The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-08-09

due by virtue of such treaty Chose permitting
commcrce, passage, Ac.) should any occasion
prove Incompatible with the duties a nation owes u
hcrhclf, or with What the sovereign 10 ms owl
nation, the ease is tacity and necessarily excepted II
Inc treaty.
But, sir, have occasion to invoke the aid OF
these high principles OF public law 10 relieve iron
the imputaions Of violating treaty Of peace viii
Mexico, even II actual war existed between
Mexico and Texas. Ours would even then be case
In which all writers the law Of nations have no
only justified, but CONNER ded our conduct. 50 II u
lawful and comlaendable (says Vatte)to succor and
assist, BY all possible means, nation engaged III
just war aud II is even duty incumbent ON ever,
nation to give such assistance, when she can give D
without injury TO herself" Book g. chap. 7, sec 80
And this duty rises still higher and the obligation be-
comes more imperious, when weak and feeble ma
ton IS oppressed by unjust waged against heI
by graspng and more powerful neighbor. might
read any number Of authorities to establish this prn
ciple; but deem ii wholly unnecessary. This il
the law engraven upon the heart of every by the
finger Of the Almighty. Under this aspect Of the
question: relations with Texas render obliga-
ton irresistible to aid her against the unjust oppres
sion Of Mexico. The law OF nature, applicable to
indiy duals, is the law OF nations when applied 10
sosereigns What man, thea, having the heart and
courage Of man, would see his weak and helpless
fellow man assaulted, and beaten and crushed to the
earth by powerful enemy, without interposng to
arrest such outrage To assist the weak just
Cause against the suonB IL the dictate oil our nature
and this principle has been Incorporated, with all
commendation into the law of nations. This law
would justify our interference even between straD-
gers but Texas is child Of our great family and
our obligation To protect her weakness from agrees
sion becomes irresistible. And yet 10 be told
that TO render her this assistance would be to forfeit
our faith with Mexico, and expose ourselves to the
condemnation Of the civilized world, and in the OPT
MON Of the Senator from Massachusetts, Mr..
CHoATE,l to violate the Christian religion.
It well for us who support this treaty, that we do
not reside in Boston II We did, we should doubtless
be deprived Of all church privileges.
That the war which Mexico waged against Texas
wo, unjust waI think can be clearly oemonst,a-
ted And here, in opposition TO the senator from
Missouri, shall contend, and think demonstrate
that Texas never did any allegiance to the pre-
sent government OF Mexico and, a necessary con-
sequence, that government has been guilty of oppres-
sion and injustice in attempting the subjugatlon Of
Texas.
In 1924, Mexico adopted her constitution. Under
1t, the Mexican Republic composed Of number
OF sovereign States confederated together in fede-
raj Union similar to our own. Each State had its
own legislature, judiciary, and governor; and for
all local purposes, was as independent both of the
general government and that of the other States as
IS Pennsylvania or Virginia under confederacy.
Texas and Coahuila united and formed one Of these
Mexican States and It's constitution, which was ap-
proved by the Mexican confederacy, asserted that
II was free and independent of the other United
and dominion and asserted the great principle Of
human liberty that 1.-THE sovereignty of the State
resides originally and essentially in the general mass
Of the individuals who compose it." The people of
Texas swore, in the presence Of their God to main
tain their own constitution and the federal constu
ton OF Mexico. The strongest inducements
thus presented TO the citizens of the United States
emg to Texas. They believed, IN leaving their
native land that they we're going to country where
tbey would be governed by State laws, enacted by
their own representatives, and where their lives,
their liberty, and their property would be secured
by the same constitutional guarantees that existed in
The different ) ates OF our own confederacy They
never apprehended that central and distant gov
eminent might arise in the city of Mexico which
would change them from freemen into slaves.
In 1885, Santa Anna, at the head Of a mercenary
army, effected a revolution in Mexico, changed the
form OF government entirely and became the dicta-
tor OF the Republic. On the 81 of October, 1885,
decree was issued by the General Congress Of Mex-
co, at his bidding, directing the Congresses Of the
different States Immediately to desis from the exer
cse OF their legislative functions and on the 23I of
the same month, another decree emanated from the
same body annihilsng the constitutions of the SOW
eregn States Of the confederacy, and conver ting
them into mere departments of the central govern,
ment established at Mexico. The legislature Of
Texas was expelled from their own hall at the point
oil The bayonet and Santa Annals eonduc, thus pre-
sented feeble imitation of the daring of Cromwell
and OF Bonaparte. He made great preparations to
lie'ed, to return from fields Of glory to be proclaim
ed Emperor Of Mexico. Had the Texans not
resisted-had they tamely submitted to be robbed of
their government their rights and their liberties by
yrant, they would have been unworthy Of the race
from which they sprung.
Now, cir, let me state parallel case IL indeed
we can be permitted even to IMAGINE its existence
suppose military tyraot should become President of
the United States should drive the Legislatures of
the different States out of their halls BY an arm
n hon
Constitutions and under shelter Of a subservient
Congress, create himself dictator Of the Republic
suppose all this, and then ask, would those States
who resisted the tyrant owe any allegiance to his
usurPec government No, sir no. Santa Anna
was guilty OF treason in abolishing the Federal and
stale Governments Of Mexico and, by every law,
human and divine, ought to have been condemned TO
die The death OF traitor Resistance to such tyran-
ny was the dictate Of Heaven Texas was absoIyed
IRON all allegiance to him and TO his government /;
and IRON the very moment that he violated her con-
stitutioo she stood before the world both de faco
ana de Jsre Tree, sovereign, and independent ma
uon' she never was, and never will be, DEPART
ment OF the central government Of Mexico. The
traitor can never rIghtfully claim the allegiance of
those whom he would make victims Of his treason
ask H. under these circumstances, the United States
had In erpo'ed in 1875 TO save Texas from oppres-
sion, whether II could have been denounced as an
ac OF bad faith towards Mexico deserving the con.
oemnation of the civilized woridi Had we inter
"'cu ~ 'h's cfucsi moment, we should have placed
ourselves precisely In the position of France when
IN our utmost need, she generously came TO our aid
during the war Of the Revolution. And who will
accuse France OF having violated her faith with Eng
land, and say she justly deserved the condemnation
OF the world for coming TO rescuel II ia true
mat The dehnItiye treaty Of 1863 was then in full
force between France and England and IFS very frs,
article contained similar engagement to that of ours
with Mexico, though coucbed in much stronger
erms, Tor perpetual peace and friendship between
the two nations. Among the aions of the earth
these are not questions Of violated faith and this
pm in'om which mas been oonjurcd up TO alarm our
fears has no real existence.
But we did not generously go 10 the aid of Texas
as France had come TO our aid. Pursuing our es,a-
biished policy Of not interfering in the disputes and
wars OF other nations, we left Texas to maintain the
the result,