Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1844-12-13

Since yourslast session. Mexico has threaten
ened to renew the war, and has either made, or
purposes to make, formidable preparations for
invading Texas. She has issued DEGREES and
proclamatIOns, preparatory to the commence
ment of hoStities, full of threats, revolving to
humanity; and which, if carried into effect,
would arouse the attention of all Chrstendom.
| This new demonstration of feeling, there IS too
much reason to believe, has been produced in
consequence of the negotiation of the late treaty
of annexation with Texas. The executive,
therefore, could not be Indifferent to such pro-
ceedings; and it felt it to be due, as well 70 it.
sell, to the honor of the country, that strong
representation should be made to the Mexican
| government upon the subject. This was ac-
cording y done, as will be seen by the copy OF
the accompanying despatch from the Secretary
of State to the United States envoy at Mexco.
Mexico has no right to leopard the peace OF the
world by urging any longer, useless and frult-l
4 full contest. Such a condition ofthngs would not
be tolerated on the European continent. Why
should it be on this? A war ofdesolation, such
as is now threatened by Mexico, cannot baa8
waged without involving our peace and tram
guilty. 1t is idle to believe that such Wartl'
could be looked upon with Indifference by QUO
own citizens, inhabtng adjoining states; ana
our neutrality would be violated, in despite "a
all efforts on the part of the government to pre-
vent 1t. The country is settled by emgrants
from the United States, under invitations held
out to them by Spain and Mexico. Those emu
grants have left behind them friends and rela
tlves who would not fail to sympathise With
them in their difficulties, and who would be leea
by those sympathies to participate in their
struggles, however energetic the action of the
government to prevent it, Nor would the NUM-
efOus and formidable bands of Indians, thsAl
most warlike to be found in any land, which oc-IF
cupy the extensive regions contiguous to the8
states of Arkansas and Missouri, and who arc
in possession oflarge tracts Of country witliS
the limits of Texas, be likely to remain passiva4
The incnations of those numerous tribes le3sFH
them invariably to war, whenever pretexts e.
ISL
Mexico had no just ground of dispeasure a
ganst this government or people for negotla-
ting the treaty. What interest of hers was
affected by the treaty She was deSpoed of
nothing, since Texas was forever lost to her,
The independence of Texas was recognised by
several of the leading powers of the Garth
She was free to treat-free to adopt her own
line of policy-free to take the course which
she believed was best calculated TO secure her
happiness. Her government and people decl-
ded on annexation to the United States ; and
the executive saw, in the acquisition of such IL
territory, the means of advancing their perma-
nent happiness and glory. What principle OF
good faith then was violated what rule of po-
Mexico herself was concerned, the measure .
should have been regarded by her as highly
beneficial. Her inability to rcconquer Texas
had been exhibited. repeat, by eight-now
nine-years Of fruitless and runous contest
In the meantime, Texas has been growing in
population and resources. Emigration has !
flowed into her territory, from all parts of the +
world, in a current which continues to increase (
in strength. Mexico requires a permanent
boundary between that young republic and
herself. Texas, at no distant day, if she con-
tinueS separate and detached from the United Il
States, will inevitably seek to consolidate her &
strength by adding to her domain the cOntigu +
Gus provinces of Mexico. The spirit of revolt \
from the control of the central government has,
heretofore, manifested itself in some of those
provinces and it is fair to infer that they
would be inclined to take the first favorable &
opportunity to proclaim their independence,
and TO form close alliances with Texas. The
war would thus be endless; or, if cessations of
hostlites should occur, they would only en- &
dure for a season.
The interest of Mexico, therefore, could in
nothing be better consulted than in peace
with her neghbors, which would result in the
establishment of a permanent boundary. Up-s7
on the ratification of the treaty, the executive
was prepared to treat with her on the most
liberal basis. Hence the boundaries Of Texas
were left underlined by the treaty. The execu5
tive proposed to settle these upon terms that all.
the world should have pronounced just and
reasonable No negotiation upon that poinF
could have been undertaken between the Unted
States and Mexico, IN advance of the ratltiCaa#
ton of the treaty. We should have had nd
right-no power--no authority, to have con
Quoted such negotiation and to have UNDER
taken it, would have been an assumption equal
ly revolving to the pride of Mexico and Texas,
and subjecting us to the charge of arrogance
while to have proposed in advance of annexa-
ton, to satisfy Mexico for any contingent inter-
est she might have in Texas, would have been
tn havo treated Texas not an independent
power, but rs Il mere dependency of Mexico
This assumption could not have been acted on
by the executive, without setting at defiance
your own solemn declaration that that republic
was an independent state. Mexico had, it is
true, threatened war against the United States,
in the event the treaty of annexation was rat-
fed. The executive could not permit itself to
be Influenced by this threat. 1t represented in
this The spirit of our people, who are ready to
sacrifice much for peace, hut nothing to ntlml-
daton. A war, under any circumstances, is
greatly to be deplored, and the United States is
the last nation to desire it but if, us the cond-
ton of peace, il be required of It's to forego the
UNREASONABLE right OF treating with an indie
pendent power, of our own continent, upon
matters highly interesting to both, and that up
on naked aud unsustained pretension of claim
by third power, to control the free-will of the
power with whom we treat-devoted as we
may be to peace, aud anxious to cultivate
friendly relations with the world, the executive
does not hesitate to say, that the people of the
United States would be ready to brave all con-
sequences sooner than submit to such condition.
But no apprehension of war was entertained