in regard to the acknowledgment of those States in this hemisphere which were formerly colonies of Spain. The subject having been again brought to the notice of the Spanish Government, her Majesty directed an answer to be returned, expressing her readiness to receive commissioners from those States; and there is reason to believe that if the negotiation be early commenced, and be carried on with a proper disposition on both sides, that great object may now be accomplished. On the receipt of Mr. Van Ness's despatch, I lost no time in communicating to the representatives of those States near this Government a copy of Mr. Martinez de la Rosa's note: and by the President's direction I now transmit a copy to you, to be immediately communicated in similar terms to the Mexican Government. A copy of my note to Mr. Castillo is also enclosed. The interest which the United States have always taken in promoting the object in question, and the satisfaction with which the new States have seen their friendly efforts, justify the President in expressing the hope that the Government of Mexico may see proper to avail itself of the favorable sentiments now entertained by her Catholic Majesty, by promptly despatching one or more commissioners to treat on the subject; and, in making known this wish to that Government, you will take care that the disinterested and friendly character of the President's motives, in relation to the whole matter, shall be clearly understood. It is not impossible that the Spanish Government may endeavor to obtain from the new States, as the price of its recognition, some privileges for its commerce or subjects. As such concession would be contrary to the true policy of the new States, and unjust towards the United States and other friendly Powers, you will endeavor to prevent any authority, being given to the Mexican commissioners for conceding to Spain any privileges which are not to be enjoyed by the United States. The occasion is believed to be favorable for adverting to the proper basis of the relations between the United States and the new States. Some of those States have stipulated among themselves for preferences › for their commerce with each other, and privileges for their citizens within each other's territories. Such stipulations are equally at variance with the true interests of those States and the just expectations of the United States. If, as has been understood, they were entered into with a view to unite the new States more closely in resisting any attempt which might be made to bring them again under the Spanish Crown, that motive will cease by the acknowledgment of their independence on the part of Spain. They will then be free to follow those wise and liberal principles of policy from which the United States have never sought to turn them, even in their own favor. If any preference be due by the new States, it would be to that nation who, from the earliest moment, has sympathized with them in their patriotic struggles, who was the first to acknowledge them as sovereign States, who threw around them its powerful protection, by proclaiming in the face of all Europe that it would not permit any interference by foreign Powers for their subjugation; and whose generous friendship has never ceased its exertions until all danger to their independence is about to terminate by the acknowledgment of Spain. The United States, however, consistent throughout in the disinterestedness of their conduct towards them, desire no preference. But they know too well what is due to themselves to be satisfied if a preference be granted to others. It is the President's desire that the views entertained by him on this subject should be explained to the Government of the new States by the representatives of the United States near them, and that suitabic efforts be made to prevent the adoption of such stipulations by those who have not previously entered into them; and, where they already exist, to induce their removal, or, at least, such a modification of them as will prevent their operating to the disadvantage of the United States. I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant, ANTHONY BUTLER, Esq., JOHN FORSYTH. Chargé d'Affaires of the United States, Mexico. [Same to C. G. De Witt, No. 22; R. B. McAfee, No. 21; Richard Pollard, No. 8; Samuel Larned, No. 28.] Mr. Martinez de la Rosa to Mr. Van Ness. [Translation.] AT THE PALACE, September 4, 1834. SIR Her Majesty the Queen Regent, to whom I had the honor of reading the note which your excellency was pleased to address to me under date of the 8th of August last, has been much gratified by learning the amnicable dispositious of the President of the United States, and the interest taken by him in the important question between Spain and her seceding colonies. In pursuance of her Majesty's orders, and in conformity with the principles announced in my last note to your excellency on this interesting subject, I have now to assure you that her Majesty's cabinet is ready to listen to the propositions that may be made to it by commissioners invested with competent powers and authority in order to enter into a frank negotiation, the object of which shall be to put an end to all uncertainty, and to effect a definitive arrangement on principles of justice and reciprocal advantage. I renew the assurances of my distinguished consideration, and pray God to preserve your excellency many years. FRANCISCO MARTINEZ DE LA ROSA. 1 No. 87. Mr. Forsyth to Mr. Butler. