avowal, consistently with that frankness and sincerity which have ever characterized the conduct of this Government in its intercourse with other countries.

The United States, in concluding the Treaty of Annexation with Texas, are not disposed to shun any responsibility which may fairly attach to them on account of the transaction. The measure was adopted with the mutual consent, and for the mutual and permanent welfare, of the 2 countries interested. It was made necessary, in order to preserve domestic institutions placed under the guaranty of their respective Constitutions, and deemed essential to their safety and prosperity.

Whether Great Britain has the right, according to the principles of international law, to interfere with the domestic institutions of either country, be her motives or means what they may; or whether the avowal of such a policy, and the exertions she has made to consummate it in Texas, do not justify both countries in adopting the most effective measures to prevent it, are questions which The United States willingly leave to the decision of the civilized world. They confidently rest the appeal on the solid foundation that every country is the rightful and exclusive judge as to what should be the relations, social, civil, and political, between those who compose its population; and that no other country, under the plea of humanity or other motive, has any right whatever to interfere with its decision. On this foundation rest the peace and the harmony of the world.

The Undersigned has again referred, in conformity with the request of Mr. Pakenham, to the portion of Lord Aberdeen's despatch to which he has pointed his attention, with the view of rebutting the inference of the President that Great Britain has endeavoured, through her diplomacy, to effect the abolition of slavery in Texas, by making it one of the conditions on which Mexico should acknowledge her independence. He is constrained to say, on a careful reperusal, that he can discover nothing in it calculated in any degree to weaken the inference of the President. His Lordship avows that Great Britain wishes to see slavery abolished in Texas; that she would rejoice if the recognition of that country by the Mexican Government should be accompanied by an engagement on the part of Texas to do so, and that she feels it to be her duty to promote such a consummation. If to these emphatic declarations the fact be added, that Great Britain, at the very time they were made, was engaged in negotiating with the Mexican Government, in order to obtain from it a recognition of the independence of Texas, and that she declined to unite with France and The United States in a joint effort for that purpose, it is surely not a forced or unfair inference to conclude, without calling in the aid of other evidence, that she used, in con* Page 262.

ducting it, all the legitimate means of diplomacy, backed by her great influence, to effect an object, in the accomplishment of which she acknowledges she took so deep an interest, and to which she obviously attached so much importance. Nor does the Undersigned regard the declarations of Lord Aberdeen, that Great Britain would not interfere unduly, or with any improper assumption of authority, that she will counsel, but not seek to compel or unduly control either party, as in any degree weakening the inference of the President; nor does he consider the remarks of Mr. Pakenham as a denial of its truth. The Undersigned, &c.

The Right Hon. Richard Pakenham.

J. C. CALHOUN.

(6.)-Messrs. Van Zandt and Henderson to Mr. Calhoun. [May 16, 1844.] THE Undersigned, &c. in reply to the note of Mr. Calhoun, Secretary of State of The United States, have the honour to submit for his information the following facts in relation to the origin and history of the alleged armistice between Mexico and Texas, to which he refers.

By the terms of a Convention concluded between Texas and Great Britain, on the 14th November, 1840, the British Government agreed to offer its mediation for the settlement of the difficulties between Mexico and Texas, upon the basis of the recognition of the independence of Texas by Mexico. In pursuance of this Convention, the mediation of Great Britain was tendered to, and declined by Mexico, information of which was communicated to the President of Texas. Afterwards, in the year 1842, representations were made by Texas to Great Britain, France, and The United States, requesting their joint interposition for the settlement. of the difficulties between Mexico and Texas. To this request, the Governments of France and The United States indicated their ready willingness to accede. The British Government, however, for reasons deemed by it sufficient, declined to be thus associated, suggesting, at the same time, that each might act separately. Subsequently, the Texan Chargé d'Affaires in London was informed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the British Government, that the mediation, as before pursued, was utterly hopeless, and that Her Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires in Mexico had been directed to propose a new feature in the same to Mexico.

In the month of May, 1843, in reply to the representations upon the subject made by Her Britannic Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires in Mexico to General Santa Anna, the latter indicated his willingness to agree to a suspension of hostilities, and to receive commissioners from Texas, to treat on the terms of a peace. This fact was communicated by Her Britannic Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires in Texas to the President of Texas, on the 10th of June, 1843, who, on the 15th

* Vol. XXIX. Page 84.

of the same month, issued his proclamation for an armistice,* annexing certain stipulations by which it should be terminated. When these were communicated to General Santa Anna, through the British Chargé d'Affaires, he declined to assent to them, suggesting that it would be better that the terms, duration, &c. should be arranged by commissioners appointed by the respective Governments for that purpose. Information of this was communicated to the Texan Government, both through the British Chargé d'Affaires in Texas, and in a communication from General Woll to General Houston, in which it was stated, in substance, that he (General Woll) was authorized by General Santa Anna to appoint commissioners to meet any persons similarly commissioned by Texas to arrange the proposed armistice. In pursuance of this, the Texan commissioners were appointed, and proceeded to Mexico. They were instructed that no arrangement made by them would be binding until approved by the President. When the agreement entered into by them was submitted to the President of Texas, he declined approving it. Referring to Texas as a department of Mexico was a sufficient reason for its prompt rejection, and precluded all possibility of official action under it.

