The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1842-08-11

NUc W tooO, lfUW tuoh ia'S 49,
objects Of private pursuit.
Mr.. de Bocanegra's complaint is twotold :
first. that the c,tzens of the United States
have supplied the rebels in Texas with am-
muniiion, arms, vessels, money aud 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 hostillties against friendly na
ton, under the eye and with the knowledge
of the public authorities. 10 all this Mr..
de BOcanegra appears 10 forget that while
the United States are at peace with Mexico
they are also at peace with Texas; that
both stand on the same footing Of friendly
nations; tina, since 1897 the Uuiied States
have regarded Texas as an Independent
sovereignty, as much as Mexico, and that
trade and commerce with citizens of Co.
venment at war with Mexico cannot, on
that account be regarded as an intercourse
by which assistance and succor are given
10 Mexican rebels. The whole current of
Mr.. de Bocanegra's remarks runs in the
same direction as If the independence Of
Texas had DOT been acknowledged. II has
been acknowledged it was acknowledged
10 1887, against the remonstrance and pro.
test of Mexico /; and most OF the acts Of any
importance OF which MIR. de Bocanegra
complains fow necessarily from that recog.
milton. He speaks Of Texas still being &" an
integral part of the territory of the Mexi.
can Republic bat he cannot but under.
stand that tho United States do no, so re.
gard it. The real complaint of Mexico,
therefore, is in substance neither more nor
less than complain, against the recognl
ton of Texan independence.
|, may be thought rather late 20 repeat
that complaint, and not quite JUS, to confioe
il TO the United States, to the exemption
OF England, France, and Belgium, unless
the United States, having been the first 10
acknowledge the independence of Mexico
herself, are 10 be blamed for setting an ex.
ample for the recognition of that Of Texas.
Blu, II is still true that Mr.. de Bocanegras
specification Of his grounds of complaint
and remons,rance, is mainly coniaed to
such transactions and occurrences as are
the natural consequence Of the political re.
latIons 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 be.
tween the two countries. If articles con.
traband Of war be found mingled with this
commerce, while Mexico and Texas are
bellige,ent States, Mexico has the RICH, to
intercept the transit Of such articles to her
enemy. This is the common right Of all
beliigerents, and belongs to Mexico 10 the
same ex,en, as TO other nations. But Mr..
&c Bocanegra is quite well aware that 1t is
not the practice of nations to undertake TO
prohibit their own subjects, By previous
laws. from traficking 10 articles contraband
OF war. Such trade is carried 90 at the
risk OF those engaged in It, under the la.
bliIties prescribed BY the las Of nations, or
by particular treaties. lfit be true, there.
fore, that citizens of the United States have
been engaged 10 a commerce BY which
Texas, an enemy Of Mexico, has been sup /.
piled with arms and munitions Of war, the
Government Of the United States, never.
theless, was no, bound 20 prevent it, could .
not have prevented It, without NANTES, \
departure from the principles Of neutrality, (
and 10 in no way answerable for tie conse
queuces. The treaty Of the 5,h April,
1881, between the United States and Mex.
leo, itself shows, most clearly, how little
foundation there is for the complaint of
trading with Texas, if Texas is to be regar.
ded as public enemy Of Mexico. The
sixteenth article declares [, shall like.
wise be lawful 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 haveus of those who are
enemies of both or either party, without any
opposition or disturbance whatsoever, not
only directly from the places of the enemy
before mentioned 10 neutral places, bat also (
from one place belonging to any enemy TO
another place belonging TO an enemy, |
whether they be under the jurisdiction Of
the same Government or under several"
The 18Th article enomeraies those com.
modilIes which shall be regarded as contra.
01Ae " OSf liIdk dTllCiS nor
any other imposes on either nation any du 4
~ of preventing by previous regulation
commerce in such articles. Such com.
meree Is left to It's ordinary fate, according
TO the law Of nations. II is onv, therefore. T
by missing, as Mr.. de Bocanegra does in.
sisi, that Texas Is still part of Mexico,
that be can maintain any complaint, Let
II be repeated, therefore, tina, if the things
against which he demonstrates DO wrong,
they have their source in The original
wrong OF the acknowledgement of Texan in.
dependence. But that acknow!ed men, Is
not Likely to be retrac,ed.
There can be no doubt at all tha, for n.
las! SIX years tina. trade m articles contra
band Of war between lie United States and
Mexico, has been greater than between the
United States aud Texas. 1t is probably
greater al the presen, moment. Why 4
has not Texas a RICH. 10 complain of this
For no reason, certainly, but because the
permission 10 trade, or Inc actual trading
he, r. 4