ted that the difficulties respecting
Texas must be adjusted before any other subject of discussion should be
taken into consideration.

But the main question was, whether Mexico should receive Mr. Slidell in
the character of Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary, to
reside in the republic. It was insisted by the Mexican Government, that
it had only agreed to receive a commissioner, to treat on the questions
which had arisen from the events in Texas; and that until this was done,
the suspended diplomatic intercourse could not be restored, and a
residing minister plenipotentiary be admitted.

Why our Government should have insisted, that the intended negotiation
should be carried on by a residing Envoy Extraordinary and Minister
Plenipotentiary, is altogether unintelligible. The questions at issue
might have been discussed and settled as easily, fully and
satisfactorily, by commissioners appointed for that special purpose, as
by residing ministers or envoys. It is well known that whenever
diplomatic relations have been superseded by war, treaties of peace are
always negotiated by commissioners appointed for that special purpose,
who are personally amply protected by the law of nations, but who are
never received as resident ministers, till after the peace has restored
the ordinary diplomatic intercourse. Thus the treaty of peace of 1783,
between France and England, was negotiated and concluded at Paris by
British commissioners, whom it would have been deemed absurd to admit as
resident envoys or ministers, before peace had been made.

The only distinction which can possibly be made between the two cases
is, that there was not as yet actual war between Mexico and the United
States. But the annexation of Texas was no ordinary occurrence. It was a
most clear act of unprovoked aggression; a deep and most offensive
injury; in fact, a declaration of war, if Mexico had accepted it as
such. In lieu of this, that country had only resorted to a suspension of
the ordinary diplomatic relations. It would seem as if our Government
had considered this as an act of unparalleled audacity, which Mexico
must be compelled to retract, before any negotiations for the
arrangement of existing difficulties could take place; as an insult to
the Government and to the nation, which must compel it to assert its
just rights and _to avenge its injured honor_.

General Herrera was not mistaken in his anticipations. His government
was over