The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-05-07
TEXAS INDEPENDENT, DE FACTo AND DE
JURE.

ter on the Annexation oil Texas attempts W o'a"
between independence de j,ue and independence dc
tseto is one which il would be somewhat dihcui' 10
carry into practice or to define accurately IN theory
The recognition Of the independence OF nation
nothing more than an acknowledgment tina. II is COM
pecnt to perform any act Of national sovereignty "a
declare war, form treaties and incur obligations
which would be binding upon any who nigh, sue
coed in the administration Of its government. Ma
poleon was styled an usurper by half of Europe when
he ceded the province of Louisiana TO us but The
Bourbons, when re-instaed in their divine rights
never thought Of rcclaning The province or making
US paw for ii a second time and Mexico would have
no m.re right under the law Of nations, 10 declare
war against u.s. for accepting cesson OF any part OF
Texas, from its present proprietors, THAI she had
because we acknowledged its Independence.
The threat Of war with Mexico is, therefore,
merely an appeal to fears and not TO our sense
of Justice unless il can be shown that the Annexa-
ton Of Texas would be an 'lnprovoked aggression
upon the rights Of Mexico--that it would inhict
upon her an obvious and serious injury-that in the
contest with Texas she clearly has right and justice
on her sds-and that if Annexation should not take
place, shc has reasonable prospect Of reganing
possession of the country.
A brief review Of the origin of the war between
Mexico and Texas, the manner in which il has been
conducted, and the relative situation, condition and
capabilities of the two countries, will furnish an
swers to these questions.
1t is well known that Mexico, in point of soil and
climate, and richness and variety of productions is
the most desirable portion of the American CONT
nent if not Of the world It's very richness, in fact
deprives its inhabitants Of all motive 10 energy and
enterprise. The settled portion of it nearly equals
in extent all that part of the United States lying east
Of the Mississippi lis admirable position between
the two great oceans might, with more energetic
population have rendered it the centre of conn erce
between the eastern and western hemisphere
Notwithstanding the scarcity of good ports in the Gulf
of MEXICO.
The population, which increases slowly, now
amounts to about eight millions Of which the whites
constitute only fifteen per cent, little more than
one-seventh. The remainder are Indians, mesti-o,
or haf-brecd Indians, sanbos or mixed Indian and
negro, and negroes. The Indians amount 10 four mil
lions, or one-haf the population but the civilized
Indian of Mexico, though Of uDmixed blood, is a
wholly different being from the fierce and unlsme-
able savage with whom TIE Anglo-Saxon coonists
had 10 contend He resembles rather The native of
the plains Of Hndostan-timid, feeble and doce.-
These Indians form the only agricultural aborers of
Mexico, as well as its principal mechanical and
manufacturing operatives.
IL is cvdeni that in such country as this the idea
Of Republican Democratic Government is an il.
fusion All nominay free, but The distinction Of
ral, -. - 4
races who constitute fye-siIihs of the population,
are generally in state of such ignorance debase-
msn and servitude and subject 20 such tyranny and
oppression from the wealthy classes of whites that
the condition Of negro saves is even preferable.
The Government of the country Is Republican in
theory, but in practice nuctuales, almost annually
from a mixed military end ecclesiastical ogarohy, tc
pure military despotism.
], might easily be ofeucd, from the character o
the population, that the military strength Of such q
nation Tor external warfare is next to nothing and
this for the extraordinary and rapid
Of the Texans notw ihstandin1 The apparent dis
parity of he opposing forces In point Of fact the
armies sent to Texas were composed If the scum OF
the population OF the cities, Differed by enervated
spdg- of NJ, xican Srslocracy. They have no yeo-
many, or hardy agricultural population, from which
To form army
Texas on the other hard, bears no resemblance to
any portion OF MEXICO in climate, soil, or population
and is separated from It by natural boun laros Al
the time of Of the province of Spain, it
was still wilderness, the abode OF unconguered and
wsrike tribes Of Indiana who were engaged in pere-
iusl and successful ibcuIsions on toe Spanish Colo
r,.t Its md lima -
the McIicansi it would yield them nothing without
labor and they had neither the industry 10 cultivate
nor the courage TO defend it.
Shorty after our cossion to Spain, Mexico became
ndependen, "de freon Of SPAIN snj obtained posses
sion If Teras, laid CLAIM TO It by the right of the
strongest In point Of fact the right Of Mexico was
no, acknowledged by Spain until after the separation
ofTs,as from Mexico and, therefore according 10
the distinction laton by Mr.. Van Buren, and Others
Merco has never hid posscssi, IN Of Texas de jure.
One oftne fret acts Of the independent Government,
Of Mexico was provide for the COLOMBIA ION OF Tex.
and endesvor reclaim il from heir formda bic nd
restless enemic- the Camsnche- and other tribes Of
Indians. For this purpose they held out invitation.
to foreigners, being well aware that they could no,
offer sufficient inducements to their own People 10
undertake the lsbors and peril, of colonizinr the
county.
This wrelehed policy, bot still delib,-
rate policy, and not the result Of a sudden
freak Of generosity to the unknown stranger :
who we're TO be allorsd to the settlement of the
province. II nigh, have been forcseen, that
the euigfants would be chiefly fro the hardy and
sn'erpnsing population Of neigbboring nation, and
that they were no, likely t play the part at once Of
rude and daring pioneers in wilderness, and Of tame
subjects to any government disposed to exercise d.
Toric authority. The backvoodsnsn Of the United
States could not be suddenly traasmud into the sp-
inic-s and submissive Indian Of the table land Of
Mexico.
In May, 1922, Aueustin Iturbide the commander.