Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-12-13
his parry, and other Texan prisoners, was ord

!
he used at any place in rebellion, or placed IN The
hands of It's enemies. As savage and oura.
ccos as lis provisions were, the order oil Genera
VOL. intended to carry out that OF June, lSi5,
goes far beyond II embraces every ihdiFidudl
who NAV be found east OF a line drawn three niles
cast of the Rio del Norc, without distinction OF
age or sex, foreigner or citizen, condion OF 'oca
tion-all Of every description, whether they ress.
or surrender are TO be treated as traitors, ana al
who flee are 10 he shot down. The war is IN
tended. in short. 10 be one of utter extlrpaiion-
An that breathe are to be destroyed or driven out,
and Texas left desolate waste and so proclaim
ed TO the world by Mexico, in advance vi her
projected invasion.
The first question which presents itself for con-
Sideraiion on this statement oil iacS, Isl snail We
stand hy and witness in silence The renewal OF
the war By Mexico, and lis prosecution in this
blood-hirsty and desoatng spirit! In order ~
answer ii fully and satisfactorily, It VIII te ne
cessary 10 inquire first into her object Tor renew
ing the war at this time.
There can be but onc-and that is, 10 defeat
the annexation OF Texas 10 our Union. She
knows .ull we'll that the rejection OF The Treaty
has but postponed the question of annexation
She knows that Congress adjourned without IL
nally dspoSing OF it; that il is now pending be-
fore both Houses. and actively canvassed before
the people throughout The wide extent OF orr
Union: and that il will in all probability be de-
! cided in lis favor unless il should be defeated
by some movement exterior 10 The country we
would he blind not 10 see that she proposes 10 et-
feet il BY The projected invasion, either by con-
querng and subJccling Texas 10 her power, or
b. forcing her 10 Withdraw the proposition for
annexation, and 10 form commercial and politi-
cal connections with some other power less con-
genial 10 her feelings and favorable 10 her indie
pendencc, and more threatening TO her and our
permanent welfare and safety. OF the two, The
latter is much the more probable. She once al
tempted conquest hnt signally failed although the
attempt was made under the lead Of her most
skillfu and renowned General, at the head OF 4
well-appointed army, consisting of her best dis
ciplned and bravest troops, and while Texas was
yet in her infancy, without government, almost
without means and with an inconsideTablc popu-
laton With this example before her. she can
| scarcely hope 10 succeed now, under leader Of
less skill and rcnown and when Texas has set
tied down under welI-es,ablished Government,
ana has So greatly increased in means and popu
Iaton Ii is possible she may be overrun; but 10
expect 10 hold her in subjcction with her present
population and means, AT The distance OF more
Than twelve hundred miles from city OF Next
co. with adifliculi intermediate country, destitute
in great degree of resources, would be extreme
folly The very attempt would exhaust her
means and leave her Frustrated. No! the alter
native is to drive out the inhabitants and desolae
The country, or force her into some foreign
and unnatural alliance: and his the ierocious
and savage order of General VOL shows is well
understood by Mexico, and is in reality the oh
jccl Of her policy.
Shall we stand by, and permit i, TO he consume
mated, and thereby defeat measure long che
rishcd and INDISPENSABLE alike To The safety and
welfare OF the United States and Texas? No
measure Of policy has been more steadily or Ion
ger pursued and tina. by boh OF the great parties
INTO which the Union is divided. Many believed
HAT Texas WIS embraced in the ccsson Of Lou
i>iana, ard was Improperly if no; unconstitu-
lionally. surrendered b. The Treaty of Florida in
1919. Under that impression, and the general
conviction Of lis importance 20 the safety and
welfare of the Union, its annexation has been an
object OF constant pursuit ever since. Ii was
twice attempted 10 acquire i. during the admins
tration Of Mr. Adams in 1925 shortly a.
ter he came into poweT-and again in 1897. IL
was thrice attempted under the administration of
his successor, General Jackson first in lSal,
Immediately after be came into power again in
1888; and finally in 1885, just before Texas de-
clarcd her independence. Texas herself made a
proposition for annexation in 1887, a, the com
mencemcnl of Mr.. Van Burens administration,
which he declned-noi, however on the ground
Of opposition 10 the policy of the measure. The
United States had previously acknowledged her
independence. and the example has since been
followed By France and Great Britain. The lat.