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, January 14, 1835. SIR: I transmit herewith the commission of John Stryker, appointed consul of the United States at Goliad, in Texus. You will request of the Mexican Government the usual exequatur for Mr. Stryker. The United States ship Falmouth, Captain Rousseau, has been ordered by the Navy Department to proceed to Vera Cruz, for the purpose of taking you on board and carrying you to New Orleans. Your despatches to No. 83, inclusively, with the exception of Nos. 81, 58, 54, 53, 52, 23, 16, have been received. It is desirable that duplicates of the missing numbers should be communicated to the Department with all convenient promptitude, for your letters have become so numerous that it is necessary they should be bound. I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant, ANTHONY BUTLER, Esq., JOHN FORSYTH. Chargé d'Affaires of the United States, Mexico. No. 88. Mr. Forsyth to Mr. Butler. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, March 23, 1835. SIR: I transmit herewith the commission of Francis Slaughter, appointed consul of the United States for Galveston, and that of Robert S. Hicks, for Tabasco, in Mexico. You will request of the Mexican Government the usual exequatur for each of these gentlemen. Your despatch No. 85, and your letter of the 25th of January last, have been received. I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant, ANTHONY BUTLER, Esq., JOHN FORSYTH. Chargé d'Affaires of the United States, Mexico. No. 89. Mr. Forsyth to Mr. Butler. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, March 24, 1835. SIR: I transmit herewith the commission of Samuel Haight, appointed consul of the United States for Campeachy, in Mexico, and request that you will ask of the Mexican Government an exequatur for him. I have the honor to be, your obedient servant, ANTHONY BUTLER, Esq., JOHN FORSYTH. Chargé d'Affaires of the United States, Mexico. 20 No. 90. Mr. Dickins to Mr. Butler. Washington, May 16, 1835. SIR: In the communication from this Department numbered 52, you were instructed to apply for an exequatur for Austin J. Raines, appointed consul of the United States for Monterey, in the United Mexican States. The commission of this person having since been revoked, you will no longer deem him authorized to discharge any of the duties of that station. I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant, ASBURY DICKINS, ANTHONY BUTler, Esq., Acting Secretary. Chargé d'Affaires of the U. S. to Mexico. No. 92. Mr. Forsyth to Mr. Butler. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, June 26, 1835. SIR: Your communications to this Department, of the 17th, 23d, and 25th instant, have been received. The first is a report on one branch only of the business intrusted to you. It is altogether silent with regard to the state of the negotiation for the claims of our citizens upon the Mexican Government; and, as this Department is not in possession of your correspondence with that Government, and your despatches do not furnish as full information upon the subject as is desired, you will also make a report, as much in detail as may be practicable, relative thereto. The Department is at present unable to answer the inquiries that are frequently addressed to it concerning claims on Mexico. In a letter from the consul of the United States at Matamoras, dated the 1st of July last, this Department was first informed that, by a law of the Mexican Congress, passed on the 24th of October, 1833, and which went into operation on the 24th of April, 1834, it was provided that all effects and merchandise conveyed from foreign nations to the ports of the Mexican republic in national vessels built within the Mexican States cr Territories, would be entitled to a reduction of a fifth part of the import duties. As your letters furnish no intelligence upon this subject, this Department would be gratified to know whether the representation of Mr. D. W. Smith is correct. The Department may be able to provide the volumes of Niles's Register, which you say are wanting to complete the set in the library of the legation at Mexico; but it is not usual to furnish our diplomatic agents with maps, or works on public law. I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant, ANTHONY BUTLER, Esq., Chargé d'Affaires of the U. S. to Mexico. No. 93. Mr. Forsyth to Mr. Butler. DRPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, July 1, 1835. SIR: To enable the Department to answer a letter recently received, it is necessary to know what disposition was made of the archives of the legation at Mexico, previously to your late departure from that city. I have the honor to be your obedient servant, ANTHONY BUTLER, Esq., JOHN FORSYTH. Chargé d'Affaires of the U. S. to Mexico, Washington. No. 94. Mr. Forsyth to Mr. Butler. [Extract.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, July 2, 1835. SIR: On your return to Mexico, the Department will expect to receive copies of all your correspondence with the Mexican Government, not heretofore communicated, with a full and detailed statement of the several subjects that have been committed to your care. Whenever the chargé d'affaires of the United States leaves his post, the archives of the legation should be left in the care of the highest officer of his own Government at the place of his representative residence. I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant, ANTHONY BUTLER, Esq., JOHN FORSYTH. Chargé d'Affaires of the U. S. to Mexico, Washington. No. 96. Mr. Forsyth to Mr. Butler. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, July 3, 1835. SIR Thomas Reily was appointed consul of the United States at Aguatulco, in 1823; Harvey Gregg at Acapulco, in 1825; and John S. Langham at Chihuahua, in 1830. No communications having been received at the Department from either of these persons since they were appointed, although they have been repeatedly written to, you will, on your return, require them to explain their silence. You are herewith supplied with copies of the printed instructions to consuls; one of which you will forward, by a private conveyance, to each of the persons above mentioned, as an opportunity may offer. I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant, ANTHONY BUTLER, Esq., Chargé d'Affaires of the U. S. to Mexico. |