[2650] [MONASTERIO to BUTLER]
Palace of the National Government, Mexico, April 8, 1836. The undersigned, acting Secretary of State, communicated to his excellency the President ad interim the note of the charge d'affaires of the United States of America of the 15th of February last; in reply to which, he directs you should he informed that the Government of Mexico is well assured of the justice and right it has in giving its order to close the insurgent ports of the coast of Texas, so long as that rebellion may last, which the colonists established in that country have fomented. And having fulfilled, so far, his duty-which was to notify that order to friendly nations-he will, without doubt, fulfil the remainder; that is, to inflict merited punishment upon all vessels, whcncesoever they may come, which shall contravene this decree by trading in the indicated ports. It is not the case at present-the question of right, which the colonists of Texas may have to declare themselves independent of the rest of the Mexican republic; that is already settled in a positive manner. No one considers it other than a wicked and unheard-of rebellion; and there will not be found a single individual who, with reason, can compare it to the just and sacred cause of Mexican independence, or to the separation of the United States of the North from their mother country. But supposing the case, that these points were controvertible: to the nation, and only to the nation, of which the country in rebellion is and always has been an integral part, appertains the whole subject-matter. Nor is it by any means a case admitting of the qualification-a foreign Power; and which, by that admission, would be placed on a par in its opposition to the measures adopted to force her to submission. They have not broken an alliance, but a solemn compact concluded with the Government which permitted them to establish themselves in that territory, in the quality always of its subordinates. The Mexican Government has taken every necessary step to carry into effect the clause for closing the ports of Texas; and it will cause much regret if any vessel of the United States should
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