^- ^^'% •■ r ^^ , •-» A° <^ •" ^^ .. *^ *•-" A° ^ "^ ^V V" .»' *3 *^ '>o^ o^ V * JW ^ . . « ' 4 X* °o "^-^ A*i^ C^"'^ ^^ .^ .,. '^bv^ •^oV^ ^^-^^^ V s^. * ^^.^ .< :Mjk. %,A^ :^; ^.J" :Mjk^ %.a^ • v-^^ ^^c,- V*^^ .^^^^. -^0^ '•'* ^ ". '^o^ ^ ^^^^^'. V..'^'^ /^M^^ '^^..^^ /.^^\ \/ .^ ,^ .,.o, ^^, V .J \/ "- Jr* av ^ * * * " The occasion, however, may be em- braced to state that the President has ever cher- ished the kindest feelings for Mexico, and that one of. the first wishes of his heart is that she may be a powerful and prosperous republic, in perpetual amity with the United States." * * JAMES BUCHANAN. His Excellency, Minister of the Mexican Re- public. I To the Senate of the United States: 1 hercAvith communicate to the Senate the copy of a lettei*, under date of the 27th ultimo, from the Secretary of State of the United States to the Minister of Foreign Rekitions of the Mexican Re- public, again proposing to open negotiations and conclude a treaty of peace, which shall adjudt all the questions in dispute between the two repub- lics. Considering the relative power of the two countries, the glox'ious events which have already signalized our arms, and the distracted condition of Mexico, I did not conceive that any point of national honor could exist which ought to prevent me from making this overture. Equally anxious to terminate, by a peace honorable for both par- ties, as I was originally to avoid, the existing ■war, I have deemed it my duty again to extend the olive branch to Mexico. Should the govern- ment of that republic accept the offer in the same friendly spirit by which it was dictated, negotia- tions will speedily commence for the conclusion of a treaty. The chief diflSculty to be anticipated in the negotiation is the adjustment of the boundary between the parties, by a line which shall at once be satisfactory and convenient to both, and suoh as neither will hereafter be inclined to disturb. This is the best mode of securing perpetual peace and good neighborhood between the two repub- lics. Should the Mexican government, in order to accomplish these objects, iTe willing to cede any portion of their territory to the United States, we ought to pay them a fair equivalent — a just and honorable peace, and not conquest, being our purpose iu the prosecution of the war. Under these circumstances, and considering the exhausted and distracted cendition of the IMexican republic, it might become necessary, in order to restore peace, that I should have it in my power to advance a portion of the con- sideration-money for any cession of territory which may be made. The Mexican government might not be willing to wait for the payment of the whole until the treaty could be ratified by the Senate, and an appropriation to carry it int« effect be made by Congress ; and the uecesslty for such a de_lay might defeat the object alto- gether. I would, therefore, suggest whether it 11 might not be ■wise foi' Congress to appropriate a ! sum suck as they might consider adequate for this purpose, to be paid, if necessary, immediately upon the ratification of the treaty by Mexico. This disbursement would of course be accounted ' for at the treasury, not as secret service money, but like other expenditures. Two precedents for such a proceeding exist in our past history, during the administration of Mr. Jefferson, to which I would call your atten- tion. On the 26th of February, 1803, Congress passed an act appx-opriating two millions df dol- lars "for the purpose of defraying any extraor- dinary expenses which may be incurred in the intercourse between the United States and foreign nations," "to be ai^plied under the direction 'of the President of the United States, who shall cause an account of the expenditure thereof to be laid before Congress as soon as may be ;" and on the 13th of February, 180G, an appropria- tion was made of the same amount and in the same terms. The object, in the first case, was to enable the President to obtain the cession of Louisiana ; and in the second, that of the Flori- das. In neither case was the money actually drawn from the treasury ; and I should hope that the result might be similar, in this respect, on the present occasion, though the appropriation is deemed expedient as a precautionary measure. I refer the whole subject to the Senate in ex- ecutive session. If they should concur in opin- ion with me there, I recommend the passage of a law, appropriating such a sum as Congress may deem adequate, to be used by the Executive if necessary, for the purpose which I have indica- ted. In the two cases to which I have referred, the special purpose of the appropriation did not ap- pear on the face of the law, as this might have defeated the object ; neither, for the same reason, lin my opinion, ought it now to be stated. I also communicate to the Senate the copy of a letter from the Secretary of State, to Commo- dore Connor of the 27th ultimo, which was trans- mitted to him on the day it bears date. '*- JAMES^K. POLK, Washington, August 4, 1846. (Senate Document, 29th Congress, 2d session, Doc. 107, pp. land 2.) The Committee of Foreign Relations, to whom this message and documents were referred on the 4th of August, 1846, reported to the Senate on the 5th of August, 1846, through Mr. McDuffie, the following resolutions : ''Resolved, That the course adopted and pro- posed by the President, as indicated in his mes- sage of the 4th instant, for the speedy termina- tion of the war with Mexico, receives the appro- bation of the Senate. •2 2- ^^ Resolved, That, ia the opinion of the Senate, it is expedient to place two millions of dollars at the disposal of the President, to be used at his discretion in the event of a treaty of peace with Mexico, satisfactorily adjusting the boundaries of the two countries ; and that the Committee on Foreign Affairs be instructed to report to the Senate in open session a bill for that purpose, in conformity to the provisions of similar acts passed in 1803 and 1806." The above resolutions were modified on motion of Mr. McDuffie, and then recommitted to the Committee on Foreign Relations and reported August 6, 1846, " Isi. Resolved, That the Senate entertain a strong desire that the existing war with Mexico should be terminated by a treaty of peace just | and honorable to both nations; and that the .President be advised to adopt all proper measures for the attainment of that object. i " 2nd. Resolved furtlier, That the Senate deem j it advisable that Congress should appropriate a | sum of money to enable the President to conclude j a treaty of peace, limits, and boundaries with the republic of Mexico, and to be used by him in the event that such treaty should call for the ex- ^jjenditure of the money so appropriated ,or any part thereof." These resolutions were adopted August 6, 1846. [ Among the amendments proposed and reject- ed was one by Mr. Morehead to the second reso- lution. "Provided, Thai before (he appropriation is made the President of the United States shall inform the two Houses of Congress, in confiderice, of the object or objects to which the money shall be applied." A bill was reported, conforming to the tenor of these resolutions as modified, but Congress ad- journed August 10, 1846, without passing it. It struggled on through the next session, and March 8, 1847 became a law, with a condition that full and accurate accounts for the expenditure of the $3,000,000 should be given to Congress, at as early a day as practicable. Our third link will be this bill as it finally passed, March 3, 1847. 