It will be observed that this manifesto reiterates, on the part of
congress, the position taken by the Executive of the republic, in his
address to that body at the formal opening of the session on the 8th of
December, that all treaties are at an end between Mexico and those
powers who recognized the so-called government of Maximilian.
I am reliably informed that in the discussion and adoption of the
manifesto, which took place in secret session, and proceeded by
paragraphs, an amendment was proposed more especially recognizing the
aid Mexico has received, during her recent struggle, from the United
States.
This amendment was strongly supported, I am told, by Mr. Montes, formerly
minister for foreign affairs under President Comonfort, Mr. Mata,
formerly minister to the United States, and Mr. Cañedo, a talented
deputy from the state of Jalisco, but it failed to be carried.
[Translation.]
Manifesto of the Mexican
Congress.
The Congress to the Nation:
The congress of the union on finding itself again in session, after
the tremendous crisis which threatened the existence of the
republic, feels the necessity of addressing itself to the Mexican
people in order to unite its congratulations with theirs upon the
salvation of the country, and to felicitate them upon the glorious
result that has been achieved by the heroic efforts of a generation
that has shown itself worthy of the legacy, which, at the cost of
their blood, was bequeathed to it by the illustrious martyrs of the
independence.
Joined together, the efforts and the elements of war of three
powerful nations, in order to invade our territory; the convention
of London ruptured; the treaties of Soledad violated by the French
commissioners, and undertaken by France alone; the enterprise of
extinguishing our nationality in order to convert our country into a
French colony as miserably oppressed as those established in Africa
while giving it the pompous title of an empire; brought among the
baggage of the invading army the ill-advised prince who assumed an
imperial diadem, and was, notwithstanding, the first vassal of the
Emperor of the French; established and supported by foreign bayonets
a shadow of monarchical government destitute of an independent
existence and of all national element; the invasion extended to a
great part of the republic, and employing sometimes seduction and a
so-called clemency, at others corruption and prodigality, and, still
more, terror, devastation, and extermination, the intervention
always and everywhere encountered the most determined resistance on
the part of the Mexican people, who, abandoned to their fate, and
without foreign aid, combatted without cessation and without rest,
and regained with their blood the whole of the national territory.
Each faction of our army, every guerilla who fought the invader, was
the representative of a nationality that could not be extinguished;
that struggled without measuring the forces of its adversaries, and
that energetically protested against the iniquity and against the
injustice of the most baseless usurpation.
This heroic resistance of the people who longed for independence and
liberty convinced the Emperor of the French that it was impossible
for him to realize his plans, and obliged him to withdraw in the
most ignominious manner. Of no use to him were his victories, due to
the superiority of his elements of war; of no avail were the
atrocities with which his banner was stained; and, in the end, he
utterly failed before the impotency of force to extinguish justice
and right.
When the throne that France pretended to erect remained without the
aid of France it disappeared without leaving a footprint before the
simple breath of the popular indignation, and the pitiful prince,
abandoned by his protector, met the fate of the lowest leader of
fillibusters; for this act of justice was demanded by the outraged
dignity of the republic, and was also indispensable to assure by the
means of a statutory warning the independence and the tranquillity
not only of Mexico but of all America, constantly menaced by
insensate ambitions and by the delirium of reconquest to which
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the despots of the old
continent have been delivered up without knowing the progress, the
vitality, and the force which at it sindependence was possessed by
the New World.
Mexico has now completely restored its independence, and, as during
the struggle, this was identified with its political liberty; it has
restored also the constitutional order which assures this liberty
and guarantees all rights.
The triumph of Mexico is not obscured by any compromise; the
disasters of the war have not lessened its dignity; misfortune has
not caused it to sacrifice any principle; and it has not purchased
peace at the cost of shameful compromises or humiliating
concessions.
For such brilliant results the representatives of the people lack
words fittingly to express their felicitations. This result is the
work of the people, who could not be seduced or intimidated by the
foreigner.
To this result the eminent citizen charged with the executive power
most efficaciously contributed. Always the faithful representative
of the republic, he never for a moment thought of compromising with
the invader, nor did he despair for an instant of the salvation of
his country. Congress does no more than do homage to the truth in
saying that this citizen fulfilled his duty. Such has been, without
doubt, the judgment of the people in re-electing him to the chief
magistracy.
To the congress it belongs to constitute itself the interpreter of
the national gratitude, honoring and recompensing the services that
so many good Mexicans have rendered to their country, and attending
to the widows and orphans of those who sacrificed their lives upon
the scaffold, or on the field of battle, for the independence of the
republic.