Ter, soon after her recognition, began 10 adopt a
line of policy in reference TO Texas, which has
given greatly increased importance TO the mea-
sure Of annexation, by making it sill more essen
tial to the safety and welfare both OF her and the
U. States.
In pursuance OF this long cherished and es,ab-
Il
necessity of acting promptly in order 10 prevent
the defeat OF the measure, the present admins
lration invited Texas to renew the proposition
for annexation which had been declined BY lis
predecessor. Il was accepted and, as has been sta
ted, is now pending The question recurs, shall
VIC stand by quietly andpevmit Mexico 10 defeat it,
without making an effort to oppose her? Shall
we, after this long and continuous effort 10 annex
Texas now, when the measure is about 10 be
consummated, allow Mexico 10 put it aside, per-
haps iorcvcrl Shall the 'golden opportunity" BIZ
lost never again 10 return? Shall We permit Texas,
for having accepted an invitation rendered her al
4 critical moment 10 Join us, and consummate
measure essential 10 their and our perpetual
peace, welfare and safety, 10 bc desoaed; her
inhabitants 10 be butchered or driven ont: or, in
order 10 avert so great calamity 10 be forced,
against her will, into strange alliance, which
would terminate in producing lasting hosilities
between her and us, 10 tie permanent injury, and
perhaps the ruin, OF both?
The President has fully and deliberately eYa-
mined the subject, and has come to the conclu-
sion, that honor and humanity, as well as the
welfare and safety of both countries forbid it
and that it is his duty, during the recess OF Con-
gress 10 use all his constitutional means in oppo-
sion 10 il leaving that body, when it assem-
bes, TO decide on the course which in its OPT
nion ii would be proper for the Government 10
adopt.
In accordance with this conclusion, the Pre-
sidenl would I've compelled 10 regard the invasion
oi Texas by Mexico, while the question OF an
nexation is pending, as highly offensive 10 the
United States. He enlcrlains no doubt. that wa
had the right 10 invite her 10 renew The PROPOSE
ton Tor Annexation aud she, as an independent
State had right 10 accep! il, without consulting
Mexico or asking her leave. He regards Texas,
in every respect, as Independent as Mexico and
as competent 10 transfer the whole, or part OF
Texas, as she would be the whole or part of
Mexico To 90 no further back Under the
Constitution OF 1921, Texas and Coahuila were
members OF the Federation formed by the United
States Of Mexico Texas, with Coahuia, form
ing one State, with tho right guaranteed 10 Texas
by the Constitution, 10 form separate Stale rs
soon rs her population would permit. The sevc-
raj States remained equal in rights, and equally
independent oil each other until $3.50, when the
Constitution was subverted by the military, and
all the States which dared to resist were suhiu-
gated ~ force, except Texas. She stood mp man.
fully and bravely in defence OF her rights and
independence, which she goriously and success
fully asserted on The battle ground OF San Ja-
cinto in 1886, and has ever since maintained |
The Constitution of 1921 made her independent
and her valur and her sword nave maintained her |
so. She has been acknowledged 10 be so by three |
OF the leading powers Of Chrislcndom and re-
garded by all as such, except Mexico herself
Nor has she ever stood in relation 10 Mexico as |
rebeious department or province, struggling 10
obtain independence after throwing OFF her yoke
much less as that of band ot lawess inlruders |
and usurperS, without Government or political |
existence, as Mexico would have the world to be- I
lieyc The true relation between them is that of |
Independent members of Federal Government,
but now subvelled by force: the weaker Of which /
In full tad IoJI Il.