Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1836-08-11

We no, incur the ,ensurcs the world, AZ nation
with Which treaty stipnatons, instead Oh peins ,
held sacred, are broken through, at the lnsiisd'oh
of ambition and avaricc How shall we here
after boast Of our open and candid diplomacy
and Of the principles Of honor and integrity by
which our intercourse with foreign nations Is re-
cularcdl With whit face shall We denoonce the
partition of Poland BIZ the alliance OF European
dc>pors, We pfrpelrae a similar outrage upon
tine Mexican cmpre7 We may, it is true, allege
that we have issued III declaration OF war,-bn'
the surrrptitons and nnderhandcd character oi our
hostility viii aagraYate instead Of diminishing the
bIa,huc>s Of cur feffdf. And let MS not hope
to escape either our own condemnation or that oil
the vo rld by alleging dat the cause OF liberty IS
to be- advanced By our Interference. This may
be truc-but We law not yet learned TO admit the
Justice of the ie>uilical maxim, that the end sane
thcs the means
The domestic character of this question is not
les, important. Gen. Gaines has not only Viola
ted his Instructions, but in doing So he has usurped
the functions Of Congress- and assumed the fearful
responsibility Of panging the nation into war. 1t is
true that Mexico IS perhaps crippled both in men
and money, That she may deem it cxpedien to
submit to even more fagrant wrongs than she has
already suffered at Our hands But no man of
common scese or common honesty will contend,
that, if the principle upon which Gen, Gaines has
acted be wrong,the weakness of our adversary can
justify or palIiate the outrage. By all generous
and brave men, this circumstance would be deeni-
ed AN agerayalion Of the wrone-sncc it would
be cowardice and oppression added to perfdy
Had Canada been in state of Revolution, who
believes should have acted towards Great Bri-
tain, as we have done towards MGxico in reference
to TcNasl But hoSever this may be, we repeat,
that Gen. Gaines has assumed fearful RESPONSE
bility in planting his standard upon the territory
Of Il ncighboring power When Gen. Jackson, III
| hot pursuit of the ScminocS invaded Florida, tier
belonging to Spain, the Richmond Enqui or thun-
dcrcd forth its anathemas against him with
! fierce and relentless spilt-and this, too, nowiih-
standing the SavagcS who hal been devastating oul
frontier with fire aud sword, had found protection
in the Spanish forts, and were in all probabliit,
supplied with munitions o. war from their maya
zines. Blu, now, when M,or General Game,
invadcsa neighborng territory, not in pursuit o
an enemy whose hands dyed in the blood o
our people, but without the slightest pretext what
ever, except AN invented story, which were it true
would fail 10 Justify him, the Enquirer and its CO
adlutors are as silent as the graye-or, if they o
pen their months al all, it is to sigma,ize dos
who stand up for the integrity Of treaties and 70
the sancuty Of the constitution, as "Me He4ical
party IN The Inited States!' Yes: it is hoped
by this appeal to the sympalhirs & the prejudice
OF the people, 10 blind their judgments to the grea
outrage that has been perpcralcd upon the plain
est principles OF Justice, and to sustain an officer q
the army i'll violating the constitution OF the coun
Try IN It's most important part-Ihc war-makin
power. These saPient commentators upon ma
llona law, SO sensible they that its first prin
clplcs have been troddcn under foot bv thi, move
Hcni OF Gen. Gaines cNclaim, g throw pufrn
dorlI and Waited into the flames! These profc,
SEED drvoteeS Of Liberty are so solicitous for TeNia
Independence, that, to secure it. they are willm
to see the charter OF their own freedom consume
in the same flames
for our own part, we abominatc the blood
and savage acts oflhe McNcans a>dccilcdlyas III
most cnder-heared of the Land Specuiators-w
love liberty as devotedly-wc are as anxious a
they are, lapaf from PecuniarV pratt, for tn
success OF the TeXians-But we love our ov
national honor X our own civil ibcrtic, better.
so long as we can raise our voice or WELD n ner
therefore, we shall protest against this iniamou
nIraclon OF our neutral obligations, and this dar
ing assumption, bya military chiritain of the wal
making power, which the constitution Ina. con6dc
to the representatives Of the people.