12> MONDAY AFTERNOON, OCf. 1^» j g^^^l__ KLe^Armistice at Mexico. NUMBER FIVE. liink No. 4, The three million bill, as passed, with the con- ditiens that it should not be expended until a treaty of peace was ratified by " jV^l^^z'co," and that the expenditure should be accounted for to Congress. The object of doing this is to show eventually how Mr. Polk's administration got over the first of those conditions, and to place those conditions clearly before the reader. *• An act making further appropriation to bring the existing war with Mexico to a speedy and honorable conclusion. *^Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Eepre- sentatives of the United States of America in Con- gress assembled, That whereas a state of 'war now exists between the United States and the repub- lic of Mexico, which it is desirable should be speedily terminated upon terms just and honor- able to both nations ; and whereas assurances have heretofore been given to the government of Mexico that it was the desire of the President to settle all questions between the two countries on the most liberal and satisfactory terms, accord- ing to the rights of each and the mutual interests and security of the two countries ; aud whereas the President may be able to conclude a treaty of peace with the republic of Mexico prior to the next session of Congress, if means for that object are at his disposal ; and whereas, in the adjust- ment of so many complicated questions as now exist between the two countries, it may possibly happen that an expenditure of money will be called for by the stipulations of any treaty which may be entered into ; therefore, the sum of three millions of dollars be, and t£e same is hereby, appropriated out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated, to enable the Presi- dent to conclude a treaty of peace, limits, and boundaries with the republic of Mexico, to be used by him in the event that said treaty, when signed by the authorized agents of the two governments, and duly ratified by Mexico, shall call for the expenditure of the same, or any part thereof; full and accurate accounts for which expenditure shall bo by him transmitted to Con- gress at as early a day as practicable. "Approved Mai'ch 3, 1847." IStatiites at Large, 184G-'7, p. 174. Having procured the money, our next link will ' show the state of affairs which caused a commis- ' Bioner to be sent to Mexico, and what that state of affairs tended to on the part of Mexico, as shown by j^rivate advices, by way of Havana, re- ceived by t!:fc Courrier des Etats Uuis, but bear- "llf DAILY TELE&RAPH. WASHINGTON: TUESDAY AFTERNOON, OCT. 19, 1862. The Armistice at Mexico. NUMBER SIX. Iilnk No. 5— Suramary. This link is to present certain newspaper arti- cles which appeared without date hy ivay of Ha- vana, and which were probably prepared for the occasion to justify the instructions given or to be given to the Commissioner to Mexico. Accounts from Mexico, received by the New York Courrier des Etats tJnis, " private advices by the way of Havana" to the efi'ect that the clergy in Mexico, their property being menaced by the war, were engaged in a plan to bring about the restoration of peace: said plan being to sub- vert once more the constitutional government and to establish in its stead "an absolute tower strong enough to force Mexico io agree to jjeace. * * * «■ ^ud it is Santa Anna upon whom they are reported to have cast their eyes. That general would then be sure of arriving once more at the dictatorship, supported by the clergy, aad on the express condition of respecting its property, and promptly conduding a treaty of peace." — Narch 11, 1847. The state of affairs in 3Iexico which led to the ap- \ pointment of Cummissioner Trist. [From the New York Courrier des Etats Unis, March 11 , 1847.] " Quant aux affaires int^rieures du Mexique, ' nous n'avous re9u aucune nouvelle. Toutefois, ' une lettre particulifere, arriv^e par voie de * Havane, est venue nous faire quelques r^v^la- ' tions importantes sur le travail de reaction qui * s'opere sourdement dans la capitale. II parai- * trait que le' clerg^, menace dans ses bieus par * le parti de la guerre, serait d^cid^ a faire de sa ' <3ause celle de larepubliqae et a faire triompher * le systeme de la paix. Spu plan pour y par- ' veuir est des plus simples : renverser le con- * gr^s fgd6ral duquel il n'a rieu a esp6rer et y ' substituer un pouvoire absolu assez fort pour * contraindre le Mexique a subir la paix, telle ' est la double route qui doit le conduire a son ' but et c'est, sur Santa Anna ajoute-t-on, qu'il * aurait jet6 les yeux. Le generalissimo serait * done sur le point d'arriver encore une fois a la ' dictature, sontenu par le clerg^, et a la condi- 'iS' ' tien expresse de respecter ses biens et de con- * dure promptement la paix. II n'y a rien dans ' cette coinbinaisonquinesoit tres vrnisemblable, ' en ^gard a la situation actuelle. La personne * de qui nous tenons ces renseigneraents est d'ail- * leurs dans une position qui doune un certaiue ' poids a ses paroles, et nous ne serions nullc- * ment surpris de voire une revolution nouvelle ' eclater au Mexiqae, tandis que tous les regards * exclusivement fixes sur le theatre de la guerre,- ' semblent oublier les complications pelitiques." Which article is presented in the following lan- guage in the Baltimore Patriot, March 13, 1847. "Accounts from Mexico. — The New York Courrier des Etats Unis says it has received, by the way of Havana, private advices relative to the internal affairs of Mexico, which contain eeveral important revelations with regard to the reaction now going on secretly in the capital. It seems (says the Courrier) that the clergy, whose property has been menaced by the war party, is disposed to make its ov;n cause that of the repub- lic, and permit the project of peace to triumph. Its plan is to replace the Federal Congress, from ■whose action it has nothing to hope for, by an absolute power strong enough to force Mexico to agree to a peace. Such (continues the Courrier) is the double road leading to this end, and it is Santa Anna upon whom they are also reported to have cast their eyes. That General would then be sure of arriving once mere at the dictatorship, supported by the clergy, and on the express con- dition of respecting its property, and promptly concluding a treaty of peace. There is nothing in this combination which is at all improbable, due regard being had to the actual condition of Mexico ; and, besides, the person who communi- cates this intelligence is in a position which gives to it weight."