[Extracts.]
Mr. Corwin to Mr. Seward
No. 2.]
Mexico,
June 29, 1861.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of your despatches Nos. 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7, with the papers
referred to in them.
* * * * * * *
Congress has within the last week granted us the privilege of
marching troops from Guaymas, through Sonora, to our possessions in
Arizona. A leading member of Congress has kindly furnished me with a
memorandum of what occurred when this question was up and acted on
in secret session, a copy of which—with the decree—I send you,
Marked D. This memorandum discloses the grounds upon which this
concession was made, and the prevailing tone of public feeling here
towards us at this time.
* * * * * * *
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Hon William H. Seward, Secretary of State.
Exhibit D.
Memorandum of proceedings in the Mexican
Congress with reference to the permission for transit of
United States troops from Guaymas to Arizona, asked for by
the Department of State, through the chargé d’affaires of
Mexico in Washington.
The note from the chargé d’affaires of Mexico in Washington,
accompanying a copy of the note from the department of State, in
which permission was asked to land a body of United States
troops at Guaymas and march them by the most direct road to the
Territory of Arizona, was communicated to congress by the
minister of foreign relations for the action of congress
thereon.
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 he
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
[Page 542]
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 he invaded, either by means of open war or of
filibuster 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 interest 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 United States troops through
Mexican territory was approved without opposition being offered
by a single one of the members.
Exhibit E.
[Translation.]
Confidential.]
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 pleasure to repeat to you
that, I am your very obedient servant,
LUCAS DE PALACIO Y MAGAROLA.
His Excellency Thomas Corwin, &c.,
&c., &c.
