Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-05-24

has BEEN fact for moro than seven years in the &C
ual possession of the whole territory Of Texas-ant
the Mexican Government, during that time, from inc
o'lty or neglect, ether cause TT sny NIL
ary force into Texas with view to conuuer and sub
due the people. The only armed force from Mexico
winch has entered the territory Of Texas within tht
last seven years, was party Of pnndsrers not autbo
rsed by Santa Anna, who advanced 10 the villages
San Antonio de Bexar ard Alamo, robbed The mer
chants of some goods committed same other tepredx
tons upon private property and forthwith back
Mexico with the fear of thieves and robbers egcspn,
from hue and cry.
Texas IS, in fact, On independent Repnbic-and il
ranked such by other nations md is we'll entitled Il
be so ranked IN the family of nations.
III. Can the U. States acquire good title to The
rtory OF Texas, by treaty of cession from that Repub
lie
By the treaty concluded on the 22d February, 1910
between the United States and Spain, the U States
coded to Spain the territory South and West of the RI
yer Mississippi, beginning at the mouth Of tho river
Sabine in the Gulf OF Mex CO. thence along the West.
ern bank of that river North the thirty second de-
gree of 9th latitude, where it strikes Red river
thence along that river Westu ard To the
degree of longitude West from Washington
crossing Red river and running by line due North
to the river Arkansas-thence following The course Of
the Southern bank of that river its latitude
forytwo Norththence by that parallel of latitude 10
the South Sea. And Spain ceded and renowned TO
The u 8 oil claim to any territories East and North
of that limo.
4
ritory thus uniting !, 10 the territory of Mexico AT
this time, the of revolt and revolution in Mexico
had not ceased. The independence Of Mexico had
not then been acknowledged by any nation Under
the cesson by the u States to Spain, Mexico took pos
session and held it, The independence of Mexico has
since been acknowledged by the u States and other
nations md by Spain, who has longer any claim to
that territory That territory, by Spain and by Mexico,
was called Texas
The people of Texas parties to, and under the
| nrD of tha or
1924, and Of the sovereign States composing that
| confederation They have refused TO submit 10 the
consolidated central despotsm established forcbly by
Santa Anna upon the overthrow of the Constitution
of 1894 and have achieved their indie ndence with
the entire possession Of the territory of Texas.
| by the cessoa 10 Spain; the revolution in Mexico
IN revolving from Spain and maintaining her ndepend-
ence; and by the revolution in Texas, md the mane-
nance OF her independence Republic, Texas has n
good title and the United States, by treaty OF ces-
sion from that Republic, acquire good tile to the
territory.
III The value of Texas TO the U. States, and the
obligation Of the United States, upon the principles OF
the law of Nature acquire the territory, 1t so they
can, by far and just means
This territory is Of very great importance TO The
States by of It's conlguty lis coasts and ha'-
bors on the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific Ocean
The extent of ts territories and lis capabilities Inc
climate is healthy; the SOL very feri'le, capable OF
producing sugar. cotton, tobacco, all kinds OF gram,
and oil kinds Of the tropical frui,s 1t contains &C
cordng to the statement of Mr. Madison fouriiths OF
all the live oak the world; It abounds with other
lin,bers fit for ship building, minerals, gums and dye
-us In the possession of industrious agrIcultursts,
MINERS capitalists and scientific men, capacities for
contributing individual and national wealth are very
great. lis value because of its s, and productions,
the advantages Tor commerce by its navgable rivers,
coasts and harbors cannot he ortr.aled.
| In the hands Of foreign power, it would be great
annoyance to the United States. in time OF peace, by
the facilities i, would afford for evadng our revenue
laws and much greater in time of war; by the facilities
Of like kind, and for hostile descent upon New Or
leans by the water communication with The Mississippi
| by the means OF Red river.
The acquisition of the territory Of Texas by the L
States, viii add 10 their strength and security md &C.
fence TO domestic and foreign commerce. II Will afford
great supply and varieties of necessares convenen-
cies and comforts to the citizens BY the acquisition,
the nation will perform those duties which, by thr
writers on Natural law and Government, nre called
the duties of selfpreservaton and perfection OF the
nation. A nation whose territory is bounded by oceans,
CULTS lakes, great rivers and mountana which are bar
rers TO sudden invasions by enemies, and which
,ard that force may BE- collected TO repe the nva
ders whose supplies Of the necessares, ceaveniences
and comforts OF life are to be obtained within is own
territories by home trade; whose piles for manuac
| turcs obtained al home whose ships OF war
and trading vessels be built of home materials );
whose munitions OF war can be supplied at home ::
whose people, in numbers energy and spirit 81 ieent
10 convince foreign Nations that aggessons cannot DE
raj and State Governments Of Republican character,
may properly and in the of political writer's be
called perfect nation And such would be the effect
of adding Texas TO this Union. Tie obligation IN
posed by The law of Nature las premised the dictates
of wisdom and round policy urge the expectancy Of
anneXing Texas II the u. ).
". The relations between the y. States growing
out of the principles of the law Of Nature end Of
the treaty Of 30!h April 1903 between the u. States
and France.
In March, 1887, the U. States Acknowledged Texas
to be an Independent nation. Ever since, the friendly
intercourse with Tsxa, by other independent nations
has been continually kept up. The diplomatic cgcn.s
of the Republic Of 1sxas have been acknowledged and
I received by The United States, and the diplomatic
agents the United States have been gent TO the Re-
public OF Texas and there and received
At this time the Republic of Texas has accredited
Minister TO The United States OF Washington, and the
United States have accredited Charge des Afares in
the Republic Of Texas Under these circumstances II
The Republic of Texas, n weak power, should be I'M
justly threatened t, be oppressed and oy one
more powerful, the u. States would be bound, by The
law Of nature 10 shield and protect Texas according
TO the fifth and sixth principles OF The law OF nature
stated in the outset
IfSanla Anna should make war upon the Texans 10
subdue them to his yoke of mil tary despo,lsm, which
he has eonce na,ed himself by force, and upon the
ruins OF the Federal Republican Constitution OF lo2l
his would be unjust; and the defence of the Tex
'ans would be moral, natural and righteous
The obligation Of the law Of nature 10 render succor
ought to afford TO judge of when, and to what
extent, aid shall be afforded. But the claims of The
people of Texas upon The United States, under The
,reay of Both April 1903, between The U. States and
France, belong TO the class of perfect obl'gaono By
the first article Of that treaty, list vol. Laws u S,
1852 France coded to The IT, States the colony or pro
vince of Lousana with the same extent that it bad
the hands of Spain, and tina, it had when France
possessed it, France frs, possessed it by discovery
md takng possession. France coded TO Spain, who
retroceded France, and thereafter France ceted to
the United States ard delivered the possession.
By the third article Of that treaty, the United States
stipulated in these words: "The inhabitants Of the
ded territory shall be incorporated into the Union
OF the United States, and admitted as soon posi-
BILE, according to the principles Of the Federal Con-
s,,tution TO The enjoyment of all the rights, udvan-
tagee and immunites of czans Of the United Siaes
e and IN The mcaatimc they shall be maintained and
protected the free enjoyment of their liberty, pro-
is perry, and the religion which they profess
Upon the facts and public documents, the colony OF
province of Louisiana, sold and delivered to the
States, extended the Rio Bravo del Nore. President
ee, son SO UNDERSTOOD the French agent who deliver
ed possession 81 declared: Mr. Madison whilst Secre
,ary of State so declared; Mr. Monroe whilst Secre,a
nv Of State, land who OF tho ministers who