— March 11, 1847. This being the prospect, every tb^ng was about to assume the state of things looked for by Mr. Polk, we may say since May 13, 1846. Santa •Anna dictator, and the three millions appropriated, there was no obstacle in the way of cai-rying ©ut his loBg-cherished scheme, except the conditions that the treaty should be ratified by <' Mexico," and an account given of the expenditure of the money. April 15, 1847. — Mr. Trist, Commissioner, &c., &c., received his instructions — and sucJi instruc- tions ! They will constitute our next link, and will show how these difficulties were got ovee. We believe the above newspaper accounts were pre- pared in the State JJepartment, to give a coloring f«r the instructions about to be prepared for Mr. Trist. "l i> DAILY TELE&RAPH. WASHINGTON : WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON, OCT. 20, 1852. The Armistice at Mexico. NUMBER SEVEN. Link Mo. 6— Summary. Mr. Trist sent as Commissioner to Mexico, April 15, 1847, as soon as practicable after the passage of the three million bill of March 3, 1847. Instructions to Mr. Trist, April 15, 1847, to treat with Santa Anna. [Senate Document, 1st session 28th Congress ; Executive Doc. 52, p. 81.] Said instructions vrere to the effect that, in the event of the Mexican constitutional government's being overturned, and "a dictatorship again existing in its stead" he, the said Commissioner, must " not hesitate to conclude a treaty with * whatsoever government you [he] shall find ' there upon your [his] arrival, provided it pre- * sents a reasonable prospect of being able to * maintain itself. Should a dictator be establish- ' ed who has subverted the constitutien of 182':1, * and acquired the supreme power, his ratifica- * tion of the treaty will be sufficient." In other •words, it was made imperative upon said Com- missioner, ia the case hero contemplated, to draw to the order of whatsouver tool of Santa Anna uiight be named for the purpose by the said usurper, " the draft" referred to in the following woiJs: "You will herewith receive a certificate ' from the Secretary of the Treasury, that your * draft in favor of the Mexican government for * the whole or any part of the three millions of * dollars appropriated by the act of Congress, * will be duly honored." And furthermore, the same instniotions made it imperative upon the said Commissioner, in the event of its being in his judgment " necessary to the oonclusioH of the treaty," to bind the United States to place in the possession of the said usurper, by the hands of whatsoever tool of his he should see fit to name as his Minister of Finance, the enormous sum of TWENTY SEVEN MILLIONS of dollars more, over and above the cash payment of three millions ; the V eaid payment of twenty- seven millions of dollars to be made by delivering to the said " dictator" certificates of "a s* per cent, stock, similar to that created for the purchase of Louisiana." And to show how precisely these instructions tally with the proposals already quoted from the Baltimore American, prior to June 27, 1846, as those carried out to Santa Anna by Commander Mackenzie, with evidence that no mind can resist, that one of the conditions presented l>y Mackan- zie was, that Santa Anna was to make himself dictator, and on his individual ratification of the treaty, receive the $3,000,000 carried out by Mr. Trist, subsequent to April 16, 1847. Instructions to Mr. Covrmissioner- Plenipotentiary Trist.— {April 16, 1847.) EXTRACTS. "You will herewith receive a certificate from the Secretary of the Treasury that your draft in favor of the Mexican goverHment for the whole or any part of the three millions of dollars ap- propriated by the act of Congress of the 3d of March, 1847, entitled 'An act making further appropriation to bring the existing war with Mex- ico to a speedy and honorable conclusion,' will be duly honored. You will be exceedingly care- ful not to draw for any part of this sum until the conditions required by that act shall have been fully complied with, and the treaty which you may sign with the authorized agent or agents of the Mexican government has been ^duly ratified by Mexico.^ As the disbursement of so large a sum is a matter of great importance, you should use every precaution to be certain that your drafts shall be drawn in favor of the proper func- tionary of the Mexican government, and the whole business transacted in such a manner that no difi&culty will hereafter arise on the subject. You will take receipts in triplicate for any draft or drafts which you draw ; which ought, if pos- sible, to be signed by the President of Mexico, and countersigned by the Minister of Finance." The above constitutes the closing paragraph of the instructions. On the same page and the one preceding are the following paragraphs : " So rapidly does revolution follow revolution in Mexico, that it would be difficult to coujecture "What form of government you may find in exis- tence over that ill-fated country, on your arrival at the head-qixartera of the army. The constitu- tion of 1824 may then have been abolished, and a dictatorship be again existing in its stead. You will not hesitate, however, to conclude a treaty with whatever government you shall find there upon your arrival, provided it presents a reason- able prospect of being able to maintain itself. Should a Dictator be established, who has sub- verted the constitution of 1824, and acquired the 2-« supreme power, his ratificaiion will 6e sufficient, without the previous approbation of the general Con- gress. Were this govei-nment to refuse to con- clude a treaty of peace until the Mexican govern- ment shall assume a permanent constitutional form, the war might yet continue for many years to come." "You ■will not fail to observe that the sums of thirty, twenty and twenty-five millions of dollars respectively, which you are authorized to offer, are all maximums ; and you will not go to the extent of either, unless you shall find this abso- lutely necessary to the conclusion of a treaty." ***•«■ "Whilst it -would be most convenient for the treasury of the United States to pay any sum for •which you may stipulate, in annual paymenta of three millions each, yet this is not indispensable. If necessary, therefore, the conclusion of the treaty you may agree, that, for the remainder of the sum, above the three millions of dollars to be paid upon the ratification by Mexico, the government of the United States shall create a six per tent, stock, similar to that created for the purchase of Louisiana ' to