Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-08-02

1914:
with the exception ci three lnaraudin s exre
dions for the purpose Of harrassiis anu Pi'iasi,s
the weak and isolated settlements OH our "e.''ii'
border neither of VIII q! was abe 10 i'i,'''"'i ~,
position within the settlements longer yuan erSi''
days, and all Of which occurred III ioio 'ieie a,s
been no war waged hv Mexico against eAaS, a''"
there is now, and has been loi long 'iiie P''''
uninterrupted peace ,,;
In the despatch of Mr.. Thompson, our MI
mister to Mexico. dated Fehrualy2, ISL, he says:
I'll (the negotiation was only devicc on Tue
part OF Santa Anna 10 relieve nm from .he eili-
Guilty in which he had involved himself, ny MS
threats and promises Of rcconquerinS texas,
which he knows perfectly we'll is ilaposslblc-
There NAV he other maiautins iarayS, ilhc ,'l''I
OF Gen VOL, relreating more rapt'iE man thc.
advanced. But as 10 any regular anu iea>o.."-
bly, sufficient force invading the country, inc anlhS
is impossihle and will no, be attempted. They
cannot raise money 10 support such an army TWO
months"
Iconsidcr the grounds assumed in opposition 10
this treaty as utterly unounded IN iac ana as cro
gatory 10 the dignity, and dangerous 10 tie peace
and safety of The American people. coiisiIef
them deeply injurious To oar vita! interests atihs
moment, and oil most ell example IN AL time 10
come. consider them as groui"iess objections,
operating only iorthe benefit OF !ofcl:h powers
t'i'~N'Ns'
abandoning tic rights and interests oil our own
country consider them Is stripping this nation
of many of The vital attributes of sovereign pow
er, inhcting upon her fearful! injuries at 'his pc
Rod, and if adored IS rrcceceniS SubjcctiiS US,
in all time 10 come To great SACRIFICES and llnin!-
ncnt perils. tsio take up the exploded doctrine
OF a paper blockade, 81 long and arro@aniiy
maintained by England, and apply ii in manner
still more injurious 10 our interests tc paper con-
| n Il ~ nd
was that paper blockade announced by Bri-
fish order in council was decisive against The
rights Of neutral powers. And now the doctrine
is, that war upon paper existing: only in threats
and procamaionS, is equivalent 10 an actual
contest, in It's effects and consequences upon
neutral power Here, inmy place, Mr.. President,
! feel called upon TO denouncc the doctrine. as all
Interpolation into the law of nations, as affecting
inuiousv our national rights and independence,
As sacrificing the superior rights oi peace, 10 the
unjust claims ola stimulated war, and IS givin"
10 pretended bclligcrents rights founded only upon
actual conflict.
Butcven ftherc were actual war between Tex
as and Mexico, especially when all reasonable
hope OF conquest was past, | deny that there Is
any rule in the law OF nations which prevents
cesSon By one Of the helgerents TO neutral
And first as eases in point, cite The instances OF
the efforts to purchase Texas from Mexico, made
by the administration OF Messrs Adams and Clay
on the 26th March, 1925, and on The 18th March,
1927. and by the administration OF Jackson and
Van Buren,, on the 18th August, 1872?
With these dates before US lei us now examine
the facts. In 1891, Mexico a rcvolied province
vi Spain EyN ctcidrC3 kct iade;Tadcacc. In 1872,
steps were taken by It's towards recognition, by
sending an agent 10 examine into the condition OF
her affairs; and in 1923, We recognized her indie
pendence. On the Isl April, 1925, Mr.. Poinsct,
oNr first minister TO Mexico, started from
Washington, bearing with him the irs.-mention-
ed despatch. proposing 10 purchase Texas from
Mexico, } of tie 2Glh March, 1925. On the OH of
March 1922. the Spanish minister filed with our
government his solemn protest against any
recognition, by US. Of the Independence OF!