The negotiations having thus terminated, and this agreement being held to be null and void, there is at present no subsisting arrangement of any character between Mexico and Texas.

The Undersigned, &c.

The Hon. J. C. Calhoun.

(Translation.)

ISAAC VAN ZANDT.

J. PINCKNEY HENDERSON.

(7.)-General Almonte to Mr. Calhoun.

Mexican Legation, Washington, March 6, 1845. THE Undersigned, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of the Mexican Republic, has the honour to address the Honourable John C. Calhoun, Secretary of State of the United States of America, with the object of making known to him the profound regret with which he has seen that the general Congress of the Union has passed a law giving its consent, and admitting [prestando su consentimiento y admitiendo] into the American confederacy the province of Texas.

The Undersigned had flattered himself with the idea that, on this question the good judgment and sound counsels of the citizens most distinguished and most intimately acquainted with the conduct of the public affairs of this Republic would have prevailed in the deliberations of the Legislative body and of the Executive of the Union. Unfortunately, however, it has been otherwise; and, contrary to his hopes and his most sincere prayers, he sees consummated, on the part of the American Government, an act of aggression the most Page 251.

unjust which can be found recorded in the annals of modern history, namely, that of despoiling a friendly nation, like Mexico, of a considerable portion of her territory.

For these reasons the Undersigned, in compliance with his instructions, finds himself required to protest, as he does in fact protest, in the most solemn manner, in the name of his Government, against the law passed on the 28th of the last month by the general Congress of The United States, and approved on the 1st of the present month by the President of these States,* whereby the province of Texas, an integrant portion of the Mexican territory, is agreed and admitted [se consiente y admite] into the American Union. The Undersigned moreover protests, in the name of his Government, that the said law can in nowise invalidate the rights on which Mexico relies to recover the above-mentioned province of Texas, of which she now sees herself unjustly despoiled; and that she will maintain and uphold those rights at all times, by every means which may be in her power.

The Undersigned will say in conclusion, to the Honourable Secretary of State of The United States, in order that he may be pleased to communicate it to the President of these States, that in consequence of this law against which he has just protested, his mission near this Government has ceased from this day. Wherefore, the Undersigned prays the Honourable Secretary of State to be pleased to deliver him his passports, as he has made arrangements to leave this city without delay, for New York. The Undersigned, &c.

The Hon. J. C. Calhoun.

J. N. ALMONTE.

(8.)-Mr. Buchanan to General Almonte.

Department of State, Washington, March 10, 1845.

THE Undersigned, Secretary of State of The United States, has received the note of General Almonte, the Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of the Mexican Republic, of the 6th instant, addressed to his predecessor, the Honourable John C. Calhoun, protesting, in the name of his Government, against the resolution of the late Congress for annexing Texas to The United States; and he has submitted the same to the President.

In answer, the Undersigned is instructed to say, that the admission of Texas as one of the States of this Union, having received the sanction both of the Legislative and Executive Departments of the Government, is now irrevocably decided, so far as The United States are concerned. Nothing but the refusal of Texas to ratify the terms and conditions on which her admission depends, can defeat this object. It is, therefore, too late at present to re-open a discussion which has already been exhausted, and again to prove that Texas has long since achieved her independence of Mexico, and now stands Page 265.

before the world, both de jure and de facto, as a Sovereign and Independent State amid the family of nations. Sustaining this character, and having manifested a strong desire to become one of the members of our confederacy, neither Mexico nor any other nation will have just cause of complaint against The United States for admitting her into this Union.

The President, nevertheless, sincerely regrets that the Government of Mexico should have taken offence at these proceedings; and he earnestly trusts that it may hereafter be disposed to view them in a more favourable and friendly light. Whilst entering upon the duties of the Presidential office, he cheerfully declares in advance that his most strenuous efforts shall be devoted to the amicable adjustment of every cause of complaint between the 2 Governments, and to the cultivation of the kindest and most friendly relations between the sister Republics.

General Almonte.

The Undersigned, &c.

JAMES BUCHANAN.

(9.)-Mr. Buchanan to Mr. Donelson.

Department of State, Washington, April 28, 1845. YOUR despatches of March 20 and 24 from New Orleans, of March 28 from Houston, and of April 1 and 3 from Washington, have been received; the two latter on the 21st instant. Ever since the receipt of these, the President has been anxiously awaiting your despatch promised by the next mail after the return of your messenger from Montgomery. Upon its arrival I shall address you at length, should the information then communicated render this necessary. At present I will confine myself to a single point.

It has been conjectured that it might be given out in Texas that Mr. Secretary Smith had been despatched to this city for the purpose of negotiating more favourable terms of annexation than those which you have already proposed to the Texan Government, and that thus the people of Texas might be reconciled to the delay. In order to enable you instantly to remove any such impression, you are authorized unequivocally to declare that the President will not consent to transfer the negotiation from Texas to this city; and should Mr. Smith make such an offer, it will be promptly but respectfully declined. The question is now before the Executive Government and people of Texas; and the President will not agree to change the terms proposed in my despatch of the 10th March last.

Under these circumstances, I need scarcely urge you to press for immediate action. The Executive Government of Texas ought to be appealed to in the strongest terms for a prompt decision. Delay may result in defeat; and yet I can feel but little apprehension that the sovereign people of Texas, the conquerors of San Jacinto,