There is a duty that is not grateful to congress, but that is
imperiously necessary, and it consists in not conceding impunity to
the greater criminals. Congress, in complying with this duty, will
endeavor to conciliate clemency with justice, will fix its eyes upon
the future, and will seek to re-establish public morality; but it
will not be actuated by any spirit of rancor or of vengeance, nor
will it be false to the magnanimity of which the generous Mexican
people have given so many proofs.
The situation of the republic upon the completion of its triumph over
its foreign and interior enemies is highly satisfactory, and
reanimates the hopes of all those who desire the prosperity, the
well-being, and the aggrandizement of our country. Upon the wisdom,
the good sense, the patriotism and the civic virtues of the Mexicans
it depends that these alluring expectations shall not be frustrated.
They are the masters of their own destiny; and upon the practical
application of the liberty they have defended with so much courage,
and the strict observance of the fundamental law so much desired,
depends peace and public order, which are the first necessities of
the country, as also the subsistence and the perfecting of the
institutions, the credit, and the respectability of the republic
before the world. The first duty of Mexicans consists to-day in
respect and submission to the laws and the authorities that emanate
from them, and in making full use of all the liberty authorized by
the constitution, without compromising the public ease or inciting
to new revolutions.
For public evils, for abuses by the authorities, for the misconduct
of the government, there are legal remedies established by the
constitution itself, and no others should be adopted, for there is
no greater peril than in the interruption of the legal order.
With the observance of the law peace will reign, and peace will
engender concord and conciliation, and will shortly lead to an
intimate, close, and sincere union of all Mexicans willing to
sacrifice their private interests for the good and honor of the
country.
The congress earnestly excites all citizens, and particularly those
invested by the people with public authority, to the faithful and
scrupulous observance of the constitution. Congress, on its part,
has already laid down this invariable rule for its conduct, and has
resolved on no consideration to overstep the constitutional limits,
bearing in mind that if salutary reforms are desired, it is also to
be desired that they should have all the prestige and all the force
of legality.
It has consequently abstained from counting the votes under the
convocatoria of the 14th of August, upon constitutional reforms.
Congress, on commencing the work of reorganization which the country
demands, in seeking to repair the grave evils left by the
intervention, and in exercising all the attributes assigned to it by
the fundamental charter, will have for its sole aim the public good,
and it will be the vigilant custodian of the constitutional
order.
It sees with satisfaction the reorganization which is being effected
in the States, and it will take care that they shall be respected in
their sovereignty and interior rule, trusting that the States on
their part will take care not to place any embarrassments in the way
of the legitimate action of the federal power.
Congress has occupied itself preferentially with the reorganization
of the other federal powers. It is for the interest and decorum of
the country that these powers shall be sustained and respected by
all, while at the same time not depriving them of the light that
results from free discussion. The congress, in celebrating the
national triumph, in congratulating itself upon the restoration of
institutions which combine order with liberty, and in exhorting
their constituents to peace and to respect to the
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law, cannot omit to express, in the
name of the nation, a sentiment of profound gratitude towards the
enlightened republics of America, for the moral support that they
have lent to it during the struggle, in not recognizing the work of
the usurpation and in not despairing that in Mexico the holy cause
of right and of democracy would triumph. It is the desire of
congress that in the interest of civilization and of humanity a
close alliance of the American republics may be realized.
With reference to the European powers who, in recognizing the
so-called empire, interrupted their friendly relations with the
republic and broke the old treaties, congress does not entertain any
malevolence or resentment; it will keep open the ports of the
country to commerce, to the industry and to the emigration of the
whole world, and it will not oppose the renewal of diplomatic
relations with the nations that take measures to that end, whenever
such relations have for their basis strict justice, mutual interest,
and due reciprocity.
Meanwhile it is honorable for our people who have been so atrociously
calumniated, that the world is seeing that in Mexico foreigners, in
order to enjoy every guarantee, require no other protection than
that of the laws and the Mexican authorities.
Congress is confident that the people who have been constant and
intrepid in the combat will continue showing themselves magnanimous
and generous in the enjoyment and benefits of victory.
Mexico,
January 8, 1868.
(Signed by Mariano Yanez, deputy for the State of Tlascala,
president; Francisco de P. Cendejas, deputy for the State of
Guanajuato, vice-president; and by one hundred and thirteen deputies
from twenty-one States, the federal district, and the Territory of
Lower California.)
