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moreover, prevailed, from the clamors of the people against the absolute thrones of Europe. Discipline, and the perfect organization of our land and naval forces, will protect us against the machinations and aggressions of the whole world, if conspired for our destruction. The government is engaged in a system of defence. The republic is invincible; its sons, with the universal approbation of freeman, will bravely defend the rights of their country.

The rich market, which the jealous and base government of Spain had reserved for its own oppressive speculations, having been opened to mercantile nations, we are now prepared to conclude treaties for the protection of our commercial interests. Numerous events, in which our country is deeply interested, have occurred in rapid succession; and in relation to matters of such importance, your powers are not limited. Curiosity, enterprise, the mildness of our laws, and gentleness of our manners, the fame of Mexican opulence, all have combined to attract to our shores an innumerable concourse of strangers. For their admission, free passage and residence

in the states and territories of the confederation, there are positive laws of police, securing our safety, with the good conduct of those who visit our country. To exclusive privileges, you will give the consideration they merit.

These subjects of acknowledged importance, and others of not less consequence in the public administration, are submitted for the deliberation of congress; which, in perfect consonance with the views of the government, will opportunely relieve the public necessities.

Whilst you, gentlemen, are about to commence new labors, in the service of a country of which you are the support, at once, and the ornament, it maintains in its progressive career, a dignified place among the nations of the globe. It is a pleasing reflection, fellowcitizens, that you are at the head of a nation which, in its infancy, has already conciliated the respect and the admiration of the world. Mexico, with sentiments of goodwill and friendship, desires peace and free communication with all nations; powerful and opulent, she reposes her existence and se curity on her own resources.

REPORT by the Secretary of State, to the Congress of MEXICO, at the session of 1825.

FOREIGN RELATIONS.

The invasion of Spain by France, and its result, drew the attention of all Europe to America. The new Spanish cabinet, eager to re-establish the empire of Spain over this section of the globe, solicited the monarchs of Europe to assemble in congress, to consider our state, and decide upon our destiny. It was also expected, that the neces

sary aid would be thus obtained, to recruit the exhausted resources of the Peninsula. That the fear of reviving the long established monopoly of Spain might not deter commercial nations from acceding to this invitation, the king of Spain granted, to all flags, the privilege of trading with the Americas, reserving to the Spanish certain advantages. These pretensions of the

cabinet of Madrid are truly astonishing. Presuming to the exercise of authority over a people who, long since, denied the right, Spain desires to assume the charge of government, while she secures to other nations its benefits. Were she to abandon the chimeric notion of subjecting us, the friendly relations which she might cultivate with us, would secure to her important advantages.

The Spanish government, by this system, has given a new direction to European policy. England, in reply to the invitation of the minister of king Ferdinand, declined attending the proposed congress; and, in the papers presented by the English ministry to the parliament, which were published, she frankly disclosed the liberal principles which were to guide her conduct. Without refusing to recognize our independence, England desired that Spain should first take this important step, indicating, at the same time, that she would not long wait the shifting policy of the cabinet of Madrid, and she openly declared that she could not suffer any power, or league of powers, to interfere with an armed force as the auxiliary of Spain, in the questions pending betwixt her and her colonies. The resolution of the president of the United States of America, announced in his message to the congress of 1823, was of a similar character; and as France, about the same time, declared her friendly dispositions, there are well founded reasons for believing that our independence will soon be recognized by the nations of Europe. This will greatly contribute to the regular organization of the different governments of our continent, heretofore administered provision

ally, and to the full advantage of the late glorious events, which have forever prevented the restoration of Spanish dominion in Peru. This flattering perspective however, will not diminish the vigilance of the government, but, connecting defensive preparations with pacific negotiations, we will ever be ready to conclude honorable peace, or repel hostile invasion.

This is, concisely, the state of foreign policy in relation to this republic; and the measures of the government have been adapted to circumstances. A minister pleni

potentiary was appointed to the government of his Britannic majesty, as soon as its friendly dispo sitions were known, who was also empowered to institute negotiations with all the European powers, not excepting Spain; and, although the questions agitated have not been definitely settled, they are in favorable progress. As our com

mercial relations with Great Britain are constantly enlarging, and as the loans intimately affect our financial operations, it was deemed proper to appoint a consul-general to that kingdom, who was authorised to designate vice-consuls for the ports where commerce should require them. He was particularly instructed in relation to the exercise of his delicate commission.

The consul-general appointed by his Britannic majesty, and other consuls for the principal ports of the republic, have assumed the exercise of their functions; and their commissions have been acknowledged by official exequators. The diplomatic agents from that government have been received and regarded with the consideration due to a nation which was the first among those of Europe to open

relations of friendship and good correspondence with the republic. These will become more intimate with the frequent and regular communications that have been established by means of packet-ships, which sail from Liverpool every month, for the conveyance of despatches and correspondences. They will also be strengthened by the impulse which this arrangement will give to trade, and by the multiplication of commercial interests between the two nations. Our commercial intercourse with other nations has considerably increased; and they now perceive how important to all are the advantages of our independence.

Hostile measures have been prosecuted against Spain and her commerce; and, to obstruct supplies for her castle of San Juan de Ulua, a blockade of this fortress has been proclaimed, which has been respected by the English vessels of war, anchored at the isle of Sacrificios.

The president of the republic has been desirous, ever since his election, of despatching an agent to Rome, to adjust religious concerns with his holiness. But the causes that have hitherto prevented him, will be made known in the memorial to be submitted by the secretary for justice and ecclesiastic affairs.