be truTiaferred to the government of Mexico. I *- * ¥r * "The extension of our boundaries over New Mexico and Upper California, for a sum not ex- ceeding twenty millions of dollars, is to be con- sidered a sine qua non of any treaty. You may modify, change, or omit the other terms of the projet if needful, but not so as to interfere with this ultimatum." The proj^t was peace between the United States and Mexico, the Rio Grande as the boun- dary, and the cession of Upper California to the United States, the very terms Mr. Mackenzie was said by the Baltimore American (prior to July 27, 1846,) to have been instructed to propose to Santa Anna. The three million bill having been passed, Mr. Trist is named a»d sent as Commissioner, ha also "speaking the Spanish language like a native," with the $3,000,000 in his pocket to be paid to a Dictator, which Dictator public prints in the United States announce must be Santa Anna. The person giving that information writes by way of Havana, and his position gave great weight to this statement. There can be no doubt it was a United States government agctnt, proba- bly the United States Consul at Havana, or some one in the State Department, writing by way of preparing the public mind for a commissioner to be sent out to conclude Mackenzie's bargain. Let the reader consider this well. Our next link, No. 7, will be the instructions received by General Scott relative to co-opera- ting with Mr. Trist. •v ^^ DAILY TELE&RAPH. WASHINGTON : THURSDAY AFTERNOON, OCT. 21, 1852, The Armistice at Mexico. KUMBER EIGHT, Liink No. 7— Summary. This link will consist of the instructions to General Scott to co-operate with Mr. Trist, and to Mr. Trist t» co-operate with General Scott. INSTRUCTIONS TO GENERAL SCOTT. [Ex. Doc. No. GO, page 940, 30th Con. 1st Sess.] {Confidential.) War Department, "I Washington, April 14, 1847- j Sir : The signal successes which have attended our military operations since the commencement of the present war, would seem to justify the ex- pectation that Mexico will be disposed to offer fair terms of accommodation. With a view to a result so desirable, the President has commis- sioned Nichelas P. Trist, esq., of the State De- partment, to proceed to your head-quarters or to the squadron, as to . him may seem most con- venient, and be in readiness to receive any pro- posal which the enemy may see fit to make for the restoration of peace. Mr. Trist is clothed with such diplomatic pow- 'ersaswill authorise him to enter into arrange- ments with the government of Mexico fior the sus- pension of hostilities. Should he make known to you in writing, that the contingency has occurred, in consequence of wVich the President is willing that further active millitary operations should cease, you will regard such notice as a direction from the President to suspend them until further orders from this department, unless continued or recommenced by the enemy ; but in so doing, you will not retire from any place you may occnpy, or abstain from any change of position which you may deem necessary to the health or safety of the troops under your command, unless, on con- sultation with Mr. Trist, a change in the pesition of your forces should be deemed necessary to the success of the negotiations for peace. Until hostilities, as herein proposed, shall be inter- mitted, you will continue to carry on your oper- ations with energy, and push your advantages as far ds your means will enable you to do. Mr. Trist is also the bearer of a despatch to the Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the govern- ment of Mexico, in reply to one addressed to iiO tbe Secretary of State here. You will transmit that despatch to the the commander of the Mex- ican forces, with a request that it may be laid before his gorerament, at the same time giving informatioR that Mr. Trist, an ofiicer from our department for foreign affairs, next in rank toils chief, is at your head-quarters or on board the squadron, as the case may bo. You will afford Mr. Trist all the accommoda- tion and facilities in your power to enable him to accomplish the objects of his mission. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, '»^; W. L. MARCY, Secretary of War. Major General Winfield Scott, Commanding the Army of the United States, Mexico. '■'■■-■■^^' War Department, > . , . May 31, 1847. / -' "* * * * A still more serious misconception has seized your mind in regard to an armistice. Before this time it is quite probable yon will have read the instructions to the Commissioner, whom you see fit to denominate " the chief clerk of the State Departmeat," and I trust that a kaowledge of what they contain has dissipated all your dis- tressing apprehensions of being degraded by me. My letter informed you that Mr. Trist was " clothed with diplomatic powers," and his in- structions and the projet of a treaty which he carried with him have ere this apprised you that he is a Commissioner, with full power to Hego- tiate a peace. The treaty Avhicb he was author- ized to conclude contains an article, as you will have perceived, which provides for a suspension of hostilities, but not until the treaty shall have been ratified by the Mexican government. Neither the considerations of humanity, nor sound policy, would justify the continuance of active military operations after a treaty of peace had been con- cluded aad ratified on the part of Mexico, until the information of the fact could be communi- cated from Mexico to this place, and an order for the suspension of hostilities hence transmitted to the commanding general in that country. It will not be questioned that a Commissioner of peace may be properly vested with the i^ower of agree- ing to a suspension of hostilities in a definite treaty, negotiated and already ratified by one party, while waiting the ratification of the other. As the negotiator is the fii'st to know the fact that a treaty has been concludei-l and so ratified, it is Iseyontl dispute proper that he should be directed to communicate the knowledge of that fact to the j commanding general; and it cannot, in my view of the case, be derogatory to that officer to be placed under instructions to act with reference | s/ to that I'.ict, when duly notified of it by the Com- missioner. The case cannot be made plainer, or your misapprehensions in regard to it more clearlj'^ pointed out, than by simply stating it as it must exist, if the contingency should fortu- nately happen on which you will be required to suspend hostilities. A Commissioner of peace is sent by the President to your headquarters, and ic makes known to you his authority to receive from Mexico oflers for concluding a peace. You are informed, by his instruction and the projdt of a treaty of peace by Mexico, hostilities imme- diately thereafter are to cease. With all these facts fully made known to you in advance, you are directed by the President to