he two
Governments.

The answer of Mr. De la Pena y Pena, Minister of the Foreign Relations
of Mexico, was, "That although the Mexican nation was deeply injured by
the United States, through the acts committed by them in the department
of Texas, which belongs to his nation, his Government was disposed to
receive the _Commissioner_ of the United States who might come to the
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, the Government of Mexico
does not reply with contumely to the measures of reason and peace to
which it was invited by its adversary.

The Mexican Minister at the same time intimated, that the previous
recall of the whole Naval force of the United States, then lying in
sight of the port of Vera Cruz, was indispensable; and this was
accordingly done by our Government.

But it is essential to observe that, whilst Mr. Black had, according to
his instructions, inquired, whether the Mexican Government would receive
an _Envoy_ from the United States, with full power to adjust all the
questions in dispute between the two Governments, the Mexican Minister
had answered, that his Government was disposed to receive the
_Commissioner_ of the United States, who might come with full powers to
settle the present dispute in a peaceful, reasonable and honorable
manner.

Mr. Slidell was, in November following, appointed Envoy Extraordinary
and Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States of America near the
Government of the Mexican Republic; and he arrived in Mexico on the
sixth of December.

Mr. Herrera, the President of Mexico, was undoubtedly disposed to settle
the disputes between the two countries. But taking advantage of the
irritation of the mass of the people, his political opponents were
attempting to overset him for having made, as they said, unworthy
concessions. The arrival of Mr. Slidell disturbed him extremely; and Mr.
Pena y Pena declared to Mr. Black, that his appearance in the capital at
this time might prove destructive to the Government, and thus defeat the
whole affair. Under these circumstances General Herrera complained,
without any foundation, that Mr. Slidell had come sooner than had been
understood; he resorted to several frivolous objections against the
tenor of his powers; and he intima