The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-07-16
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exist by the law of nations any breach of lie own
laws, has been brought TO the notice of the Go,ein-
ment, attention has always been paid to H.
Al early period of the Texan revolution str'e,
orders were given by the President of the United
States to all officers the south and southwese-n
frontier take care that those laws should be observ
ed aud the attention of the Government of The UDi
ted States has not been called any specific violation
OF them since the manifestation the part of Mexic
of intention to renew hostilities with Texas, and
all officers Of the Government remain charged with
the strict and faithful execution Of these laws On
recent occasion complaint was made by the repIesen
tatives Of Texas that an armament fitted out IN
the United States for the service of Mexico against
Texas.
Two vessels Of war, was alleged built or pur-
chased in the United States for the use OF the Govern
ment of Mexico and well under TODD intended to
he employed against Texas were equipped and ready
| to sail from he waters of New YORK. The case was
carefully inquired into official examination made
and legal counsel invoked. Ii appeared to he
| of great ub but Mexico was allowed the benefit of
that doubt and the vessels left the United States with
| the whole or pant of their armament actually on
board, The same administration of even handed jus
ice, The same impartial execution OF the laws towards
all parties will continue to be observed.
If forces have been raised in the United States or
vessels fitted out in their ports for Texian service
trary To law, instance OF which has as yet come to
the Knowledge Of the Government, prompt attention
will be paid TO the first case, and TO all cases which
may be made known to il. As to advances, loans, or
donations Of money goods, made by individuals
TO the Government of Texas or Its czeus, Mr.. de
Bocanegra hardly needs to be informed that there is
nothing unlawful in this, so long as Texasis at peace
th the U nited States, and that these are things
which no Government undertakes to restrain Other
citizens equally at liberty, should they ,e so IN
cline to show their good will towards Mexico by
the same means Still less can the Government OF
the United States be called upon IN interfere with
opinions uttered in the public assembagae OF free
People, accustomed to the independent expression of
their sentiments resulting in no violation Of the laws
of their country, of its duties as neutral State
Towards the United States Mexico and Texas stand
in the same relation Independent States at war
Or the character Of that mankind will form their
own opinions. and in the United Stales at least III
u'eIance of those opinions cannot be suppressed
The second part of Mr. de Bocanegra's complaint
is thus stated No sooner does the Mexi Govern
ment in the exercise of its rights, which il cannot
and does not desire to renounce prepe means TO re,
cover possession usurped from II, than the whole
population of the United States especially in the
Southern States is In commo'ion; and, in the mos,
public manner large portion of them is directed up
on Texas"
And how does MIR. de Bocancgra suppose that the
Government of the United States prevent, is
bound to undertake to prevent the people from thus
gong to Texas This is emigration; the same emf
grafton, though not under the circumstances,
which Mexico invited to Texas before the revolution.
These persons, far known to the Government
OF the United States repair to Texas not citizens
of the United States, but ceasDg to be such citi
ance and their domic Should they return after
having entered into the service Of foreign State,
still claiming to be citizens OF the United States, 1t
will be for the authorities of the United States Go
vernment to determine how far they have violated
the municipal laws of the country and what penalties
they have incurred The Government of the United
States does not maintain and never has maintained,
the doctrine of the perpetuity Of natural allegiance
And surely Mexico maintains such doctrine; be-
cause her actually existing Government like that of
20. III Al L. Al
men may throw off the obligation Of that allegiance
to which they are born.
The Government of the United States, from its
origin has maintained legal provisions for the natu-
ralizaton of such subjects Of foreign States may
choose to come hither and make their home in the
country and renouncing their former allegiance and
complying with certain stated acquisitions, to take
upon themselves the character of citizens of this Go
vernment Mexico herself has laws granting equal
facilities to the naturalization OF foreigners.
On the other hand, the United States have not
passed any law restraining their own citizens, native
or naturalzed from leaving the country and forming
political relations elsewhere. Nor do other Govern
ments in modern times, attempt any such thing. 1t
is true that there Governments which assert the
principle of perpetual allegiance yet, even in
where this is not rather matter OF theory than prac
ce the duties of this supposed continual allegiance
are left to be demanded of the subject himfel Whs
mehf and as exigcncies may arise, and are not at
tempted to be enforced by the imposition of previous
restraint preventing from leaving lnelr country.
Upon this subject of the emigration of individuals
from neutral to belligerant States regard which
MIR. de Bocanegra appears so indignant, must be
allowed to bring Mexico into her presence, to
compare her with herself, and respectfully invite her
to Judge the matter by her own principles and her
own conduct. In her great struggle against Spain
for her independence did she not open her arms
to receive all who would come to her from any
part of the WORLD And did not mutitudes flock to her
new-rased standard Of liberty from the United
Cf,tac Ep0up Tralo md JtoI
many of whom distinguished themselves in her SER
vice, both by and land She does not appear to
have supposed that the Governments Of these per-
sons, thus coming to unite their fate with hers, WERE
by allowing the emigration, pending civil
war, furnishing just cause of offence to Spain Even
in her military operations against Texas Mexico
employed many foreign emigrans and it NAV be
thought remarkable that in those very operations not
long before the battle of San Jacinto native citi-
zen of the United States held high command in her
service and performed feats of no mean significance
in Texas. Of that federation, therefore, she calls
it, and which she now so warmly denounces Mexico,
in that hour of her emergency embraced the benefits
eagerly, and to the full extent of her power. May
not ask then, how she reconcile her present
complaints with her own practice, well how
she accounts for so long and unbroken silence upon
a subject on which her remonstrance is loud
Spain chose to regard Mexico only in the light of
rebelI,us province for near twenty years after she
had asserted her own independence Does Mexico |
now admit that, for all that period, wthstan1ing
her practical emancipation from Spanish power was
unlawful for the subjects and citizens of other Gov
ernments to carry with her the ordinary business |
of commerce, or to accept her tempting offers to emf
grants? Certanly such is not her opinion
Might it not be asked then even if the United !
States had not already and long ago acknowledged |
the independence of Texas, how long they should
be expected wait for the accomplishment Of the OBJ
ject now existing only in purpose and intention of
the re suhjugation of that territory by Mexco2
How long, let it be asked in the judgment of Next |
CO herself is the fact of actual independence to be
held of no avail against avowed purpose of future
conquest
MI. dc Bocanegra is pleased to say that if war ac-
tuay existed between the two countries proceedings
more hostile the part of the United States could
not have taken place than have taken place. nor the