The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-07-16


line and the Rio Grand being confirmed TO Spain by
he treaty applications were made to that Power Tor
grants OF land and such grants or pernssiohs OF ST.
tlement, were IN fact made by The Spanish auhonles
in favor of citizens of the Uniiei States Proposing TO
emgrate to Texas, IN numerous families, before me
declaI ation of independence by Mexico And thee
early gran were confirmed as Is well known, by
successive acs of The Mexican Government after lis
separation from Spain In January, 1873, national
colonization law passed, holding out strong IN
ducements to all PERSONS who should incline to un-
dertake the settlement OF uncultivaed lands and al
though the Mexican Iaw prohibited for time citizens
If uregn countries from settling coonis,s IN terri
tories imne diately adjoining such foreign countries
get even this restriction afterwards repealed or
suspended. 81 that, in fact Mexico from the
,nencement of her political existence held out the
most liberal Inducements TO emig ants into her terri
ories, with full knowledge that these inducements
we're likely TO act, and expecting they would ac with
the greatest effect upon citizens of the ped States
especially of the Southern States whose agricultural
pursuits naturally rendered the rich lands of Texas
well suite to their accustomed occupations, objects
ol desire To them The early coonIsis of the United
States, introduced by Moses and Stephen Austin un-
der these inducements and invitations, were persons
of most ectabe character, aud their undertaking
was attended with very severe hordshps occasiohed
Ia no small degree, by the successive changes IN the
Government of Mexico. They nevertheless perse-
verei and accomplished settlement. And under
the encouragemenis and aluremcnts thus held out by
Mexico other emigrants followed, and many thou
sand coonists from the United States and elsewhere
had settled in Texas within years from the date
Of Mexican independence. Having some reason TO
complain as they thought, of the Government over
hem, and especially of the aggressons of Mexican
military stationed in Texas, they sought relief by APP
plying The supreme Government for the sePar zion
Of Texas from Coatuila and for local Government
Tor Texas Itself Not having succeeded IN tins OBJ
ect, IN the process of me in the progress OF events
they saw TIT 10 attempt an entire separation from Mex
co to sci up Government of Their own, and to es
l,Ii.t. cnnIu pHf he.
battle of San Jacinto, tough, the 2lst of April
1886, achieved their Independence. The war was
from that time al end; and in March following,
the Independence of Texas was formally acknow-
lodged by the Government of the United States.
la the events leading to the actual result OF these
hostlilies, the United States had agency and took
part It's Government had from the first, alb
stained from giving aid or succor to either party 1t
knew its neutral obligations and fairly endeavored to
fulfil them all. 1t acknowledged the independence
OF Texas only when that independence was an appa
rent and asceilaincd fact; and It's example in this
particular has been followed by several of the most
siderable Powers of Europe.
1t has been sometimes stated as IT for the purpose
If giving 10 the complaints of Mexico,
that of the military force which acted against Mexi-
with efficiency and success In 1886, large portion
consisted of volunteers then fresh from the United
States But this great 1t is well ascerained
that of those who bore arms in the Texan ranks in
the battle Of San Jacin,o three-iourhs at least
coonlsis, invited into Texas by the giants and the
colon cation laws of Mex co, and called to the field by
the exg tncies of the time in 1885, from their farms
and other objects of private pursuit.
Mr.. de Bocanegra's complaint is twofold first
that citizens of the United States have supplied the
rebels in Texas with ammunition, arms, vessels
money, and recruIts--have publicly raised forces in
their Cities and fitted out vessels in their ports loaded
them with munitions Of war, and marched to commit
hostes against friendly nation under the eye
and with the knowledge of the public authorities In
all this Mr.. de Bocanegra appears to forget that
n Al. IT..,tn of
they also at peace with Texas that both stand on
the footing Of friendly nations; that since 1887
the United States have regarded Texas as an indie
pendent sovereignty much as Mexico and that
trade and commerce with citizens OF a Government
at with Mexico cannot on that account be re-
| garded as an intercourse ny which assistance and
succor given TO Mexican rebels. The whole cur
rent Of Mr. de Bocanegras remarks runs in the same
direction if the independence Of Texas had not
| been acknowledged 1t has been acknowledged /; it
was acknowledged in 1887, against the remonstrance
and protest Of Mexico; and most of the acts of any
Importance Of which Mr.. de Bocanegra complains
flow necessarily from that recognition. He speaks Of
Texas still being can integral part of the territory
Of the Mexican Republic ~ but he cannot but Under
stand that the United States do not regard it, The
real complaint of Mexico therefore, is in substance
neither nor less than complaint against the
recognition Of Texian independence.
1t may be thought rather late to repeat that com
plant and quite just to confne it to the United
States to the exemption of England, France, and
Belgium unless the United States having been the first
to acknowledge the independence of Mexico herself,
are to be blamed for setting an example for the re-
i cognition of that of Texas. But it is still true that
Mr. de Bocanegra's specification of his grounds Of
complaint and remonstrance, is manly confined to
such transactions and occurrences as are the natural
consequence of the political relations existing between
Texas and the United States. Acknowledging Texas
| TO be an independent nation the Government of the
United States of course allows and encourages lawful
trade and commerce between the two countries If
articles contraband Of war be found mingled with
this commerce, while Mexico and Texas are belligi-
| rent States Mexico has the right to intercept the
transit Of such articles to her enemy. This is the
common right of all beligerents and belongs to
Mexico in the extent as to other nations. But
Mr. de Bocanegra is quite well aware that 1t is not
the pra ce of nations to undertake to prohibit their
own subjects by previous laws, from trathckng in
articles co atrabanl of war. Such trade is carried
on at the risk Of those engaged In IT. uuder the liab
tiles and penalties prescribed by the law OF nations,
or by particular treaties. Ii 1t be true, therefore,
that citizens of the United States have been engaged
in commerce by which Texas enemy of Mexi-
co, has been supplied with arms and munitions Of
war, the Government of the United States, neverhe-
less not bound to prevent it, could not have pre-
vented it, without manifest departure from the
principles of neutrality, and is in no way answerabe
for the consequences The treaty of the 9Th of April
1881, between the United States and Mexico, itself
shows, most clearly, how little foundation there is
for the complaint of trading with Texas, if Texas is
to be regarded a public enemy of Mexico. The
sixteenth article declares at shall likewise be law
full for the aforesaid citizens, respectively to sail
with their vessels and merchandise before mentioned,
and to trade with the same liberty and security from
the places, ports, and Ravens of those
mics of both or either party, without any opposition
or disturbance whatsoever, not only directly from
the places of the enemy before mentioned to neutral
places, but also from place belonging to enemy
to another place belonging 10 all enemy, whether they
be under the jurisdiction of the Government or
under several"
The 18th article enumerates those commodities
which shall be regarded contraband of war, but
neither that article any other imposes on either
nation any duty of preventing by previous regulation
commerce in such articles. Such commerce is left
IL L4l .nG. Tom