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


confirmed, the most perfect neutrality between them "
The COMMITTEES Foreign Affairs, their elaborate
report up,n the subject, say "ous recognition must
cessary be coexistenl only with the fact which it is
founded and caaaot sureive 1t. While the nations Of
S nth America actually Independent, It simply to
spsak the Truth TO acknowledge them to Le 50 Should
Spain, contrary TO her asowed principle and aciaoc
lodged interest reneo the for the conquest Of South
.4mcr,ca shalt indeed, regret IT, du shtH cbSeree
hare done bcwcsn he independent parties an ho-
nest and impartial aeuratty The Secretary OF Stsse,
IN defence vi The act of recogni.lon sad t. the Spa
nish minister: hs recognition IS neiiher intended TO
invadate any right Of Span, 10 affect the employ
nent of any uhch she may yet be disposed or ena-
bed TO use acit the IF reunng those Prortnccs to
the rest Of her domiatons 1hat these aVu"ais were
in strict conformity to the trne principles OF the law Of
na,iono there can be doubt They were, at all
events, those which this Government has solemnly
announced its rule OF action in regard to contests
between rival parties for the supreme power IN foreign
States. That the admission Of Texas as member OF
this confederacy, whilst the contest for the mainte-
nance of the independence she had acquired still
pending and consequent assumption OF the RESPONSE
blity OF protecting her against invasion, would have
been plain departure from the laws and usagss OF IA
tons and violation of the principles TO which we had
avowed adherence i'll the face OF the world was too
clear to be doubted Thus believing, had on the
cason to which have referred, in the faithful dis
charge of the which the people had reposed in
me, but TO pursue; aud that was promptly,
but respectfully adopted.
return now to the question, Has the condition OF
the contes. between Texas and Mexico for the sove-
regny of the former far changed 10 render these
principles now inapplicable What is the attitude
which these States al this moment occupy towards
each other Are they at war, or are they not! we
cannot svade this question If we would. 10 enume-
all the circumstances bearing upon IT. Ia comnu-
nication like this, would be impaccabe, nor Is II ne
cessa-y. la respect to the parties themselves there
would seem TO be no misunderstanding upon the sub
lect. Mexico has been lncessant IN her avowas, as
well our government 10 others, OF the continuance
of the war; and of her determination to prosecute it,
How does Texas regard her position IN respect TO the
war with Mexicoa Three years subsequent to our re-
cogntion Of her pendence we find her entering into
stipulation with foreign power to accept OF her me
dation to bring about cesson OF hostlItes between
her and Mexico, engaging to assume million sterling
of the debts due from Mexico to the subjects OF haf
power, if she, through her influence, obtained from
Mexico an unlimited truce in respect TO the war then
raging between her and Texas, within one monh, ano
a treaty of peace in SIX As late as last June, we see
a proclamation of the President OF Texas declaring o
suspension of hosttcs between the two powers du-
ring the tendency Of negotiations TO be entereo upon
between them issued the supposltion mat similar
proclamation would be issued by Mexico; ana actual
hostiltes are only suspended by an armistice to
be continued for specified and short period, Tor the
sake of negotiation Nor are our views upon the
point less explicit.
