Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-06-14
VOLUME XLI-NO. IL.

relevant IL The issue than the treaty OF ColGova,
10 which the honorable Senator IeieIfct-nol he
cause il was valid treaty but Is an illustration
ard n proof of historical fact. Now, | coDsi-
der The convention ot san lacinto fact The mole
important because ha, same Santa Anna is now
al the head ofIhc Mexican Republic. Now, the
honorable Senators insist that although during
the eight years thu, have elapsed since the date ot
this Convention, no hostile Mexican foot has resi-
cd on The soil OF Texas. and no war Of conquest
has been attempted, but Only the briet mcursions
Of irregular bands, for purposes Of lillase ana
plunder yet the war is still raging! Why. said
The honorable Senator from Massachusetts. read
the proclauatiols put forth h, the Mexican Gu
ycrnmeni, and al her public official acts denoih'-
cling vengeance. AMI will YOU call thai peace =
Read the counter procamation> ard doilarccs OF
Texas and will you call that peace :" Sir, az
init al orcc. that, if war consisted in maniesoc>
and proclanaiions mcrelv-ifi: could be carried
on by paper bullets OF the bIam'-,hcn there
might ic a now diagram war raging between
Mexico ard Texas
But will nov h.ins this question 10 the ties, OF
practical illustration. am not sure that the
Senator from Massachusetts (Alr. Choaicl has
ever witnessed figh, between two DULLES on I
Courthouse green. For bis especial benefit viii
therefore suppose pitched battle 10 take place !e-
tween two such hercc---the respective champions
ballieS, Il shall he supposed, gets horribly and dis
gracefully whipped, and returns from the rin2
with Z bloody nose and fallen crest The baitlc
between them did mol list over hvc minutes; hut
the defeated hero having reached a safe position,
with q sufficient inle.poSiliCn al distance. stands
there for iwo long hours bY i Shrewsbury clock,
cul>ing, viliiyin" and denouncing his adversary
in all the choice phrases which can re collected
from he vocabulary Of billingsgatc or 4 Popes
Z I,,if 81. oil
with perfect colnpoSilIe and in all the digni!ici
silence OF contempt. Now. viii the Senators from
Massachusetts and Missouri he good enough toirll
me how long in this case, the fight actually last
ed2 Did il continue only ii.c minutes, or i~o
hour>l Did itconnucd during The actual conilIcI,
or during the whole period IN which the GcieaieG
hero continued 10 hurl his impotent curses at Tie
head OF his conqueior! The answer 10 thc>,
questions will, in my opinion, settle The question
whether Mexico is al war with Texas. For my
self consider this fight 10 have lasted iu>t five
minutes. and no longer. Bat. for sake ot yaric-
". will suppose another conflict equally inpoiM:
ole which ! presume. a. did before, the Sc
nator from Massachusetts never witnessed in his
life but which | feel very sure the honorable So
nator from Missouri has witnessed very otlen--l
mean cock-ii.ht. will suppose, then, fight
to take place between hrgc dunghlll roo Ter al
4 m0N gamc-cock, 10 make precise ft in le
illustration. The dunghill cocil, rs is usual with
birds Of that feather gives violent Hap or iva,
and then shows his feather hacks, and runs
When he gels out OF tie reach o!dangcr, he tmnS
round. picks up a gravel 10 stimulate his craw,
struts for a moment. and Then crows--thc signal
OF defiance universally recognised among fighting
cocks. The >tanilhe gamccock hears this Ni:-
nal he dalts 1t his adversary, who shows the
white feather. and luns again. After rcpealin.
