanction being given by the Executive of the Union, to the incorporation of Texas into the United States, he will consider his mission ended, seeing that as the Secretary of State will have learned, the Mexican government is resolved to declare war as soon as it receives intimation of such act."

Now, no persons than the Mexican ministers better understood the position of Texas as an independent nation-acknowledged as such by France, Great Britain, and the United States, and her perfect right to negociate as she pleased. For eight years she had maintained her independence and fulfilled the wishes of Mexican statesmen, in forming the wished for barrier

between the United States and the Mexican frontier. The moment annexation took place war became the necessity of Mexico, to preserve herself against the more rapid and certain conquest of her territories, by peaceful settlement on the part of emigrants from all parts of the world, having sympathies with this great Union Of all others Gen. Almonte was most deeply impressed with this truth. He is a Mexican, and not a Spaniard, and his characteristics are rare intelligence and judgment far above the general grade of the Mexican Spanish intellect. Of great experience in civil and military employments, he possesses, what is seldom found in Mexico, great honesty and elevation of character, with unswerving patriotism. He possesses, moreover, beyond any other Mexican, a profound knowledge of our institutions, an unfeigned and lively admiration of our intelligent people, tempered by a profound anxiety for the successful solution of what Europeans denominate the great republican experiment. Yet he is a Mexican, and as such regards the very qualities which excite his admiration in the American race as fatal to his country's independence. He expressed his views fully upon this subject, on the occasion of his departure from the country, after his first protest against annexation, to a gentleman of this city,* admitted to his direct intimacy. Gen. Almonte, present in this country at the great presidential election, was lost in astonishment at the activity and energy with which the campaign was conducted on both sides. The animation with which every freeman entered into the strife, the clearness with which all comprehended the antagonistic reasoning on the most abstruse questions of national polity; and the vehemence with which the views on both sides were promulgated, won his admiration, while they excited same alarm at the possible termination of so much excitement. The moral grandeur of the scene was complete, only when two millions and a half votes having been cast, and the result announced, every man acquiesced in the supremacy of the laws, and returned to his daily avocation, bowing, without a murmur, to the will of the people. The contrast this presented to the helpless indolence of his own countrymen, who, with the most supine and stupid indifference, were accustomed to look on while their rulers were changed, and successive governments subyerted at the behest of every miserable bandit who could muster a few bayonets, called up the deepest regrets in his patriotic bosom; and ardently did he long for the means of infusing some of the spirit of freemen into the hearts of Mexicans. The danger to her nationality was, however, pressing. Since the war of Mexican independence commenced, Mexico has been unable to organize a government, or take a step in advance as a nation. In the mean time the United States have spread over the vast domain once held by Spain, another large country held by France, detached a northern department of Mexico, raised it into a state, annexed it to the Union, and then poured pioneers into New Mexico and California. Before Mexico could organize a regular government she would be swallowed up, and means of resistance, prompt and effective, must, therefore, be resorted to, and war alone afford that means. Two reasons seemed to urge this as effective. The general contempt in which the martial prowess of the United States was held by the nations of the world; the diplomatists and historians of Europe letting slip no opportunity to deride the military power of the " model republic," while the achievement of independence still shed some glory on the helmets of Mexican chiefs. With this opinion prevalent, added to the vast natural strength of Mexico, it was deemed easy to carry on a defensive war for ages-to guard all the passes into the table-land, and defy the irruption of United States emigrants into the fair fields of Mexico. These views were current

*Henry Wikoff, Esq.

with Mexicans at the time the annexation of Texas was supposed to give the signal for renewed emigration into the northern province. This war system

*The following letter, addressed by a gentleman for many years resident Mexican consul in New-York, and editor of a well conducted paper printed in Spanish, was found at the hacienda of Santa Anna, after the battle of Cerro Gordo. The closing paragraph points out the policy above iudicated. NEW YORK, May 7, 1841.

To His Excellency the President, Gen, Don Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna.
MY MUCH RESPECTED SIR:-

Of course you have been fully informed of the condition of affairs in this country by Gen. Almonte; and, thus, it would be superfluous for me to say anything on that subject.