Mexico, avowing the determination OF Spain 10
rcconQuer what he was pleased Ia call that in>ur-
gent province On the 2jih OF September, 1926,
Spain renewed her protest against our lccoSnl-
ton OF the independence OF Mexico, declaring
that the Kin" would never abandon his claim
TO these his ancient and rishtiul possessions. -
That the mass OF good citizens constituting
great majority OF the population, were in favor of
the King. and were only waiting Tor some suita-
bic occasion 10 come ont in then strength, ard
put down the insurgents On the 2Gth Of Octo-
her 1925, Srain renewed this protest, declaring
that the King woah never abandon his rights;
that ii was matter of conscience with him 10
transmit his hereditary possessions % his success
Sol that there were symptoms OF the return OF
these provinces 10 their ancient loyalty. THAT
the kings resolution was unacrahle, never 10
abandon his rights and TO reject all offers of
mediation. or of amca5lc Intervention, which
should contemplate an acknowledgment ot The
independence OF the new States, and thai, upoH
that point The kings mind WIS made up beyond
the possibility of Il change In the mean time,
f,ip .f ,n. ErSs n
was still waging an ac;nal war against Mexico,
both uron the ocean and the land. Upon Tho
ocean hor success u.s complete: and, upon the
IanG She was in possession at the strong castle
OF San Juan d U.ioa. which she retained until
The 20th December, ISIS. Here, then, was an
attempt 10 purchase from rcvolIcd province. less
than four years aef the declaration of her indie
pen,:cncc, against the solemn protest OF Spain,
then carving on an actual war against Mexico,
and avowinS her determination never To desst.
until Mexico was rc-conquerci. Orr treaty OF
am;ty with Spain at that tuc, was in tho psec;Se
words of our present su;>isting treaty with Mcxi-
CO Now. AZ to the facts al The date Of the al
tempted purchase of'rexas from Mexico hv the
administration Of Jackson and Van Rmcn on the
9th Of August 1899. a; this period. too, there
was Get"ol lrQr between Spain and Mexico. In
February 1890 the Spanish tf.ate Lealad cap
turcd the Mexican b,:- Guerrero. and the AlcNi-
can fleet was driven from the ocean, and their
crews discharged The further history of this Pc
Rod is thus given in tie second volume oil the De
,aocratic Review, page l0S
''ln the mean time the captain general of Gu
ba, encouraged by his success on ttc Sra, had DIES
patched FIVE thousand troops from Havana, on
board oi transports, escorted hv thirteen SHIPS 81
war IN the Mexican coast. Thrland forces were
| COMMANDED hy General !sidofc BARRACKS Adm-
raj ASel de La Boide being the chief o;'thc squad
ron This expedition arrived of the mouth o.
the Tampico river ar TIC Gin .J1y, 1920: and the
troops we're landed without opposition on The sue
ccciing day Some lille resistance was made ~
the Mexican garrison At Tampico, h:,t that place
was occupied: and B:,radas soon after began lis
march into the interior, scattering proclama:ions
before him, in which the Mexicans were invited
TO return under heir lawful sovereign"
But was Mr.. Van Buren conscious Of the cx-
iSence Of this war NJ the date of his despatch of
the 25.h August. lS.,9? Yes, for il was publicly
announced in every newspaper, and known 10
every citizen oc the United States Nilcs'S Re
giser, Of June eth, $3.50, speaking Of the inva-
sion OF Mexico hv Spain. says "The landing
would be made at Campcachy with 5000 men,
the inhabitants Of that place being considered
friendly TO the Spanish government. The troops
would then cntrench themselves, and await the
10000 men. who were shortly expected from old
Spain" The National lntelligcncer of July
Sth, 1920, says: "Thc Spanish expedition fiji
ting ont a, Havana and destined for Cam2ea-
chv, was 10 sail on the 23d OF June. Nile>'S
Register, July II, lS'.' says: THAT 10000 had
already arrived al Camwachv" National In
teigcncer Of JULY 18th 1890, ays "By the late
accounts from Havana, it appears certain that
Spain is about making decisive effort for the
re-conqucst of Mexico" The same paper of .Iu-
~ 29lh, says: The expedition is now pretty g.
nerally supposed 10 I've destined IL aci Immediately
against the city of Vera Cruz" Nilcs's Regis
Ter of July 18Th, 1890, says: I'VE look for ausht
bu, determined resistance, as ii is evident the
evils supported By the people cannot be greatly
aggravated IVY a change OF masters. A powerful
party may Ne created in favor of the mother
couniry-no, from the love OF its dominion, bu;
in hope that il may produce settled policy, and
rid the country of the constant fcuGs which have
tri,;ered away its resources, and made il The thea
ire O! private ambition" The National ln!elli-
gencer July al, 1929, says: The long contem-