The friendship that has subsisted with the United States of America, since the declaration of independence, has not been interrupted. That government appointed a minister plenipotentiary to reside near this court; and the failure of his arrival has had no connection with the friendly relations that unite the two nations. Sir Don Pablo Obregon was sent by this republic to

that government with equal powers, and, according to official communications, he has been received and recognized by the president at Washington.

The nature of the cause and the identity of interests, which belong to all the countries of America, that have broken the yoke of Spain, connect them so closely, that, although separated, and acknowledg ing different centres of government, they may still be said to compose a whole, of homogeneous parts. These circumstances bind them together, and cause the reverses and the prosperity of each to be felt by all. They are disposed mutually to assist in the attainment of that which is their common object.

To regulate our movements, and to organize these combined forces, the Colombian government conceived the grand design of forming a general league of all the American states heretofore under the dominion of Spain. Invitations for this purpose were made to the governments, and treaties of alliance and confederation consequently formed. A treaty with this government was concluded on the 3d of October, 1823, approved by the congress on the 2d December, instant, and ratified by the executive the same day. This was also approved by the congress of Colombia, and ratified by the government; but its publication has been deferred, because of its not having received a formal ratification.

At the moment of our independence, the president of that republic appointed a minister plenipotentiary near the provisional government which we had at that time, who continues the exercise of his functions. The minister appointed, on the part of this govern

ment, to reside at Bogota, has been prevented from reaching his destination by various causes; but that the important communications arising out of our intimate relations might not be obstructed, the secretary of the legation has been ordered to that court, to exercise the office of charge d'affaires till the arrival of the minister.

The independence of the ancient kingdom of Guatemala, having been formally recognized, under the title of the United Provinces of Central America, by a decree of the congress on the 25th of August of last year, the minister plenipotentiary, deputed by that government, has been received as accredited to this court. It was determined to appoint immediately a minister of like character, to reside at the capital of the new republic. This has not yet been done, but may be expected in a short time.

Among the provinces whose independence was recognized under the preceding title, was not comprehended that of Chiapas, which continued independent on both nations. They have acknowledged the right of this province to determine to which of the two republics, between which it lies, it would attach itself. To have remained a long time in hesitancy would have been equally prejudicial to both; the government, therefore, to hasten a decision, agreeably to the instruction of the congress, and to give to the declaration the charac

ter of the freedom and formality proper for acts of this nature, used the frankest measures, rejecting the most distant advantage of interest or influence, and invited Guatemala to do the same. This

gave rise to a correspondence

which was conducted with that candor and good faith that should ever subsist between two friendly and neighboring nations; and which, if necessary, will be submitted to the congress. Chiapas, in the meanwhile, freely exercising its right, solemnly resolved to unite itself to this republic, with the exception of some districts, and was admitted into the confederation, which has the pleasure of witnessing an addition to the number of its states by one of those triumphs of opinion, when uninfluenced by force.

Some movements of the Indians of New Mexico, who lead an erratic life in separate tribes, and also of those who have made advances in civilization, and are settled in different communities, have menaced that part of the republic. The imprisonment of the chiefs who excited the Opatas to insurrection, has quieted these disturbances. It is due to the United States authorities, to acknowledge their kind offices of mediation in the range of their territory bordering on that of New Mexico, in averting the evils and calamities of a desolating warfare.

LUCAS ALAMAN.

15

MESSAGE from Citizen GUADALUPE VICTORIA, PRESIDENT of the UNITED MEXICAN STATES, to the Chambers of the General Congress, pronounced at the solemn opening of its annual session on the 1st of January, 1826.

Gentlemen-Our country having increased in prosperity, even beyond the expectation formed from the flattering prospects of the preceding year, having acquired in her course a degree of external respect, which has gratified our most sanguine wishes, and furnished the hope of a happiness without limits, in the development ever progressive of the numerous sources and elements of power and grandeur which abound in this fortunate land, and having at length reaped the fruit of fifteen years of heroic toil, Mexico is placed on a level with the great nations of the universe, and gives promise of gigantic advances in the career of improvement: this wonderful combination of events unrols the magnificent plan traced by Providence, when regulating, with a wise hand, the order, the means, and the fulfilment of the destinies of the republic.

The august ceremony which has surrounded me, to my inexpressible gratification, with the representatives of the illustrious Mexican people, to-day, that they return to the exercise of their important legislative functions, gives me an opportunity to present to the chambers and to the nation a sketch of the year 1825, which will be remarkable in our annals, as more abundant than those which have hitherto preceded it, in the favors dispensed to us by the God of nature and of society. I comply, at the same time, with the grateful task of making public the acts of my whole administra

tion, while the secretaries of the government fulfil the obligation imposed upon them by the constitution, of rendering an account to congress at the commencement of every year of the affairs of their several departments.

The month of January, of the year which has just closed, has deserved great celebrity from their having been then manifested to the diplomatic agents assembled in London, the disposition of the government of his Britannic majesty to enter into amicable relations with, and to recognize the independence of the new American states. This decisive act of the profound policy of the British ministry has disconcerted the plans and machinations of our external enemies, by surprising the cabinets of the allied powers. Thus has been revealed the secret of their ulterior intentions, and they have been forced to confess that they renounced for the future all armed intervention in subjects relating to the insurgent Americas. It was in agitation to extend and establish beyond the ocean the absurd principles of legitimacy and to abolish liberal ideas in the new world. Protests, repeated acts, a mysterious correspondence with the court of Madrid; all this conspired to found a suspicion that Spain, in order to preserve the remnants of her detestable sway, was endeavoring to procure the assistance of the armies and navies of other nations. The invasion of the Peninsula in 1823, included the fatal design of placing Ferdinand

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