The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1844-02-28

| wards d comparatively weak power, what we
should not have dared to do towards one ca
pable of inficting on us the chastisement
which such course merited. Every body
remembers the marked contrast to all this in
the conduct of our government towards Great
Britain, in connexion with the Canadian
troubles. But she was strong, while Mexico
was weak. That was the difference
The battle of San Jacinto, which resulted
in the capture of the Mexican President took
place in April, 1886, short time previous to
the order to General Gaines. The tables of
Congress were soon loaded with petitions as
king for the immediate recognition of Texan
Independence. They were referred, in the
House of Representatives, to the Committee
on Foreign Affairs, who reported that the in
dependence of Texas ought to be acknowl-
edged, whenever satisfactory evidence
should be received that it had in successful
operation government capable of perform
ing the duties, and fulfilling the obligations of
an independent power.
In the mean time the President had appoin-
ted special agent to proceed 10 Texas for
the purpose of ascertaining its political. mill
tary and civil condition, with view to the
question Of recognition. On the 22d of De-
cember 1886, he communicated to Congress
the report of the special agent. The message
accompanying the report contained full and
explicit declaration of the inerpediency of re-
cognition upon the following ground
! That "the acknowleds ment Of a new State
as independent" was always san act of great
delcacy and responsibility when
such State had forcibly separated itself from
another, Of which it had formed part; and
which still claims dominion over :" that ga
premature recognition under such circustan-
ces, is always liable to be regarded as proof
of an unlriendly spirit to one of the contend
! ing parties" and would be equivalent, I'M
der some circumstances, TO declaration of
war; that the recognitions by us of the in
dependence Of the Spanish American States
had been delayed mot only until the ability
/ of the new States to protect themselves was
fully established, but until the danger of their
being again subjugated had entirely passed
away; that such was not the condition Of
/ Texas in reference to Mexico and that,as the
/ Texian revolution had been effected by "emi-
grants from the United States" and the &C
| acknowledgement of independence had been
sought by them with an avowed design to
( treat Immediately of its transfer to the United
/ States. and its admission into the Union as
one of the Federal States, too eaily move
ment might subject us, holcerer unjustly e.
to the imputation Of seeking to establish the
claim Of our neighbors to a territory, with a
view TO its subsequent acquisition by our
selves"
Here was conclusive argument against
the recognition,-eitherfo forced from the Pres
ident by conviction of its conclusiveness, or
feigned to be satisfactory for the purpose Of
quieting apprehensions in regard to the meas
uIe.
The message was referred TO the Commit
tee of Forign Affairs, who, on the 18th oil
February, 1887, reported two resolutions to
the effect that =" the independence of Texas
ought to be recognized !" and that ''the Com
mittee of Ways and Means be instructed to
| provide in the bill for the civil and diplomatic
expenditures Of the government, salary and
outfit for such public agent as the President
may determine to send to Texas" Februa-
/ ry Dist the resolutions were taken up, and on
motion, were laid on The table, by vote OF
/ 90 to sc; and motion to reconsider the vote
was lost by vote Ct 107 to 90.
/ And now mark what followed. Although
] the House had refused 10 say that the indie
pendence of Texas oughtto be acknowledged,
and had refused 10 direct the Committee OF
/ Ways and Means to report an appropriation
for Minister TO that country, vet, seven days
afterwards, when the public apprehension
had been thus alayed, there was suddenly
sprung upon the House a proposition to
amend the civil and diplomatic appropriation
bill by adding an appropriation for the out
fit and salary of diplomatic agent to be sent
TO the Republic of Texas whenever the Presi-
! dent may receive satisfactory evidence that
Texas is an independent power, and shall
deem it expedieut to appoint such minister"
And what, think yOu, was the fate Of this
proposition? Though direct proposition
for recognition, and an appropriation for a
minister was lost, one week before, by ma
iority Of II yet the whole was now reversed
by majority of 43-the amendment being
I carried by a vote Of lI9 to 76i
! And what next? The President notwith-
standing his conclusive argument, two months
I before, against the measure; and notwithstand-
/ ing the decided vote, week before, against it !;
and Notwithstanding the suddenly reversed
vote left the expediency of consumatlng the
implied recognition by the appointment of a
Minister, entirely within his discretion. upon
/ receiving satisfactory evidence that Texas
was an independent power,-the President,
| say, notwithstanding all this, suddenly lost
his scruples, forgot his own arguments, and
without waiting " 10 TecetCe satisfactory eFl-
dence, or any evidence, instantly perceived
that Texas was an independent power, and
instantly became satisfied that it lrds "expe-
dent to appoint the Minister; and thereup-
on, in the very same hour in which he signed
the bill making the appropriation, sent NOM
ination Of the minister to the Senate; and the
Senate, in the same hour, passed the vote Of
continuation
Thus was carried the recognition of Tex
ian Independence And by some such spring
vote-some such Legislative slight ohand'
and Executive second sight, will dhnerdteon
be effected, if effected at all.
The sudden abandonment by the President,
of his objections to recognition, without any
change in the condition of Texas, or any dis
avowal by her of an intention to seek IS admis-
sion into the Union as one of the Federal
States was, of course, regarded by her as an
irritation to such union; and accordingly,
the first act of her minister, Mr.. Memucan
Hunt, was to make proposal TO that effect.
As the Erecutiue could not add new Slate
to the Union, he was obliged to decline the
proposal. But, in the mean time the aPpro-
bod haar nuf in motion,