Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1843-12-14

henslon OF future consequences TO embar
rass them IN the course of their proposed
deliberations. Nor will the Executive
Department of the Government fail, fo
any such cause, to discharge its whole du
ty TO the country.
The war which has existed for so Ions
a time between Mexico and Texas has
since the battle of San Jacinto, consisted
for the most part of predatory incursions
which, while they have been attended
with much of suffering to individuals, and
have kept the borders Of the two coun.
tries in state Of constant alarm, have
failed to approach TO any definite result
Mexico has fitted out no formidable arfna-
ment by land or by sea for the subjugation
of Texas. Eight years have now elapsed
since Texas declared her independence Of
Mexico, and during that time she has been
recognized as sovereign power by seve-
raj Of the principal civilized states. Mex
leo, nevertheless, perseveres in her plans
of reconquest, and refuses to recognise her
independence. The predatory incursionS
to which have alluded, have been atten-
ded, in one instance, with the breaking up
Of the courts of justice by the seizlng up
on the persons of the judge, jury, and Of
ficers Of the court, and dragging them a.
long with unarmed, and therefore non
combatant citizens, into cruel and op-
pressIve bondage, thus leaving crime to
go UNPUBLISHED and immortality TO pass I'M
reproyed. A border warfare is evermore
to be deprecated, and over such war as
has existed for SO many years between
these two States, humanity has had great
cause to lament. Nor is such condition
of things TO be deplored only because of
the individual suffering attendant upon it.
The effects are far more extensive. The
Creator Of the Universe has given man
the Earth for his resting place, and its
fruits for his subsistence. Whatever, there
fore, shall make the first or any part of it
a scene of dcsolation, affects injuriously
his heritage, and may be regarded as a gen.
eral calamity. Wars may sometimes be
necessary; but all nations have common
interest in seeing and end put TO the state
of hostlities existing between Mexico and
Texas. They are our neighbors, Of the
same continent, with whom we are not
only DESTROYS Of cultivating the relations
of amity, but of the most extended COM
mercial intercourse, and to practice all the
rights of neighborhood hospitality. Our
own interests are deeply involved in the
matter, since, however neutral may be our
course of policy, we cannot hope TO es-
cape the effects of spirit of jealousy on
the part Of both of the powers. Nor can
this Government be Indifferent TO the fact
that warfare, such as is waged between
those two nations. is calculated to weaken
both powers, and finally TO render hem,
and especially the weaker OF the two, the
subjects of interference on the part of
stronger and more powerful nations, which
intent only on advancing their own pecu-
liar views, may sooner or later attempt TO
bring about compliance with terms. as
the condition of their interposiiion, alike
derogatory TO the nation granting them
and detrimental to the interests of the u
nited States. We could not be expected
quietly to permit any such interference to
our disadvantage. Considering that Tex
as is separated from the United States by
a mere geographical line, that her territory,
in the opinion of many, formed aportion
of the territory of the United States, that
it is homogeneous in its population and
pursuits with the adjoining States, makes
contributions to the commerce of the world
in the same articles with them, and that
most Of her inhabitants have been citizens
of the United States, speak the same Ian
guage and live under similar political in
situations with ourselves, this Government
is bound by every consideration of inter-
est as well as of sympathy, to see that she
shall be left free TO act, especially in re-
gard to her domestic affairs, unawed by
force, and unrestrained by the policy or
views of other countries. In full view of
all these considerations, the Executive has
not hesltated 10 express TO the Government
of Mexico how deeply it deprecated a
continuance of the war, and how anxious
ly it desired TO witness its termination. |
cannot but think that II becomes the Uni
ted States, as the oldest of the American
Republics, to hold language TO Mexico
upon this subject of an unambiguous char
acter. 1t is time that this war had ceased.
There must be a limit TO all wars; and il
the parent State, after an eight years strug-
gle has failed TO reduce TO submission a
portion of It's subjects standing out in re-
volt against it, and who have not only pro-
claimed themselves to be independent, but
have been recognised as such by other
Powers, she ought not to expect that 9TH
er nations will quietly look on, TO their
obvious injury, upon protraction of hos
tiities. These United States threw of
their colonial dependence, and established
independent Governments; and Great Bril-
tain, after having wasted her energies in
the attempt TO subdue them for less pc.
Rod than Mexico has attempted TO subju-
gate Texas, had the wisdom and Justice to
acknowledge their independence, thereby
recognising the obligation which rested on
her as one of the family Of nations. An
example thus set by one Of the proudest
as we'll as most powerful nations of the
earth, it could IN no way disparage Mex
ico 10 initiate. While, therefore, the Ex-
ecutlve would deplore any collision with
Mexico, or any disturbance OF the friend
Iy relations which exist between the two
countries, Il cannot permit that Govern
ment to control its policy, whatever it may