My object now is solely to call the attention of your Excellency to the articles which have been written latterly in El Noticioso de Ambos Mundos, not for what they are worth. but because all that I say in them is the pure truth; and on this account they afford material for serious reflection.

In order to know this country, it is necessary to be here many years, study it well in all its aspects, undergo many vicissitudes, and experience difficulties. Thus it is that travellers who have written about this country, have only written nonsense. Gen. Almonte, himself, with all his knowledge of this people, can continually pick up facts which had before escaped his notice; and I, myself, am also learning something new about them every day.

"From all which I have been able to observe, I have obtained the thorough conviction that this is an enterprising nation, full of energy, which borders more on rashness than on true courage, ambitious without bounds, and uniting to a childish presumption a want of all fixed prineiples of justice. The blind vanity with which they are possessed, causes them to regard all other nations, and especially our race, with the greatest contempt, and it will be only by means of some hard lessons that reason can be knocked into these men whose understandings are so far astray, in consequence of their never having known adversity; and in my opinion no one can learn them these lessons better than Mexico,

"To do this it is only necessary to prepare yourself to maintain an endless war against this country; the Russians burnt Moscow and saved the empire; Moscow is now flourishing, and Napoleon terminated his days sadly at St. Helena. Let the people retire from the coasts with all their cattle and effects, and let them guard the mountain passes, continually surprising from thence those who dare to land on the shores, and the climate will do the rest. Let them arm the Indians who have been thrust out on our frontiers by these people, in the most perfidious and barbarous manner; arm also the negroes, promising them lands from those which they conquer; proclaim also the abolition of slavery, and let an army of 20,000 regular troops be planted in Texas to sustain the movements of the auxiliary troops, who will act as guerillas; let both of these forces retire to safe positions whenever the enemy advance in large numbers, merely endeavoring to fatigue them by continual marches and countermarches and then falling on them in all security, when they are thoroughly tired out, and completely exhausted by hunger and thirst.

"Finally, in order to accomplish all this, there is no necessity for going hastily to work; but we can imitate the example of Fabius the Tardy, acting with the same vigilance that that famous Roman consul observed, so that the Mexican army may be preserved in fact, and the war may last as long as the one between the Spaniards and Moors, whilst our privateers are scour ing every sea and annihilating the American commerce, and I will forfeit my head if they do not, on their knees, beg a peace from Mexico before six years have passed, allowing her to dictate the conditions, for it is not killing men which will alarm this people, but the expenses and costs which they are put to.

"Beyond this it is necessary to recollect that war can also be made with the pen now a days; and a manifesto on the part of Mexico, published in the three languages, Spanish, English, and French, would attract towards her much sympathy, particularly from the abolitionists, in all parts of the world, who are now both numerous, strong and active, for which it will be necessary to settle all small questions with the rest of the world, even making temporary concessions, not perpetual ones. When these northern and eastern states see that the war is going to be a long one, that they have to contribute much, that their commerce is ruined, and their funds of credit prostrated, they will soon raise the cry against the southern states, and an issue will be raised which will only end with the Union, and leave the southern states alone. And how the rest of the nations would rejoice in the humbling of the pride of the United States, and what glory for Mexico in being the one who 'belled the cat!

Would your Excellency believe that in the contempt with which they regard Mexico, it has never occurred to these people that you have taken any of these measures, or would take them. until I have alluded to it in my articles. The mere hint that I threw out that Mexico, in her despair, would sell the Californias to a powerful nation, has alarmed them in a most inexplicable manner, supposing that this country is England. That article, which you will see in El Noticioso, of the 20th April, was like a rocket in awakening them, and immediately it was copied by all the opposition papers; and, without vanity, I may say, that on its account many who were before undecided, have declared against the treaty, and since then the most terrible opposition has been made to it.

