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this end, and we may perhaps make use of that opportunity to examine how far it may be legitimate to censure our governments for the manner in which they exercise the sovereign power of the Republic with regard to the free disposal ofits territory. We do not mean to say that the preservation of the integrity of the Nation does not form a part of our principles; but the susceptibility of our independence is hurt when we see the effort to make it a crime, on the part of Mexico, to do that which European nations do every day. We see that we are banned for an alleged attempt to cede two of our States, when no blame is uttered against the cession, for instance, of the two provinces, the acquisition of which has recently made the Emperor of the French so vainglorious in his speech at the opening of the legislative sessions. We are more jealous of the integrity of Mexican territory than are our censors across the seas; but we protest that no exceptional law should be exclusively invented for our own country.
« Let the question of law be what it may, we entertain the most profound conviction that not only has the Government of Mexico never thought of alienating one single inch of the Republic, but that the very idea of such an act has always been rejected with repugnance and indignation by the present Executive. It is difficult for Spain to comprehend the absurd aspect which, for us who know the President of the Republic and who have been associated with him in his official acts, is presented by the imputation that he has attempted the alienation of national territory. We who have witnessed how he has resisted unhesitatingly the tempting offers which implied the salvation of the country in its present crisis, solely because these offers involved a depreciation of the national sovereignty or of the rights emanating therefrom; we who know, (and every Mexican knows) that on this matter the Chief Magistrate of the Republic is guided by something like a prejudice which is characteristic of him, we all can look with contempt, because of its improb-
