Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-05-03

o,.e n,,;ors which the position OF be!ligerent al
most una yod,tly draws otter 1t, ana me
niuriss wi:,ch might lie inflicted upon each, not"ith-
ssndin The great disparity oil their respective trees,
Iii 80 word Goo forbid that nh American
;,;,s h,,id ever couat the cost of any appen! t.
VIA, IS appropriately dsnomha'ed the last resort o'
nations whenever that resort becomes necessary e'
tho, for The safety yindaate the honor OF his conh
try There IS. rus'' n. one so oass rs no. III
os "a himself. and ali he has, 10 be forever and al an
80 sn.;sct to such reqnis'',on But would
. ,h lIssco brought under such circumstan-
900 bc coa,est oi that character Could we hope TO
s,,d ns,.c;l, as,ed III the eyes OF mankind tor en-
tsr,nc INTO u .ao,e especially II Ms commencement Is
"a ba ,,ecsJ by the appropriation to our ewn uses Of
the territory the sovereignty o. when s ID dispute DC
, roo nations one OF which We are 10 loin VI IN"
si-neplA This, sir Is matter OF Inc very grasss'
80, o,A in respect TO which no American states
nan or citizen can poSsoly De lhnhtfen'' we naVe
bo,,c,e, among the nations of the earth 10 nantlin
An nm, n,hl:c ;rnc,ionaries, we'll those who udvo'
cata this measure those who oppose II, however
much they may differ as 10 its effects VIII, am sure,
ha aon,y solcious for the performance Of TINS hrst Of
du,as Il has hitherto been pride and our bonsi,
th,, b;Ist the lust of power, with fraud and violence
IN -, has led other and differently constituted ga-
vernm.nts 10 -gression and conquest our movements
IN those resoects have always been regulated by ea-
ann md ntcs disposition TO detract irom our pre-
tensions IN this respect WILL IN the nature OF things
h. ALWAYS prevalent elsewhere; and has, al Inns
VARY m
some quarters, the most rebId character Should not
every one them who sincerely loves his country who
generates lis neaoIored and glorious institutions
who dw.IIs with pride and delight associations con-
nected with r'se progress, and present condton-
nm The steady step with which have advanced TO our
r.ar, emnence in despite OF the hostility, and in
o,pt OF the bitter rev OF the enemies OF Tree
dom in all parts of the and that deep
| ". whether we would not, by the immediate anne1a
ton OF Texas place weapon IN the hands OF those
vho pow look upon and institutions with
dis,rust!u and envous eyes, that would do us more
real lasting injury, naton than the acquisition OF
such Territory, valuable as /; undoubtedly Is, cou.n
possiby repair IL is said, and truly SAID, that hs
war between Texas and Mexico has already oeen OF
foo LONG duration. We are, and must continue 10 oe
more or less onnoyed by lis prosecution and have nm
doubtedly hes been remarked, an interest IN seeing
| il terminated. Bat appeal to any Principie W
the law of nations, To which We practise scruPuious
adherence that would, under present circumstances,
Justify in interfering for It's suppression, IN manner
lha, would unavoldaby make us party TO IFS further
prosecution Can this position be made suilcientiy
clear 10 justify in committing The peace md honor
of the country to its support
In regard to the performance by of that duty, so
difficult for any Government to pertom-'he ooserV-
ance OF an honest neutrality between nations at war
we can now look through whole coreer, since our
frs, admission into the family OF nations not only WITH
out blush, but with feelings of honest pride and sals-
faction. The way was opened by fresIdent asn'hg
ton himself under circumstances oil the most nhieui'
character and ut less hazard than that OF exposing
to plausible vet unjust mpuations OF lnhdelI-
" 10 Treaty slipulaons. The path he trod win such
unfaterng steps and which led to such benehclal re-
suits, has hitherto been pursued, with unvaryIng haey
by every OF his successors, OF whom becomes me
10 speak.
