Constantine republican. [volume] (Constantine, Mich.) 1836-1838, 1837-01-18

"iofc especially SO, WI IN such state mas
70 cbly separated itself f,om another, of
which it had formed an integral part, and
which still claims dominion OVERT. a pre-
mature recognition, under these circum-
stances, If not looked upon as justifable
cat Of war, is always liable TO be regard.
cd as proof of an unfriendly spirit to one
of tie con ending parties. All questions
relative 10 the government Of foreign ma
tons, whether of the old or new world, have
been treated by the United States as ques-
tons offact only, and our predecessors have
cautiously abstaincd from deciding upon
hem, until the clearesl evide nee was in their
possession, TO enable them not only TO de-
eide correctly. but shield their decision from
every unworthy imputation. In all the con-
tests tina, have arisen out of the revolutions
of France, out of the disputes relating to
he crowns of Portugal and Spain, out of
The revolutionary movements in those king
doms, on: OF the separation OF the Ameri-
can 70 sessions of both from the European
Governments. and out oithc numerous and
constantly occurring struggles for domin-
ion in Spanish America, So wisely consis-
tent with our just principles has been the
under the most critical circumstances, a.
voided all censure, encourt red no other
evil than that produced by transient es-
arrangement Of good will in hose whom we
have been, by force Of esi .ence, compell-
| cd to decide.
1t has thus been made known to tho
world that the Uniform policy ond practice
of the United States is 10 avoid all interfe.
ence in disputes which merely relate to the
ntc nal government of other nations, and
eventually TO recognize the authority of the
prevailing party. without re.crence 10 our
particular j.! C I md views, or to the mer-
its oIthe original controversy. Public opin-
ion here is so firmly established and well
understood in favor Of this policy, that. no
serious disagreement has ever arisen among
ourselves in relation to it, although brought
under review in variety of forms, and at
perio Is when the minds Of the people were
greatly excited by the agitation of topics
pircly domestic in their character. Nor
has any deliberate enquiry ever been In
stltuted IN Congress, or IN any of our le-
gislailve bodies, as to whom belonged the
power OF originally recognizing a new
State power, the exercise of which is
equivalent, under some circumstances, to a
declaration OF war; power nowhere ex.
pressly delegated and only granted in the
constitution as it is necessarily involved in
some of the great powers given 10 Con-
giess, in that given to the President and
Senate to form treaties with foreign powers,
md to appoint ambassadors and other pub
lie minister's and in that conf, FRED upon
the President to receive ministers from
foreign nations.
In the preamble TO the resolution of the
House of Representatives, it is distinctly in.
tmated, that the expediency Of r,cogn Iii &
he independence of Texas should be left
to the decision Of Congress. In this view,
on the ground OF cypediency. am disposed
t. concLr; and do not, Their fore, consd r
i necessary 10 expires, any opinion as to the
strict constitutional right of the Executive,
either apart from or in conjunction with the
SCI q e, over the subject. 1t is to be pre-
sumed that on no future occasion will dis
pute arise, as none has heretofore occurred,
between the Executive and Legislature, in
the exercise Of the power of recognition.
Ii will always be considered consistent with
the spirit of the constitution, and most safe,
that it should be exercised, when probably
leading to war, with previous understand.
ing with that body by whom war can alone
be declared, and by whom al the PROPOSE.
tons for sustaining ito perls, must be
furnished. Its submission to Congress,
which represents in one of its branches the
f States of the Union, and in the other tho
/ people of the United States, where there
, may be reasonable ground TO apprehcndso
grave consequence, would certainly afford
I re fullest satisfaction to our country, and a
! perfect guaranty to all other nations, of the
justice and prudence of the measures which
might be adopted.
In making these suggestion. it is not my
; purpose to relieve myself from the respon-
3 sibility of expressing my own opinions OF
the course the interests OF our country
pre- ;cribes. and its holor pcrmi us to fol-
low.
Il is scarcely to be imagined that ques-
tion of this character could be presented
in relation to which it would be moro diff.
ii ;ult for the United States to avoid exciting
the jealousy of other powers, and maintain
thci. established character for fair and i'm.
partial dealing; but on this, as on every
+ other trying occasion, safety is TO be found
in right adherence to principle.
s In the contest between Spain and her re.
il VOTED colonies, we stood aloof and waited,
@ not only until the ability of the new states
# to prohibit themselves was fully established
}. but until the danger of their being again
/, subjected had entirely passed away. Then
!. and not till then, were they recognized
Such was our course in regard to Mexico
: herself. The same policy was observe in
c all the disputes growing out of the separa'
J. ton into distinct Governments of those
j. Spanish American States, who began or
J. carried on the contest with the parent coun'
It try, united under one form Of government
d We acknowledged the separate indepen'
$ dencc of New Granada, ofvenezuela, and o.
d Ecuador, only aiior their independent exis
n tencc was no longer subject ofdispute OF
!. was actually acquiesced in by those with
|. whom they had been previously united. Il
O is true that in regard TO Texas, the civil au'
; thority of Mexico has been expelled, its In.
@ vadng armies defeated, the Chief OF The
If Republic himself captured, and all present
1t power to control the newly organized Gov
e eminent of Texas, annihilated within its con
: fines. But, on the other hand, there is, il
d appearance at least, an immense disparity
n OF physical force on the side Of Mexico
Inc Mexican Republic, under anolher ex