suspend hostilities on receiving written notice from the Commis- sioner that the contingency — the conclusion and ratification of a treaty of peace by Mexico — has happened. Under these circumstances you can conceive that, as commanding general of the force in Mexico, you have the right to raise a ques- tion upon your duty to obey this direction, com- ing as it does, through a proper channel, from your superior — the Commander-in-chief. I am, very respectfully, Your obedient servant, W. L. MARCY, Secretary of War. Major General Winfield Scott, Commanding U. S. Army, Mexico. (Ex, Doc. No. 60, page 962, 30th Congress, 1st session.) War Department, "I Washington, July 12, 1847. J EXTRACT. Sir: Since my letters of the 31st of May and 14th of June, pointing out your entire misappre- hension in regard to the mission of Mr. Trist, so far as it was assumed by you to be an interference with your military command, a cart of his com- munications to you, as well as j^r letter to him of the 29tli of May, has been received. This correspondence discloses a state of things be- tween yourself and him most deeply regretted, as it is much to be feared that your personal rela- tions are such as may compromise the most im- portant national interests. * * * -x- -K- * No two agents of the government could have been charged with duties more distinct and non- contlictiag — duties less likely to bring on per- sonal collision, where any sort of communication ' was required. To you was entrusted the conduct of military operations — to him the business of negotiating a peace, if a favorable opportunity should occur. Only a very limjted official inter- course between you and him was required, and that was of such a character as to preclude, as l^ it was supposed, the possibility of any misunder- standing. He Vas required, in the first place, to deliver to you a despatch from your government to the Minister of Foreign Relations of Mexico. When thus delivered, all his agency in regard to it was ended. It was committed to you to be forwarded : not even the President's order to you to send it forward was communicated through him, but through this department. To this course the most over-wrought sensitiveness could not properly take the slightest exception. Your false alarm in regard to the power of the Commission- er, and the misstep consequently taken — the first in the series of blunders— led him to interfere, in an unauthorized and improper manner, with an affair exclusively your own— the transmission of of that despatch to the Mexican^uthorities. * * * -K- * * Should you receive from these authorities an intimation of a willingness to enter upon nego- tiations, you will, as a matter of course, apprize Mr. Trist of that fact, and do what may be deemed proper to facilitate the conclusion of a peace * * * * * ^ ^t Ve*y respectfully, your obedient servant, W. L. MARCY, Secretary of War. Major General Winfield Scott, Commanding U. S. Army, Mexico. (Ex. Doc. No. 60, page 998, 30th Congress, 1st eession.) Instructions to Mr. Trist. Department of State, ") Washington, June 14, 1847. / [Senate Doc. 62, 1st Sess. 30th Congress, pp. 115.J [Mr. Buchanan to Mr. Trist.] "You have been despatched to Mexico by your government as a minister of peace ; and to ac- complish the great object of your mission, a hearty co-operation betwem the general and yourself may be indispensable. Under these considerations I am directed by the President, in case amicable re- lations shall not in the meantime have been re- stored, to instruct you to call upon General Scott and offer to communicate to him, confidentially, the instructions and the proj^t of a treaty with which you have been intrusted, and to report to this department without delay the circum- Btances and result of your interview." In our next we will show the steps taken by Mr. Trist under these instructions and the state of affairs in the city of Mexico. s^ 53 BmY TELEGEAPJ. W ASHINGTO N: FRIDAY AFTERNOON, OCf. 22, 1862. The Armistice at Mexico. KUilBEll NINK. liiiik No. 8— Sniuiuary. Having presented the iustructioiis of the ad- ministration to Mr. Trisl ixnd Geu. iScott, and the instructions to them to co-operate, we -svill now show Mr. Trist's proceedings relative to the prop- ,osition to make peace. This was carried on through the friendly agency of H. B. M. Minis- ter Plenipotcntiai-y at Mexico, Charles Bank- head, esq. Mr. Trist's first letter to Mr. Baukhead was dated Puebia, June 6, 1847. (Sen. l)oc. 52, p. 181, 1st sess. 30th Cong.) In answer to this ap- plication for Mr. Ban1?head's friendly offices, Mr. Thornton, secretary to the British embassy, came down to see Mi-. Trist. The following letter of June 11, 1847, was the result of Mr. Trist's in- terview with Mr. Thornton. V/iti) tbi < letter we will present one written to the f.' ■' ' '.) .Morning Chronicle, dated Mexico, J:— . ■, .oi7, which shows Mr. Thornton made '., !-:i)o\>.:\ '. loit io Puebia, and, at the same time, tlie stare uf things in Mexico at this time — par- ticularly a Mexican caricature relative to the Ihree.-milUon-dollars bribe of Jlr. Polk to Santa Anna: [Mr. Trist to Mr. Bankhead Minister Plenipo- tentiary of H. B. M. at Mexico.] PUEJ5L0, .Jutie 11, 1847. "Sir : I need not say how truly obliged I feel to yourself and Mr. Thornton for the mode adopted to aftord mean opportunity to place the enclosed in your hands ; although my tirst emotion Avas one of mingled surprise and regret, that he should have exposed himself to the very serious personal risk attending such a journey ; a jDoint «pon which my anxiety cannot but be intense, until I shall learn that he is again safely through the dangers of the road. "The conversation I have had the pleasure to hold with him, has confirmed the correctness of the grounds of the regret expressed in my former letter, that the communictition for the minister of foreign relations of this republic had not been transmitted to him early last mouth," [Senate Doc. 52, ]iage 184.] Santa Anna not being firmly seated in power, Mr. Bankhead had evidently recommended delay at that moment in the delivery of Mr. Trist's propositions, lu replj' Mr. Trist saya : " My legitimate discretion with reference to it does not, as 1 conceive, go fui'ther than to au- thorize me to postpone the delivery of the com- munication in one case, and one case only ; that it to say, for want of a government having an Actual and positive existence, to w/iom [not to ■which] it could be delivered, and by ir/iom it could be considei'ed ancl acted upon, under the responsibility to their own country and to the world, proper to all determinations upon ques- tions of such deep import. " This I consider to be the limit of my discre- tion ou the subject, unless I had the strongest reason to believe both that the actually existing administration of the government was one from whom a fair and rational coabideration of the communication could not be expected; au'l Uiat it wan, at no remote period, to be micceeded fnj a new . a^ninistration of a different complexion. •x- «- k- «• ■•/.