Constantine republican. [volume] (Constantine, Mich.) 1836-1838, 1837-02-22

GU ny uclr auVcrSaflcS, our SOL might DC
come the battle ground for deciding the
contest. Sufficient warning was therefore
given to both, that this could not andwould
not be permittcd.-Subsequent events rem.
dcred any further precautionary steps in
that regard unnecessary but among the
siipulations of Mexico and the United States
to each other, was found one oblging each
party to restrain the Indians within its do
minions from all dcpredations upon the adj.
joining power. The extent in which this
provision was understood by Mexico will
be seen by recurring to the complaints
made TO this Government, that some of the
Indians on our side had crossed over, with.
out even an allegation Of lis having been
done with any hostile design towards Mex
leo.
Without asserting to the claims of Mex.
leo as to the extent Of the obligations Of the
United States under the treaty stipulation,
the President was duly sensible that it re-
quired decisive means on his part TO pre-.
vent the Indians within the United States
from entering into the quarrel in Texas.
In addition to warning advice, given through
our Indian agents the presence Of some of
our troops was deemed indispensable 10 en-
force, if necessary, the counsel given to
them. The presence of this force was i'm
perativcly demanded to proven. evils which
might arise FROM various sther causes. The
savage tribes prone TO war, within reach of
the contending parties, were numerous
and, on the Mexican side, known to be un-
der very imperfect control. These war
like tribes, without regard to the combatants
might be tempted to fall upon the frontiers
of the United States or Mexico, hoping that
their depredations might be imputed to the
known parties in the war.-One of the com.
batants, in the event ofdcfeat, or to strength.
en- himself against the more potent adver-
sary, might solicit and it was feared, might
obtain, the active cooperation of some of
the Indian tribes, whose conduct when once
in the field, it would be impracticable to reg
ulate according to the rules of civilized
warfare, or the obligations of their allies
to respect the territory, the persons and pro.
perry of neutrals. The distance of the
scene of operations from the seat of Gov.
eminent compelled the Chief Magistrate TO
trust the discretionary power of using the
troops to the commanding officer; yet such
care was taken in framing the order, given
with the authority to act, that the President
believed it scarcely possible that cause Of
Just complaint could arise; yet, from ex.
IRENE caution, and from an anxious desire
to prevent the possibility of misconception
on the part of Mexico, the steps taken were
Immediately made known to the Minister
Plenipotentary of that country, with the
most explicit specification Of the objects for
which, and for which alone, the dscretiona.
ry power TO the commander on the frontier
was given.
The President did not doubt that, on the
actual occurrence of any of the evils anti.
cipated, or on satisfactory evidence Of i'm
minent danger ofthem, the commanding Of
ficer of the troops on the frontier had an
indisputable right, in defence of the United
States, or in protecting Mexican territory,
according to the stipulation of the treaty to
occupy any position on either side ofthe line
supposed 10 divide the two countries, which
might be necessary to enable him to perform
either of those duties. Yet he deemed it
proper, from the peculiar circumstances Of
the contest in Texas, to limit that discretion
by special instructions to move towards the
Mexican side only under state of things
which should make that step justifable in
the eyes even Of those who were dis
posed to watch every movement on our
part with suspicion and jealousy.
You will perceive that Mr.. Gorostiza, in
his conference with me, distinctly admitted
our right, in the event of hostility to the Uni.
ted States by Mexican Indians, to invade
the territory of Texas, either 10 prevent in.
tended injury, or to punish actual depreda.
ton. In note written subsequently, he
seeks to avoid the force of that admission,
by confounding the principle upon which it
obviously rests with the right of making war
for violation of treaty engagement. You
will have some difficulty in showing to the
Mexican Government that it rests upon
principles ofthe law Of nations, entirely dis.
tinct from those on which war is justified
upon the immutable principles of sclf-de-
tcnce-upon the principles which justify de.
cisive measures of caution to prevent ire
parable loss to our own or to neighboring
people. The grossness Of the error of plac.
ing it on the right of war, as also the folly of
relying upon that mode Of redress, you can
render obvious by supposing that hostilitles
were, under present circumstances on the
frontier, about to begin, our fellow citizens.
of all ages and classes, to be exposed to
massacre, their property to destruction, and
the whole frontier to be laid waste by those
savages Mexico was bound TO control. I'm.
til these evils happen, on Mr.. Gorostiza's
theory, we have no right to take position
which will enable us to act with effect and,
before we do act, according to our premises
under the thirty. third article ofthe treaty, af.
ter the frontier has been desolated, we must
demand redress of Mexico--wait for it TO be
rcfuscd-and then make war upon Mexico.
We are quietly 10 suffer injuries we might
prevent, in the expectation of redress-re.
dress for irreparable injuries from Mexico,
who did not inflct them, but who was from
circumstances without the power TO prevent.
as she would be, after they were inflicted,
without the power TO redress them. To
make war upon Mexico for this involuntary
failure to comply with her obligations, would
be equivalent TO an attempt to convert her
misfortunes into crimes--her inability into
guilt. If these injuries had been committed
and our complaints made to Mexico, what
answer could be given to declarations ofthe
Mexican Government like these :"Wc had