If our symnaihes could induce departure from a
policy which has so much in its commencement to con-
secrae it, and such advantages 10 ITS con-
nuance they would doubtless draw US TO the side OF
Texas. That the happiness OF her people would be
promoted by the maintenance of her ndel endence,
have no doubt Few, if any, efforts for the extension
of The blessings Of free government IN any part Of the
world have been made, since the establishment OF our
own Independence that have failed to excite our car
nest and sincere wishes for their success But they
have never been permitted to withdraw us from the
faithful performance of cur duty neutral nation
They excited and deeply, too, at the commence
men OF the French revolution they were revived ~
the struggle of the South American States for the es
adjustment of their Independence; they have been put
10 their screrest trial in this very confess, bstwcen
Texas and Mexico Yet, in that whole period of time,
amidst The convuls;ons Of empires, and the a@essness
of power by which many OF lis Possessors have been
disns uished, has been cardinal point in the admit
nisraon of the affairs OF this republic, to adhere with
the strictes fidelity the rule which was laid down by
Washington enforced by!Jeferson, and respected, with
undated sincerity, by their successors.
There is another circumstance which is we'll calcu
lated 10 tnissad upon this subject. Many, If not
most, the persons 10 De by Inc OCCASION vi
this question: were once citizens of the United States
and have still their relatives and friends amongst
aal not unaware of the hazard to which expose my
standing with the latter IN speaking thus unreserveoly
upon point we'll calculated to excite deep feelings
This is perhaps, particularly applicable TO that
portion OF my fellow citizens, of whom IT was apy
and appropriately said by of their own number,
that they are the children of the sum- end Par.ake OF
its warmth" Yet whether wc stand or fail in the es
tmaton Of coun:rymen, II IL always True WISDOM
i,1I, IL. trtIf.
moreover consola,ion to know, that If to nourish
husasm Of the effects of genial climate, II at
the same time seldom fails give birth To chvarous
spirit, which vii! not permit itseii to be Outcome IN the
extent sincerity of lis sacrifices at the shrine OF pa
triosm To preserve our national escutcheon unfair
nshed, has, consequently, if reliance be placed up.
on public archives been an object OF unceasiEg go
lic;:ude with Southern statesmen.
Nothing is either more true or more extensively
known, than that Texas wresed from Mexico,
and her pendence established through the instu-
mentality of citizens cf the United States. Equally
true H. that this not only against the wishes,
but in direct contraventon Of the best efforts oil our
Governmen mt TO prevent our cit zens from engaging III
the enterprise Efforts have nevertheless, not been
wanting on The part of those who anxious
for the credit Of Republican Governments, 10 msre-
present The views OF ours in this respect-o cause il
to be believed that efforts 10 prevent unlawful
participation by citizens IN that struggle were IN
sincere that coveted this portion OF tle territory Of
,
or by negotiation, ths movement pelimi-
gary step, which would in the end. be equally subser
Went TO views upon Texas No one can have had
better opportunities oil knowing how unfounded these
INJURIOUS impuailons than myself. AS early as
when Presden, Houston first vent 10 Texas, believe
in 1879 consulted By Gen Jackson ufon the
subject o 9 priea'e letter addressed by him to the
hororibla NJ Fulton, now Senator Of the United
States, Secretary of the Territory Of Arkansas.
requesting l:,m 10 the movements OF General
Houston be watched and apprize the President OF
the first indication his part Of an intention to vioiae
the laws Of the United States by armed 'ncuTs'on
into Mexico From TINT period TO The end OF Gene.
raj Jacksons term of Office, ] am we'll satisfied
as can b. of any fact that he was sincerely des,rous
20 perform his whole duty Chief Magistrate of the
country, and TO prevent, in this respect the slightest
violation Of the laws with the execution OF which he
was charged lie doub, sincerely believed, that the
incotp on OF Texas into the Federal Uni"n would
he aIa- advantageous her, TO Mexico, and TO the
United St,ics ard ready 10 ADOPT nil proper
measures Tor the accomplishment of that object But
they know very little Of General Jacksons true char
ac;er who can for moment permit themselves 10 be-
lie We him capable Of dong coun,enancing or advising
single act which he believed or bad even reason 10 ap
prehend would violate he pghted faith Of his country
Mt to the treat ia