On the reception of these notes by congress they were passed to the committee on foreign affairs. This committee reported unanimously in favor of conceding the permission referred to in the terms asked for by the Secretary of State of the United States. On the presentation of the report application was ordered to be made to the minister of foreign affairs that he state to congress what was the opinion of the executive in the premises. This was stated to be favorable to the permission solicited. Several members then spoke upon the subject of the concession, setting forth that this permission which they were disposed to concede, although innocent in itself, might be taken by the States of the south as an offence, or used as a pretext to open hostilities against Mexico for the purpose of acquiring a part of her territory for the extension of slavery, and that the subject should therefore be treated as one of importance, but that they were, under all the circumstances, in favor of placing themselves on the side of the north. One of the prominent deputies entered largely into a history of the causes which have produced the present struggle between the north and the south, and stated that from the knowledge he had of the tendencies and projects of the leading men of the south, he believed it inevitable, if the south separated from the north, that Mexico would find herself under the necessity of sustaining a war with the States of the confederation, and that while slavery existed there, no security could be felt that the territory of Mexico would not be invaded, either by means of open war or of fillibuster expeditions. That in view of these circumstances it was clearly for the interest of Mexico to draw more closely its relations with the north by means of friendly acts and by a commercial treaty that would favor the interests of both countries, and even to celebrate a political treaty that would result in guaranteeing to Mexico in an absolute manner the integrity of her territory, or at least guarantee her against the introduction of slavery. These views were well received by the congress, and the permission for the transit of the United States troops through Mexican territory was approved without opposition being offered by a single one of the members. MEXICO, June 21, 1861. Confidential.] EXHIBIT E. [Translation.] NATIONAL PALACE, Mexico, June 27, 1861. MR. MINISTER: For the due information of your excellency I have the honor to enclose herewith the decree issued by the sovereign congress on the 21st instant, in which the executive is authorized to permit the transit of the troops of the United States across the territory of the Mexican republic. By the steamer which will next sail the said decree will be communicated to the legation of Mexico in Washington, in order that it may be made known to that government. While so informing you, it gives me great pleasure to repeat to you that, I am your very obedient servant, LUCAS DE PALACIO Y MAGAROLA. His Excellency THOMAS CORWIN, &c. No. 2. CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN MEXICO, 1864, 1865, and 1866. Mr. Romero to Mr. Seward, (with two enclosures). July 9, 1864. * July 15, 1864. Mr. Romero to Mr. Seward, (with one enclosure). July 12, 1864. Mr. Romero to Mr. Seward, (with one enclosure). July 15, 1864. July 27, 1864. Mr. Romero to Mr. Seward, (with one enclosure) Mr. Romero to Mr. Seward, (with one enclosure). Aug. 20, 1864. Aug. 23, 1864. Sept. 9, 1864. Sept. 19, 1864. Jan. 12, 1865. Feb. 6, 1865. Feb. 25, 1865. Mr. Romero to Mr. Seward, (with one enclosure) Mr. Romero to Mr. Seward, (with three enclosures). Mr. Romero to Mr. Seward, (with one enclosure). Mr. Romero to Mr. Seward, (with five enclosures) Mr. Romero to Mr. Seward, (with three enclosures). Mr. Romero to Mr. Hunter, (with one enclosure). July 26, 1865. July 28, 1865. Mr. Romero to Mr. Hunter. Mr. Romero to Mr. Seward. Mr. Romero to Mr. Seward, (with two enclosures). Mr. Seward to Mr. Romero. Mr. Romero to Mr. Seward, (with thirteen enclosures) Mr. Romero to Mr. Seward.. Mr. Romero to Mr. Seward, (with two enclosures).. Mr. Romero to Mr. Seward, (with seventeen enclosures)... Mr. Seward to Mr. Romero.. Mr. Romero to Mr. Seward, (with two enclosures). Aug. 12, 1865. Oct. 2, 1865. Oct. 10, 1865. Nov. 20, 1865. Nov. 29, 1865. Nov. 30, 1865. Dec. 7, 1865. Dec. 15, 1865. Dec. 24, 1865. Feb. 12, 1866. Feb. 20, 1866. Feb. 20, 1866. Feb. 14, 1866. Feb. 21, 1866. Feb. 22, 1866. Mr. Romero to Mr. Seward, (with twenty-nine enclosures).... Feb. 26, 1866. Feb. 27, 1866. Mar. 9, 1866. Mr. Romero to Mr. Seward, (with one enclosure). Mr. Seward to Mr. Romero.. Mr. Romero to Mr. Seward, (with one enclosure).. Mr. Romero to Mr. Seward, (with two enclosures)... Mar. 14, 1866. Mar. 12, 1866. Mar. 13, 1866. Mr. Romero to Mr. Seward. [Translation.] MEXICAN LEGATION TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Washington, July 9, 1864. MR. SECRETARY: At the interview with which, on my return from Mexico, you had the kindness to favor me on the 20th of November of the last year, you were pleased to communicate to me, while referring to what had occurred in relation to Mexico near this government during my absence from the United States, that ex-General D. José Domingo Cortes had presented himself at your department, calling himself the representative of the Mexican States of Sonora, Sinaloa, Chihuahua, and Durango, and the territory of Lower California, and had solicited the annexation of those States to the United States. As was my duty, I communicated such intelligence without loss of time to the Mexican government, and fearing that through the irregularity of the communications. my correspondence containing it might miscarry, and desirous that those immediately interested should at once have notice of the steps which were taken in their name, I made the same communication directly to the governors of those States of which Cortes called himself the representative. For reasons which I cannot understand, I have not yet received the instructions which I expected from my government on this important business, but I am sure that they can only come of the import which I had the honor to express to you at the interview referred to-that is, denying absolutely that Cortes represents, in whole or in part, the said States, and showing that the States themselves have no right, with reference to the constitution, to enter upon agreements of any kind with any foreign government, and that none are further than the people of the States mentioned (in view of the repeated proofs