- -X- •' In availing myself of the friendly readiness ■evinced by you to take charge of this communi- cation, I have to request, therefore, that you will govern yourself in regard to its delivery by tke view here presented of my duty with respect to it, were I on the spot to see and act for myself.'' v.- -;;■ vr -x- -x- " -H- Wc now pass to the letter in the London Morn- ing Chronicle of August U, 1817, dated " Mexico, June 28, 1847." State of affairs in Mexico, when Mr- Trist i tl-.rough Mr. Bankhead, the British Minister, I presented the proposition from our government to treat. [See Senate Doc. No. 52, 18'17-'48.] i National Intelligencer, August 31, 1847. i Extract from a letter to the Londoo Morning i Chronicle, August G, 1847. [It will be observed this is from an entirely un- interested party. ] "Mexico, June 28, 1847. "In the beginning of the past week a despatch from Washington of the 15th of April reached here in which Mr. Buchanan announced to this gov- ernment, in the most amicable terms, that an am- bassaiifyr ,with plenary power to conclude peace "would arrive in the quarters of tho American Commander, and it is supposed that it was this $s very plenipotentiary who brought the despatch. Bnt Santa Anna is sadly afraid of his Mexican enemies, and already a coalition of six of the States has been formed, who have declai-ed in their Congress that peace is net t© be talked of, and who declare every one a traitor to his coun- try, who, under present circumstances, should talk of peace. The Genera? Congress before whom Santa Anna wished to place the abovemeu- tioued despatch, that he might either admit the plenipotentiary, or decline seeing him, refuses, to meet from the most unworthy and despicable motives. A large number of the Deputies have, in fact, already left Mexico, and it is very prob- able that even now the necessary number to con- stitute a house is no longer in the capital. In thin wretched sirife--toK Santa Ann.i is without DOUBT ANXIOUS FOB PEACE — ho aunounccd to the American commander thj^t he should lay the de- spatch before Congress ; and, curious to relate, Mr. Thornton, the secretary of the British le- gation, was chosen as the bearer of his answer to PueV>la. It is generally believed that England continues her eflorts to mediate between the two nations, and there still exists a party who persist in believing that the American forces will not en- ter Mexico, and that peace will speedily be con- cluded. 1 do not believe Santa Anna will take upon himself the responsibility of such a step — acting, as he then would do, in direct opposition to public opinion. '• A ver;i clercr caricatare lias been puhlkhed and sold here during the last few dni/s, representing Santa Anna laid on a table. cf\ the anatomical theatre, an ENORMOUS Yankee amputating his second leg, while Mr. Polk applies the ether apparatus; but, instead of sponges containing the ether, you see a number OF MONEY BAGS, marked three millions of pesos," (dollars. ) How Santa Anna was iiffccted by this state of things, wo will show by his farewell address to his army, thus introduced in the Union of Novem- ber 22, 1847 : "We gave yesterday (says the Picayune) the order of the new government, depriving him (Santa Anna) of his command, and we now add here is a translation of his farewell address to his troops. One brief passage in it, which we italicize is significant. " Headquaters, Huamantla, '•October 16, 1847. " The General -in-chief (Santa Anna) to his com- panions in armf?. Vr * . * w * * "1 depart from you and the theatre of war, perhaps to sacrifice myself to the vengeance of my enemies, or to effect an inglorious peace, vhich I did not ivish to grant becawsc it was repugnant to my conscience." z Will any sane man suppose that Santa Anna, like a drowning man, did not still hope to seize the dictatorship, and by the aid of the three mil- lions of dollars, held out as a bribe by Mr. Polk, rc-ostablish his broken political fortunes at the expense of his conscience by signing a treaty of peace. We wish the reader to observe that the date of this letter to the London Chronicle is June 28, 1847, and that Mr. Thornton, Secretary to the English embassy, was the bearer of Santa Anna's reply to Gen. Scott, or rather as Mr. Trist's despatches show, to Mr. Trist. By those despatches it appears the first communication from Mr. Baukhead was oral ; but from Mr. Trist's reply it is evident that, among other things, Mr. Trist was to ascertain whether the American army could not be detained some time longer at Puebla to allow Santa Anna time to get a Congress together, as stated by this writer. What Santa Anna's reply, couvej^ed by Mr. Thoi-ntou on his second visit to Puebla, was, we do not learn, but may infer from the next link. In our next we will show that at a council of war, held at Puebla, July 17, 18J7, Mr. Trist either developed the views «f the administration in reference to the $3,000,000, as we have shown them, or some portion of them — doubtless the $1,000,000, adverted to in this Leonidaa charge : and that whatever it was, Gen. Pxj.low, though (joverncdbij no instructiom as Scott was, was in FAVOK or THi: ArPLlL'ATION OF XHJi MONEY AS PftOPCSEU. V DAILY TELE&RAPE WASHINGTON : ' SATURDAY AFTERNOON, OCT. 23, 1852: The Armistice at Mexico, NUMBER TEN. Ijink No. 9 — Summary. Having already given the istructiona to Mr. Triat and General Scott, wc will in this link pre- sent Mr. Trist's letter to the Secretary of State, speaking of the patriotic manner in which Gen- eral Scott had acted under them. To this letter we subjoin a letter, signed "Gomez," giving an ac- count of a certain council of war held in Puebla. The writer of this letter was G. T. M. Davis, a member of General Shield's military family. From Mr. Trist's letter and that of "Gomez," no one can fail to perceive why Mr. Trist says that General Scott had assumed " responsibility of the gravest kind, in utter disregard of canse- quences to himwelf." The fact that only a por- tion of the three million of dollars is adverted to, and the evidence we have had of the intercourse between Mr. Trist and Santa Anna, through the British Minister, shows that this must have been some proposition from Santa Anna, who felt that lie could not make himself dictator, sign a treaty and get the three niillionn ; and who was willing to make dfn effort to make peace on different terms, and whose proposition, whatever it was, General Scott was in duty bound to consider. What did he do ? He presented it to a council of war, and the plan not being approved, the army moved upon Mexico, when General Pierce arrived with reinforcements. Though a desire for peace was, we cannot doubt from the terms of Santa Anna's proclamation relative to the armistice and the appointment of leading members of the peace ;,party to settle the terms of the treaty, earnest and sincere on the part of Santa Anna, he ceuM not face the popular feeling as expressed in the caricature of the peculiar ether used by Mr. Polk when people undergo painful operations, and was forced to try the issue of a battle. Having been beaten, the Mexican capital must fall if the battle >,"3> O ■was foiloVred up, and -with it must fall every ves- tige of a government and all hope of peace. To avert this evil, the only course waa to ofler an armistice in accordciuce with the iustiuctions of the United States government — that its object was pea«e and not conquest. Neither can there be a doubt that the subject matter of the council of war is the basis of the charge of the million of dollars bribe to Santa Anna, which charge General Scott, in his letter to the Secretary of War, .:,."