In the published letter of the late Secretary of State,
TO the Mexican Minister at Washington, written IN De-
cember last he says "Neary eight have elapsed
since Texas declared her independence. During all
that time Mexico has asserted her right oil jurisdiction
and dominion over that country, and has enoeaVorea
10 enforce il by arms la the Presi6ents message 10
Congress- il is stated that he which has existed tor
so long time between Mexico and Texas, has, since
the battle of San Jacnto, consisted for the most part
of predatory incursons, which, while they have been
attended with much of suffering to individuals, and
kept the borders of the countries IN state ot con-
alarm, haze failed 10 approach 10 any dhnthre re
suit And after commenting with much truth upon
the iusuifciency OF the armaments which Mexico has
fitted for the subsection OF TeXas-on the length
Of time which has elapsed since the latter declared
her independence-on the perseverance, notwth-
standing, in plans of re-conques; By MeSlco-o on her
refusal to acknowledge the independence OF Texas
and on the evils of border warfare, the message
adds: " The United States have an immediate IN
in seeing end put 10 the state OF hos'iiit'es
between Mexico ard Texas"-fo!lowing up the re-
mark with a forcble remonstrance against the con-
tnuance Of the war, and very just and impressive
statement of the reasons why 1t should cease. Tins
remonstrance is, in my opnion entirely lnst ana per-
fec,y proper. The Government of the United States
should be all times ready TO nsrpose its good offices,
TO bring about speedy, and, far as practicable,
satisfactory adjustment OF this long pending contro-
versy. Its whole influence should be exerted, con-
stany, zeaousy, and in good faith, 10 advance SO de-
sirable object and in the process CT time It can,
without doubt, be accomplished. But what my dear
Sir is the true and undsgused character ofihe remedy
for these evils which would be applied by the "mme-
diate annexation Of Texas 10 the United States Is
it, more or lees, than saying II Mexco we feel our
selves argrieved bv the continuance OF this war be-
tween YOU and Texas--we have interest in seeing
il terminated-we will accomplish that object by
taking the disputed Territory to ourseives-1e WILL
make Texas part Of the United States, so that those
pl1ns of reconguest which we know you are mainring
10 be successful, must he made against the power
that we bring into the contest II the war is to be
continued as we Understand TO be your design, the
United States henceforth 10 be regarded az one OF
the bellgeicnts,
We must look al this matter as il really stands We
shull act under the eye OF intelligent, observing
world and the affair cannot be made to wear differ
ent aspec. from what it deserves If even we had the
disposition (Which We have nc) to throw over 1t dis
guses Of any kind We should consider whether there
is any way which The peace OF this country cnn De
preserved should immediate annexation take place,
save one-and that is, according to present aPpeaan-
ces the improbable event that Mexico VIII be ceerea
from the farther prosecution of the war by the appre-
hension of our power How does that mailer stand:-
She has caused be informed, both at Mexico ana
here, o q manner the most formal and solemn, that che
will feel herself constrained, by every consideration
that influence the conduct OF nation, 10 regard
the fact of annexation act Of war on the part Of
the United States, and that she will, notwithstanding,
prosecute her attempts regain Texas, regardless OF
consequences Exceptions are however, taken oy the
President, and think very justly taken, TO the manner
in which this determination has been announced ne
Mexican Government should certainly have applied IN
q becoming spirit to for explanations of its inien
ton. If il found this Government under the mp'es
sion That Mexico although it might not be wiling 10
acknowledge It's independence had abandoned oil sefi'
Gus hope Of accompanying Texas, Mexico should have
assured OF error, and demonstrated against any
action part based that erroneous assumption,
declared firmly, if it pleased but in that courteous and
respectful which is alone suited 10 the inter
course between nations who profess To be friends, its
determination TO oppose Instead Of thng course,
the proprety of which was obvious she i, assumes,
upon grounds which neither proper nor safe for
her 10 act upon, that this Government had designs
upon Texas then denounces the annexation as great
national crime and forthwith poclams instant war as
the penalty of persising in such on attempt and
all this in language bearing certainly (alhough suose-
quently disavowed) every appearance of menace
Blu, this is besetng, and very ancient folble Of the
mother country, well as Of her DESCENDANTS in their
diplomatic intercourse. Every conversant with
the subject of Spanish relations, knows, that at sas,
from the time Of Don Luis dOnis to the present duy,
this Government has been fseqnsn,ly-not to say
tnually-subjec,ed to this species Of diplomats dog
natism Partly in consequence of the genius Of their
language: partly from their peculiar temperament
much from habit but more from radical defect Of
a., IS !, ~, flstr