The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-03-20
For AnneEation.


If Texas should be admitted into the Union, as
many persons suppose she viii, then certain conse-
quences may follow. 1t is said in the journals of the
day, that in the event takes place, Mexico will
declare war against US. Indeed, we believe she has
intimated the same thing to our government Eng
land ALSO it is said, will permit US to acquire
this important additional territory-and is held
up, in terrorem, if we incorporate Texas into our
republic.
This requires OF us cool, deep and profound
consideration of the rights OF the parties involved
in the contemplated anne Ration. The rights of the
various parties must depend upon the law of nature
and the law of nations.
BY those laws only can the rights of the respec.
tive parties be ascertained, because the municipal
laws of each are disregarded by the other out OF
their jurisdiction. We must, therefore, have re-
course to those general and immuable laws which
God himself has impressed upon humanity, and
which prevail all over the world and which are
obligatory every where and upon all persons. These
are the laws of nature and nations, which are found
in the works of various ursts and writers upon the
rights and obligations OF nations and societies Of
people in different ages of the world. BY these
laws, let US for moment or two examine what il
the rights Of Texas in relation to the contem-
plated connection with the United States Texas
was formerly part Of Mexico; she threw of thu
Mexican yoke, and formed government oil
her own, and she dates the period of her birth
as a nation beyond the time, of half generation.
She became free sovereign and independent ma
ton by her bravery and heroism the plains of ST.
Jacin,o, and has maintained that sovereignty and
independence from that period up to the present
time. She has been acknowledged sovereign and
independent by the leading powers of Europe; and
also by the Government of this country. Now the
law Of nature and nations declare that Texas i
free, sovereign and independent. Rutherford's
Law of Nature, page 49,, is explicit upon this point
Putfendorf s Law of Nature and Nations b. 3, C. g.
s A, is equally so. And the reader will see in Vat
tePs Law OF Nations, page 2 the same principles
laid down. Indeed, all the jurlss, who have writ
ten upon International law, declare that where a
people proclaim themselves free, and are able &c
support and maintain their declaration, they are
free. Nay, they go much further. Vattel, in his
Law OF Nations, page 1, says that government IL
moral person, subject to the privileges, duties S.
and responsibilities of natural persons; and with
him agrees Rutherford, in his Law of Nature, page
4S2. They may take all measures to promote
their interest and happiness to the same extent as
natural person; they do not interfere with the
rights of other nations. (Vattels Law of Nations
page IL; Rutherford's Law OF Nature, page 463
Puffendorff's Law of Nature and Nations) Now
then, this be the condition of Texas; if she be
free, sovereign, and Independent nation then shs
Is free, moral person, with liberty TO act as she
pleases, that she does not interfere with the
rights OF other nations.
She has a perfect right to enter into any com.
pact or engagement with any other nation her in
terest or her well being and happiness dictate
to her. She may incorporate herself with the
United States, she may seek their protection anc
submit to that government; or she may remain Il.
she now is, free, sovereign and independents
Being free moral person, she NAV act as she
pcases, SO she does violate the rights of othe,
nations. (Vattels Law OF Nations, page 30; Ruth.
crford's Law of Nature, page asa; Kents Common.
taries, VOL l, page Is, and page i2-la)
If Texas be a free, sovereign, and indepen.
dent State, having right TO make such compact:
and engagements with other nations as her interes
or happiness dictates, then it becomes necessary ,e
inquire what will be the effect OF annexing hersel
TO THIS country, as it regards the rights of Mexc,
and the United States! We believe that all iurists
and those acquainted with the law of nature ant
VIII agree, tHdt McAlcO has no TlgHt 10 ue
clare war against the United States for recevln,
Texas into the Union; because, as we have shown
Texas has perfect right to enter into the conncc
uon lttoows, of course, there cannot be an op
poste or contrary right There cannot be two
rights, antagonaic to each other, existing at the
same time One would destroy the other. The
collision would destroy them If Texas has a righ
TO annex herself to this country, then it follows a.
natural consequence, that Mexico has no RICH,
to declare war against US for receiving her. And
hence, Is blown to the wind. her clustering ,hres.
that she would visit us with hostiies If wa rec.iv,
ed into the Union the territory of Texas.
Having thus shown that Mexico ha. no ground nj
complaint against us for incorporating Texas into
our government, we will proceed in the next place
10 inquire, what are the rights of Great Britain BY
the law OF nature and nations, as involved or con
nected with the contemplated annexation.
BY rule, that applies with as much force il
mathematics, as in law, politics and morals, it il
held the incident follows the principal, as much al
the shadow follows the substance It Mexico ha
no right to declare war against us, on account, o
receiving Texas into the Union, then il follows, a
eascsssary consequence, that Great Britain ha