they have given of the purest patriotism through this period cf trial) from desiring to annex themselves to any foreign country. There have come to my hands, however, answers to my respective communications from the governors of the States of Chihuahua and Sinaloa, which corroborate in everything what I have verbally stated to the department. I was intending to transmit them to you, in conformity with the recommendations contained in them, when I should receive the instructions on this subject that I am awaiting from the federal government of Mexico; but having learned this morning that D. José Domingo Cortes has returned to the United States and is now in Washington, and has addressed your department in writing, I think it my duty, with the reservation of returning to occupy myself with this incident when I receive the instructions referred to, to transmit to you a copy of the communications which are in this legation from the governors of Chihuahua and Sinaloa, and which show that Cortes is not in any manner authorized to speak in the name of those States, nor of any other in the Mexican republic, because they cannot be represented abroad except through the agents of the federal gov ernment of Mexico; that he is not known in the States whose representation he attempts to assume, and that the proposals he has allowed himself to make to this government are formally and solemnly rebuked and repelled by the legiti mately constituted authorities thereof. The confidence I have in the justice and sound judgment of the government of the United States induces me to address this communication to it, rather to enlighten its opinion than for any other purpose. If I had the least suspicion that Cortes would be received in this city as the duly authorized agent of any fraction of the Mexican republic, and that his proposals, whatever they are, might be taken into consideration, I should think it my duty to protest formally and without delay against such procedure and the arrangements Cortes might make. I avail of this occasion to repeat to you, sir, the assurances of my most distinguished consideration. Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Sx. M. ROMERO. [Enclosure No. 1.-Translation.] GOVERNMENT OF THE STATE OF CHIHUAHUA, Your note, dated 20th November last past, which I have received to-day, and the copy you send me of what you addressed to the department of foreign relations and government, of same date, at the city of San Luis Potosi, have informed me of the unpatriotic steps taken with the minister for foreign affairs of that republic, Mr. Seward, by one D. José Domingo Cortes, about the annexation to the United States of this State and those of the Pacific coast, in order to free them from French intervention. I at once approve the assurances you made to Secretary Seward, denying so calumnions an imputation, and repudiating it as unworthy of any good Mexican; and I assure you the government in my charge, and can also aver that the others in question, are very far from entertaining such wretched views, because, although it is sure they will as far as possible resist French intervention, it is no less sure that they pant for and will at all hazards secure the nationality of Mexico, and its existing institutions; being able to assure you, in fine, that not only is all news wanting here about the mission and character which the said D. José Domingo Cortes has attributed to himself, but that the existence even of such an individual is unknown, whose condign punishment you demand. with so much justice from the supreme government of the nation, to which on the first opportunity I shall render an account of this incident, and of this present reply, in case the communication from your legation may have gone astray. It is gratifying to me to add to the previous explanations, and in reply to your note, the assurances of my very distinguished consideration. God, liberty, reform ! Citizen M. ROMERO, LUIS TERRAZAS. In charge of the Mexican Legation to the [Enclosure No. 2.-Translation.] MEXICAN REPUBLIC, GOVERNMENT OF THE STATE OF SINALOA, AND MILITARY COMMANDANCY, MAZATLAN, January 24, 1864. In La Libertad, official journal of Durango, of the 8th instant, I saw published the note which your legation addresses to the governor of that State, and the reply to it, both papers relating to the false mission upon which the Spaniard D. José Domingo Cortes presented himself to the Secretary of State of that republic, Mr. Seward, making proposals to annex to the North American confederation the States of Chihuahua, Sonora, Durango, this and the territory of Lower California. The adventurer D. José Domingo Cortes never has been a governor in this country, nor made representative of the States which he has been calumniating to the cabinet of the United States of the north, by describing them as discontented with the constitutional rule which governs them, and so false and faithless in the actual struggle with the invasion as to wish to throw themselves into the arms of a neighboring nation, rather than seek safety in battle, as they have done in sending their contingents of blood to the interior, and preparing with men and materiel of war at their disposal to resist the French and traitors on their own territory, where, as yet, they have not gained in favor of intervention the vote of a single settlement, unless such as has been forced from them by the compulsion of brute violence. I fill my duty as representative of the State of Sinaloa by pointing out in this note, for the information of the government of the United States and confusion of the intriguer Cortes, the falsehood and calumny he used in his conference with Mr. Seward, in proposing to him, in the name of the States mentioned, annexation to that country. I send copy of this note to the supreme government of the nation for its proper application, and beg you to make it public, and to accept the assurance of esteem and consideration with which I subscribe myself your obedient servant. Liberty and reform! Citizen MATIAS ROMERO, F. GARCIA MORALES. Mexican Minister to the United States of America, Washington. SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of the 9th instant, with its accompaniment, relating to the movements of ex-General Don José Domingo Cortes, of Mexico, and to assure you that its information and suggestions will receive my careful attention. I avail myself of the occasion to renew to you, sir, the assurances of my dis. tinguished consideration. WILLIAM H. SEWARD. Señor MATIAS ROMERO, &c., Washington, D. C. |