! tit Mexico, February 6, 1848, thus mtetf : ' ' ; reported ou the subject of secret *' ■> since I left Jalapa — lirst, because ( ..iaiint^r of our communications with ^ viii L.1.U.U ; and secondly, the necessity of certain explanations, which, on account of others, ought never to be reduced to writing. I may, however, briefly add that I have never templed the honor, cor.:cicnce, or patriotism of any man, Vnit have held it la\Fful in morals, as in vrar, to ])urchase valuable information or services voluntarily ten- dered me." — Which confirms the conclusion we came to, that some oiler was made by Santa Anna/ What- ever the proposition before the council of war may have been, it is clear that, whether advised- ly or unadvisedly, "Gomez" indicated, before the fact, precisely the plan the administration and its worthy coadjutors have pursued in this mat- ter ; and Mr. Trist, whose patriotic devotion was evinced in disobeying his recall, lest peace might become hopeless, was, by Mr. Polk, evea when obliged to accept the treaty made by him, (doubt- less for bearing testimony to Gen. Scott's patriot- ism,) presented to the Senate as having written much that was "irrelevant, highly improper," &c., &c. Mr. Trist's conduct in these matters needs no defence. The acceptance of the treaty made by him by Mr. Polk's administration, and the ratification of it by the Senate of the United States, on the ground that, if this treaty were rejected, there was no hope of any other, is a more than sufficient defence for his whole con- duct, and proves that he acted from an earnest desire for peace throughout. 3Ir. Trist to Mr. Buchanan. " PuEBLA, July 23, 1847. ■• "Sie: * * * " In my No. 8, under date of the 7th instant, I transmitted a copy of a let- ter addressed by me to General Scott, under date : 3^ oftlie25tli of June aucl his reply' to ilie same. This constituted the commencement of our official intercourse with reiereucc to the duties with ■which 1 am charged. Justice— to say nothing of niy own feelings towards a gentleman and a pub- lic servant, whose character 1 now believe that 1 had entirely misconceived— «leniands that I should embrace the early opportunity to say that his whole conduct in this regard has been character- ized by the purest public spirit, and a fidelity and devotion, which could not be surpassed, to the views of the government in regard to the re- storation of peace. This, spirit on his part— as ■Will clearly appear when the details are commu- Bicaied— has manifested itself, not in a passive way merely, (as might be supposed from the na- ture of our relative positions and duties,) but in a disposition to assumu responsibility— and respon- sibility of the gravest kind— in utter disregard of consequences to himself."— Senate Doc. 52 1st. session, ciUtu Congress, p. 802. ' This must undoubtedly refer to the council of war held July 17, 1847, at Puebla, relative to a treaty, &c., &c., an account of which "Gomez" gives. [From the "Baltimore ?un" of Dec. Ii,'n47—Jixtract.] "Tui: SECKJiT History oftueCampaigiV. — "iVe find in the St. Louis ilepublican, of the 22d ult., an interesting lelier from Puebla, giviog- a' -ar- tion of the secret history of tlio last campaign in Mexico— some of the details of the councils of war held on the march from Vera Cruz to the Halls 0^ the Mcntezumas. The letter in the Re- publican, although an old date, ("Puebla, Aug. t), 1847,") contains intelligence v/hich is even now of a novel and startling nature. Many of the exprcssioutj of tl;e writer are evidciitly dicta- ted by a party bias, and he may be entirely mis- taken as to the particular fund proposed to be appropriated, but, for the sake of the story, we overlook all these, and proceed to quote as fol- lows: " I observe from the papers, that an idea is prevalent among the more intelligent portions of the United States, that Gen. Scott is vested with high diplomatic powers. What|ever may have been the case, previous to the arrival of Mr. Trist, since then all such powers have been vested in Mr. Trist aloae. He was sent here as a confidential political friend of the administration as the disburser of the three million fund, and with the expectation that, by a judicious applica- tion of it, a peace could be sjjeedili/ purchased from a people over whom our standard had floated victo- riovs in evenj engagement ws had had with them. I MENTION THIS, BECAUSE I BKHEVE THAT THE AD.MINISTRATION, FEARING THE INFAMY THAT WILL ATTACH TO A PEACE PROCURED UPON SUCH TERMS, HAVE CUNNINGLY DEVISED THE PLAN TO CREATE, AND ALLOW THE IMPRESSI0N TO BECOME PREVA- ^0 LENT, THAT UEN. ScOTX POSSESSED THE DIPLOMA- TIC POWER,' AND THAT UPON HIM MUST BEST THE /EESPONSIBLITY OF ANY SUCH TERMINATION OF THE WAR. "'A short time since things were in a fair way thus to be ended. The application of this fund was to be, upon certain contingencies, in bringing about the appointment of commissioners to treat with us for peace ; and those who had secured this result were to be the recipients of certain portions of the fund. To this Mr. Trist was committed in full, and, so far as consent went. General Scott in part. A council of war was decided upon and called. It convened at the headquarters of the army on Saturday even- ing, the 17th of July last past. Those who were present at this council were, the General-in- Chief, Major Generals Pillow and Quitman, Bri- gadier Generals Twiggs, Shields, and Cadwalla- der. The justly distinguished General Worth was not present, in consequence of a most unfor tunate disruption of the friendly relations that had existed for thirty- five years between him and General Scott. But of this more anon.' " The principal topic of discussion at this council was, whether the application of a portion oj the $3,000,000 fund to the purchase of a peace, ivontd be justifiable binder the peculiar circumstances of the case) The deliberations on this point are thus described in the letter of Gomez : " ' The General-in-Chief, with his usual, impres- sive, and, I