Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1843-10-05
From the Baltimore American
MEXICO-THE TEXAN INVASION.

mEAlCO-IHE TEXAN INVASION.
We referred some days ago 10 a note addressed
by MIR. Bocanegra on the part of the Mexican
Government to Waddy Thompson, our Minister
in that Republic, complaining ,ha, an Invasion OF
Mexico was contemplated by force composed of
citizens of the United States. The Texan Cow
eminent having disavowed the expedition IN
question, MIR. Bocanesra insisted upon viewing
IL as an American affair, and informed Mr.. Thomp-
son that Mexico would expect to be reimbursed
by the United States for all the expenses that
nigh, be incurred in repeing the invasion.
BY the last New Orleans papers we are fur
nishcd with Mr.. I'hompson's reply, and with a.
neither letter from the Mexican minister for Foreign
Affairs. Our Ambassador states that until the
receipt Of MIR. Bocanegra's note he was unaware
that any positive information had been received
regarding the reality Of the invasion complained
OF, to say nothing Of its particulars and Of the
official disavowal oil the Government of Texas
He then adds:
sit is possible however, that some of those un-
prncipled men who trample on all legal and NOR
al precepts, and who TO be found in all parts,
but certainly as scarce in the United States as
any where eise may have incorporated themselves
into such expeditions. In such a case, the gov
eminent OF the undersigned will not only inter-
pose its projections but will proceed on a par with
MeXico, and will use all means within its power
to bring them TO condign punishment; the under
signed, however, does not for moment believe
that the said expedition has been raised in or
proceeded from the United States. The long ex.
perience your ENcellency has had in the halls of
Justice, must have made the principle familiar
that in matters of proof, the testimony of a wit.
ness must be taken in conjunction; and conse-
quentiy your EXcelency ought fully to admit the
eXpositlons of the American papers. What then,
Is Their Tenor! That the expedition is Texan
entirely Texan. The commander, Col. Snively,
is Texan; the starting point is found in the re.
public Of Texas, and according to every circum.
stance the expedition is Texan. No doubt many
persons from the United States may have united
themselves to il, and the same may have been
done by more Than one lrishman; but then it
would not be just to make reclamation on the
Government of Great Britain for its share of the
responsibility"
Mr.. Thompson concludes by stating, as proof
OF the good will of the u. S. Government to-
wards Mexico, that COL Harvey, with regiment
OF dragons had been ordered to occupy posi-
ton on the route between Santa Fee and The Uni
led States, to afford protection as well to the Mex
leans as to the Americans engaged in the trade
between the two countries.
In his next note Mr.. Bocanegra dwells at some
length upon the revolution of Texas, and reiier-
ates the charge that the people called Texans
were composed and are composed of persons
from the United States. Passing over those por-
tons of his letter, which are but repetiiions of
old complaints answered long ago, we quote the
following,
"Cul. Snively is called Texan-but is he
one! This position cannot be maintained, he is
nod ,oI III, a 4
he gives himself does not lessen the crime he has
committed In raising armed bands against the
Mexican Republic from the United States If in
those States The present adventures were raised
In them likewise were procured the munitions of
war. Independence, in Missouri, was ll,, start
Ing point of these men; the place where The laws
OF nations were trodden upon belongs to the Uni
ted States, which country also gave birth to these
compatrlots in arms. The press of the said
States can well say that the expedition is Texan,
entirely Texan, that the chief " no commands il is
a Texan, and that the point of rendezvous is in
IeXas But what proof these periodicals
bring forward in the face of such overwhelming
evidence! by assigning 10 this or that one some
other place of nativity! Because the expedition
has proceeded from the North towards the from.
tier OF Mexico, it must be Texan; although those
composing it have come from the United States.
Perhaps Independence belongs to Texas! Is it
not IN Missouri, and is not that part of the Uni
ted States! These facts, together with the intel
llgrnce received by the Chief Magistrate of the
hPubiIc, give The cearest right TO the undersign-
"a 10 us" The Terms phrases in the note Of 81 ST
July last, which If he had omitted might be ad.
duced against hm when substantiatino his RIGHT
at future period"
We presume our Government will not fail TO
do lis duty towards suppressing this marauding
expedition. But the engaged in it are law
less men who embark in an unjustiiable enterprise
at their own risk. The Government cannot be
responsible for the outrages which such men may
commit. 1t is mistake, no doubt, to say that
the expedition was organized at independence.
The Virginia Military Institute is rapidly adj
vancing in public favor and popularity. At the
meeting of the Board of Visitors recently, an in
cident occurred Of no little interest Two young
gentlemen were present from the same county Of
a distant Senatorial District, candidates for adj
mission into the Institute State Cadet for their
District. One OF these young men was the son
Of independent, if not wealthy parents-the otli-
pr was ambitious. but poor, and strong evidence
Of his perseverance and enthusiasm was afforded
in the fact that he walked all the way to licking
ton with his wallet on his back. When there,
due diligence was of course used by both with
INC BOARD; but the young man that carried him
sell to Lexington, carried the day, and was adj
Ditted. The other was not to be beaten from his
purpose, however, and Immediately entered the
institution as pay cadet. We trust this may be
ever the case in such contest and that this State
Institution may never be liable to the charge Of
10