From  these  papers  you  will  perceive  that  the  Mexican  govern
ment  have  accepted  the  overture  of  the  President,  for  settling  all
the  questions  in  dispute  between  the  two  republics  by  negotiation;
and  that  consequently  the  contingency  has  occurred  in  which  your
acceptance  of  the  trust  tendered  to  you  by  the  President  is  to  take
effect.  You  will  therefore  repair  without  delay  to  your  post,  and
present  yourself  to  the  Mexican  government  as  the  envoy  extraor
dinary  and  minister  plenipotentiary  of  the  United  States.
In  the  present  crisis  of  the  relations  between  the  two  countries,
the  office  for  which  you  have  been  selected  is  one  of  vast  import
ance.  To  counteract  the  influence  of  foreign  powers  exerted  against
the  United  States  in  Mexico,  and  to  restore  those  ancient  relations
of  peace  and  good  will  which  formerly  existed  between  the  govern
ments  and  the  citizens  of  the  sister  republics,  will  be  principal  ob
jects  of  your  mission.  The  wretched  condition  of  the  internal  af
fairs  of  Mexico,  and  the  misunderstanding  which  exists  between
her  government  and  the  ministers  of  France  and  England,  seem  to
render  the  present  a  propitious  moment  for  the  accomplishment  of
3


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34


these  objects.  From  your  perfect  knowledge  of  the  language  of
the  country,  your  well-known  firmness  and  ability,  and  your  taste
and  talent  for  society,  the  President  hopes  that  you  will  accomplish
much  in  your  intercourse  with  the  Mexican  authorities  and  people.