Finally, I believe, that at present annexation will not take place; but let your Excellency rest assured that on this account we must not desist; war is the only thing which can save the honor of Mexico and the integrity of her territory, as what I state in the last number of the Noticioso, of the 4th inst., is the exactest truth. Moreover, without war, this people will swallow up this country with their deceits and falsehoods, and there is no other mode of restraining them than by a well directed war.

which entirely coincides with the views of the church, became the settled policy of the Mexican government, when, on the first day of March, 1845, the joint resolutions were passsed by the Congress at Washington. The chronology of events is important in determining the views of the Mexicans, and we may, therefore, recur to dates. As soon as the Mexican government received notice of the passage of the bill, they informed Mr. Shannon, our minister, that after the 28th March all intercourse between the two governments must cease. And on the 22d of March President. Herrera issued a proclamation, calling upon the states to aid the government in the conquest of Texas. On the 7th of April, the joint committee of both houses of the Mexican Congress reported a project for raising means of resisting annexation. The warlike preparations of Mexico induced Mr. Jones, President of Texas, to call upon the United States for aid, and accordingly the department ordered Gen. Taylor to Corpus Christi. He embarked from New-Orleans August, 1845, and encamped at Corpus Christi. About the same time the United States made inquiry, through the consul at Mexico, "whether the Mexican government would receive an envoy, intrusted with full powers to adjust all the questions in dispute between the two governments?" An answer in the affirmative was received, and Mr. John Slidell appointed minister, on the 10th of November. On his arrival, Mr. Slidell presented his credentials, which were not received. But Gen. Parades "pronounced" against the government of Herrera, and overthrew it, on the ground that it was disposed for peace, "while American troops were already on the territory of the Republic;" and Herrera refused, on the occasion of the late proposed treaty of Mexico to form a part of the peace commission, on the ground that his government was overthrown for entertaining peace propositions. On the 21st of December Mr. Slidell was informed by the Mexican Secretary of State, that he could not be received. On the 3d of June Parades was made President, and prepared for war, which he declared on the

"My zeal has perhaps allowed my pen to run too far into matters which your Excellency understands far better than I do; but I hope that your goodness will not attribute them to presumption, but to the enthusiasm which naturally inspires me in the good wishes I have, to see my country triumphant over its false friends and natural enemies.

"God grant that I may see them verified, and that your Excellency may be the chosen one to direct such a worthy enterprise; and Oh! that I may be of some service, even from such a very humble servant as I am of your Excellency. JUAN DE LA GRANJA.

In relation to this transaction, the letter of Gen. Herrera to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, when asked to become one of the commissioners for the negotiation of a treaty, sheds some light, as follows:

MEXICO, August 25, 1847.

To his Excellency Don Jose Ramon Pacheco, Minister of Foreign Affairs:

MOST EXCELLENT SIR: By your Excellency's official communication dated this day, I learn that his excellency the President, has been pleased to nominate me, in conjunction with the justice of the Supreme Court, Don Antonio Monjardin, and Don Antonio Garay, to hear the propositions of peace which the commissioner of the government of the United States of America desires to make. As a Mexican, desirous of the good of my country, it is my duty to state to your excellency, that I was at the head of the government in the year 1845, when the gov ernment of the United States took the initiative in despatching a commissioner to adjust the differences arising out of the Texas question, which disturbed the harmony which ought to have existed between two adjacent republics; and merely from the fact that no unwillingness was man ifested to the commissioner's presenting himself and stating his propositions, my administra tion was calumniated in the most atrocious manner, and on that ground alone, the revolution was excited which displaced me from power. To take part in the same question, at the present day, would give room for a revival of the reports which were then circulated; and the most advantageous terms which could be made, under the circumstances in which we find ourselves, however honorable the adjustment might be, would be worse received than if effected through the agency of those who have taken no part in the affair.

"I might excuse myself on other grounds, but it appears to me that what I have stated will be sufficient, when his excellency the President takes it into consideration, to induce him to permit me to decline, as I do, the honorable commission he has been pleased to tender me. "I have the honor to make this statement in reply to your said official communication, and assure you of my consideration, &c.

"God and liberty.

JOSE J. DE HERRERA,”