may add, eloquent manner, first went over the whole ground, bringing in support of his position every argument to which tact, much reflection, and a strong mind could give birth. To these consideratious he added the great and pressing anxiety urged in all their commnnica- tions by the administration to terminate, by any means, if possible, this war. Upon his conclud- ing, the opinions of the different generals present were called for, according to rank. General Pillow's was first given, and was favorable TO THE PLAN PROPOSED. General Quitman fol- lowed, but objected in toto to it, en the ground that it would inflict a stain upon our national escutcheon that centuries could not wipe out. Of the brigadier generals, Twiggs was the first to express his views, and by regarding it to a great extent as a ^politital question,' he dt-clined giving any opinion. General Shields was next required to give his views : he at once arose from his seat, his whole countenance lit up with animation, and in that bold, fearless, uncompromising manner that so strikingly illustrates his whole public career, denounced the whole scheme in the most unqualified terms. He insisted that the applica- tion of this fund, for any such purpose, was not only immoral, but debasing. That, while for purposes of self-defeiice, it was, according to the usages of modern warfare, justifiable in one na- tion to employ as spies the subjects of the other belligerent power, yet there was no state of cir- c .. ^J cumstances that ever had or could exist that would warrant our bribing or hiring the' offi- cers or functionaries of that belligerent power for the sake of beuefiting us, to cut the throats ot their own rubjects. And he boldly declared that raiuer tnan see the country of his adoption thus disgraced, he would prefer by far to witness the continuation of the war for ten years end in every battle we fought lose five thousand men ihe one would admit a remedy ; the other was an evil, from the consequences of which, as a na- tion, we never could recover. " 'General Cadwallader simply remarked that (general ohields had exhausted the subject and he tuUy concurred with him in the conclusions to which he had come. Thus terminated the ccun- ci of tie evening of the 17th of July. What followed IS soon related : _ " 'The next day General Shields had a lono- interview with Mr. Trist. What occurred at that interview I have no means of ascertaining, but the subsequent aets of iMr. Trist can leave but httle doubt upon that subject. Two days after- wards, Mr. Trist withdrew all papers connected with this manner of terminating the war. And from that hour to this, an immediate march upon the capital, so soon as General Pierce came up was determined upon, and all hopes of an early peace abandoned. " 'I have been thus particular in relating the proceeding of what 1 regard by far the most im- portant council of war that has convened since the existence of hostilities between the United States and Mexico, becaise I believe my country has been saved from being plunged into an abyss of infamy from which there would bo no extrica- tion, and for the reason that those wlio, regard- less of consequences to themselves, have reverted that blow, should receive the credit of it. For myself, I sincerely hope that the hand that shall ever be extended in oflering as a bribe, either di- rectly or indirectly, any portion of this three millions to Santa Anna or any otlier Mexican, for the purpose of precuring a peace, may, before it accomplishes its object, fall palsied by his side, and that a mark more distinguishable 'than that placed upon the brow of Cain may be indelibly fixed upon-.his, that, so long as his unworthy life ia spared, he may be the object of execration of all his indignant countrymen.' " The writer of this was G. T. M. Davis, of the volunteers, at the time one of the military family of Gen. Shields. Now, we here perceive that this, unquestionably, adverts to the same matter that Gen. Redivivus and the Herald refer to, ex- cept that from Gen. Leonidas we learn the amount was a "million of dollars." We perceive that its use was to effect or purchase, (as you please,) not an armistice, but a peace. And he states " that '^the sfdministration, fearing the infamy that will ^1- ' attach to a peace procuretl upon such term?, ' have cunuiugly devised the plan to create, and ' allow the impression to become prevalent, that ' Gen. Soott possessed the diplomatic power, and ' that upon him must rest the responsibility of- ' any such termination of the war." We do not believe any man will doubt that the subject of "Gomez's" letter, and the million dollar bribe charge, are one and the same. In the foregoing papers it has been our desire to show how strong the evidences were of a de- sign on the part of Mr. Polk's ac)ministration to hold out $3,000,000 as an inducement to Santa Anna to seize the dictatorship and make a peace. To shsw how precisely in keeping with these in- structions was the presentation of some propo- sition in reference to a portion of the $3,000,000 to Mr. Trist by Santa Anna, when he feared he could not get the whole because he could not make himself dictator. To show the honorable course taken by General Scott in submitting the proposition or propositions of Santa Anna or the government of the United Slates to a council of war, and to show that at the very time this was being done, some cause or causes, to us unknown, had led a Democrat to indicate in advance the plan of the administration to persecute General Scott on this subject. This has bec-n done, first, through the official organ; second, by an attempted ' SECHET iJfQisiTioN ; ih^ fivst evcr employed by the government of the United States, and which had it resulted in anything to the prejudice of General Scott, we should long since have had it trumpeted from one end of the land to the other; lastly by Pillowism and the Herald. And all this about a proposition that at the time was voted fer by Gen. Pillow himself. General Towson, General Gush- ing, and General Belknap constituted the secret inquisition to which we refer, and were a part of the machinery employed to carry out the plan proposed to itself by the administration. No ' officer of any government has ever for an honest and upright discharge of his duty suffered such a wicked persecution, that the corrupt conduct of an administration might be hidden from public knowledge, as has been attempted against General Scott, and if these papers do nothing else, they will show that it is fully capable of resorting to such means to screen its coHduct, even to the sacrifice of an innocent and injured man. t^'t^ e?-' ^»^. ""' * O ^^-^^^ 'bV^ "^0^ ^ *^», ^ •" -^^0^ c" ♦* .'^'^ **\'^.i.> c°^c^.> .**\.^>.\ v « e,*^ '^. o "^O^^'^" • .^'% ^^-n^. rxl- '^^c,^' ' "O. A*' .^^ ^ #^ •-^^15^.* ^.^^'^'^ X'^^W ,'^' ^» « • • > V~k f\V^ « • o ^"S. * » » ♦ • ^ .0 ^^ , . .