Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-08-23


and that henceionh all allegiance and subsection
10 any foresa po,rcr raesosrv is entirely re-
nounccd. Alter the Successful resistance of the aui
thonty oil Spain by the combined Mexican States
ana before Inc recognition OF their rights of Soye-
reigny ~ that power, they were regarded by our
Government Is FULLY possessed OF the sovereign
right 10 make treaties. They proceeded TO esia-
bish 4 Government. The Independent States of
Mexico and amongst them Texas, met in Con
venlion and ordained Constitution in Inest re-
>pects similar 10 our own. securing the rights Of.
freedom 10 the confederacy. Mexico was one of
these independent States and the Government
formed was called The Mexican United States.
One OF the Mexican States has no more The
right of supremacy OYER the rest, than has tho
most powerful State OF this Union over the small
est and weakest. All the States combining
against one, could have no authority except that
which results from superior force. to charge the
form OF Governments, and impose on that deS-
potism. Texas rs one OF The independent States
OF the Mexican Republic, has perfect right
Ia claim dominion over The Stale OF Mexico an
other one OF these independent States as the lat
Ter. alone Of in combination with the rest has To
claim dominion over the former Much les
right has military ii>urper who puts down
the Constitution and thus DESTROYS the bond Of the
union of the STATES, Ia exercise tie power Of &c
vcynmenl. or Iulc over any of The States which
composed the con!cCeracv, except as he could sub
ugac them ly his strong arm Texas. before
the Constitution. was an independent State: she
he'd declared her independence and renourocd AL
allegiance ana >uhlcction 10 any foreign powc:
uha,cgcr, ana became part OF the Few Govern
ineui. b her voluntary adoption Of The Constiu
lion When the Feiefal Republic was ami
hiIalet hv III" usurpailon OF Santa Anna. she
was thrown back upon her soycrcienty ior the
onr tic that bound her 10 The re.t was severed
and no formal declaration OF her independence -.
Mexico was necessary Ia restore her to her orig
nal rights. She became by that usurpaton ag:ia
an independent STATE and The usurper so tn
from reducing her 10 s,.bIecton and Obedience.
was captured in The attempt. BY an act OF eN-
traordinary libcra!ity. he was permitted 10 retuin
10 his country. Can any one doubt, that under
these circumstances. TeXasis IN independent, and
absolute sovereignty having the rioh, to lnanac,
her own concerns, and 10 treat with foreign pow
crS on The saline footing - other independent ma
tons lie who dolIli>, must adopt the principle
that the States oi this Union would not be thrown
bac, upon ,lieir original rights I'll sovereignty,
by the destruction oi the Constitution whrh
alone unte> them in one Government.
The authority 81 Texas 10 contract with other
nations being established, iaS she r"ht 10 make
the ircaiv which appears 10 me To have been 50
UNNECESSARILY and unlustv opposed! Does that
lltGll Jl>tt SulJtNt II' PdltISS lOHtejICu W
animadversion ot the other nations OF the eauh9
To the fgsl question answer. She has right 10
make any treaty. which will promote the interest
OF her people The same eminent writer on The
Law Of nations 10 whom have already referred,
saws, 'a> a nation is under al obligation 10 pre-
serve with the utlao>; care the liberty and indt
DcnicnCc derived from Nature when il has not
sufficient strength 81 itself, and is not IN condi
lion To resist liz enemies, il may lawfully submit
Il Ia.
upon which they shall come toan agreements and
the TACT or treaty oi submission. will aiicrward>
he the measure and rule Of the rights 81 each
For that which submits. Iesicnn" right IL pos
sc>~cd and cOnVeIiD9 il Ia another has an alS)-
lule power to make this conveyance upon what
condition il plc;>cs and the DINER by accepting The
submission on this footing engages 10 observe re-
liaioii.lv aihe clauses IN ihercaiy This suhini>-
sion NAV j., varied 10 ninlv according 10 The
viii of the contracting parties: IL may either
leave the interior nation part OF the sovereignty,
restraining il only in certain respects or, il may
totally abolish H. that the superior nation shall
become the sovereign OF the other: or, In short
he haS mdyh incorporated V7M The eT6dica, IN
orj., Ia f1cH, f,oHi hrnccto11r0rd, 0aiy singh
STAR mi tteh HC cdl-cHS trW harc he same pr
rH, e,S as Moe H'Ha lrb0m hcV 0rc HAi'rd" The
Treaty being warranted hy the code which Iegli-
laie> the conduct OF nations. no foreign power has
a right 10 H. offended for. among nations, more
has cause ut offence. except IN violation Of The
rule which governs International rights and in
tcicouI>c. In matters which concern our own
safety and interest, there i obligation 10 con
suit the within or caprice OF others We violatc
no duty 10 anynaiionbv the annexation OF Texas;
and it is an entirely novel doctrine that we must
ask the permission OF England before We venture
upon legitimate negotiation with another power.
When Texas tenders herself in the manner she
-, a 10 20
net with reclamation, and hailed as a sister from
one end o! this Union To the otter. One con
.iieraion should have great inilucncc-she has
rid herself ot the odious feature in the Mexican
Constitution, which was recognized and enforced
by the u>lper. | mean an established Religion
Now there, as in our own happy country, CON
. SCIENCE Is FREE: there is no restraint upon H. |
never believed that political liberty could be en-
during where religious Intolerance prevailed
Mr. Austin writes from Texas under date OF Both
Nav, 1924 that ''thc Government of this nation
has finally settled down into the Federal Republi
can system, and the outlines OF the Constitution
are copied from The United States, with the single
exception OF an exclusive religion in favor Of the
Roman Catholics which is the law OF the land
and as snch, must be obeyed; and il Methodist.
or any other Preacher, except a Catholic was 10
go through this colony preaching, should be com
PEELED 10 impri>on him. All tic children in th,
country, without cXcepllon must he baptized III
the Roman Church. &c. Under such Iegula-
tons. it is not surprising that tyrant should arise
10 PROSTATE the half achieved liberty of the peo-
pie. In ovcrihrowing the Constitution, he has re-
leased each State from the Government he has
usurpcd: and in admitting one Of the injured
Sta,es into the Union, we but extend the rights OF
lnlnkind 10 liberty and free Government.
regret that The sickness of my family prevents
nv being with you on the Ith proyimo. have
the honor. however 10 transmit the following SEN
tment
The JN1icd Siaicsond TSrnS. Two independ-
CIT Republics endeavorng toembrace each other:
Their Union cannot be prevented bu ly the enc
mics OF Tie liberty oil mankind
have he honor 10 be, with sentiments Of high
consideration Your ohedient servant,
CHARLES ] MCDONALD.
To Messrs ]. Raw, Y ]. Long, and A. p. Cal
honn Committee &c.