these hostile demonstrations, hv hlS throat amt
heels. for two q! three times. This dun@hll !o'N-
ter finding thai his adversary has finally gi'cn
up the pursuit. IONS \ party OF hens, and com
mcnCes a war OF Sirui,in" and Growing which le
continues ioriwo hours Now, a>k the Senators
from Massachusetts and Missouri whether they
consider these two hours Of stlultirg and clowin%
aS n continuance of tie war;
But 10 he serious: Mr. President is it not at
once violation all the prophecies OF the English
language and a denial OF all the doctrines OF IN
teinatunal law 10 assert that the war OF Mexico
against Texas is war dc tycfo when she has Ter
eight years ceased 10 prosecute IT, ana when her
/ total inability 10 conquer Texas is notorious 10 The
whole world Sir tie Tor Is M IN cHd. The
/ United States have perfect Ii@ht la assume that
there i no war-much less war of conquest
/ between Mexico and and Texas. We can ray
I no attention a. mere g3scoradin9 bulletins
ami impoent pr0clamatonS Since then, the
! war between Mexico and Texas has ceased io
exist for eight years, with what propreiy can II tc
said that we shall make war upon Mexico by an,
nexrg Teyes! The inpuaion is wholly graGi-
( touS and uniouldcd.
! Having thus from reason and from the law al
nations. shown that To receive Texas into his
Union, will neither involve breach Of national
I faith nor war with Mexico. | shall now proceed
To confirm these positions hv examples taken
( from ollr own history.
/ The Senator from Missouri said that this refer
cree 10 prcccdenis nigh; be made tor purposes ot
elimination. aSsuic that honorable Senator that
s shall refer 10 these examples with the poionnd-
e., respect for the Administrations by which they
we're furnished to us and with 10 desire 10 crimi-
nate any one. ASK then. what was Tie state oI
the relations between Spain and Mexico in $50,
when Mr.. CLAW, ar Secretary Of Stale under Mr..
Adams proposed to Mexico the purchase of
Texas The war with Spain was still in exist
cncc-ceuaiply il was not terminated, according
! to The doctrine ci the honorable Senator but va,
very soon afterwards vigorously Prosecuted. in
proof Of This, refer 10 the fact that, four years
afterwards the Navy of Mexico WAS driven from
the ocean. and her Ships actually abandoned, and
her territory invGdcd by powerful army
Surely. Mr. President. those who maintain
thai the va; is not now terminated Between Mex
leo and Texas cannot, with any sort @! con>S-
lcncy, maintain that The war between SPAN and
Mexico was then III an emf. Yet Mr. Adams
and Mr. CLAY then made a deliberate offer 10 pur
chase Texas from Mexico without dceming ii
necessary to consult Spain. whose title 10 Mexico
(. was much stronger then than that of Mexico Ia
Texas now. Bu; there is yet higher AUTHORITY.
In 1920. the territory OF Mexico was invaded ~
large army, and her ports bockadcd by M
mcrouS and triumphant hcet, from March TO DC
tohcr. During this campaign, which threatened
to effect a rcsubjugaion Of Mexico, in August OF
that year, while a Spanish invading amy VI :
actually upon her soil, Mr.. Van Burcn, he then
Secretary % State. ~ order Of President Jackson,
made to Mexico propos;cnto purchase Texa>
and in his instructions 10 our Minister al Mexico,
he urged as 4 reason 10 induce Mexico 10 max"
the sal" that the five millions Of dollars which
were offered her rs The purchase mcnev would
enable her to defend the resi- of her territory
against the power Of Spain. On what ground.
ask can either Of these transactions be- justified.
] il il would now he a violation OF The national
faith 10 admit Texas into the Union IL there
aIe two inen in the United States who are estop-
ped from making the charge Of violated faith IN
this case they are Mr. Clay and Mr.. Van Blu
rem. On the ground, then, of high precedent, -
well rs of reason and national law. ] say again
that there is nO a shadow Of ground In say that
il would be any violation Of good faith whatever
To ratity this Treaty
Thus much for our ri@bt 10 receive Texas. and
now as to tho cutv.
said i, was not only the right, hu' the duty, 81
the President To make this ltcaty. and Of the Sc
nate TO ia,ifv il. What are TIE arguments which
addre>. themselves 10 our understanding and lead
TO this conclusion
ask if anr Senator here INDUCES for mo-
,neut the idea that Great Britain is 10 De remit
ted 10 obtain The control Of Texas, BY treaty Of
guaranty. stipuIating for exclusive commercial
privileges. without an effort TO prevent il Now,
when Providence seems TO have offered Texas 10
our embraces if We reject the offer, and lei slip
the golden moment we shall I've justly exposed
to the condemnation of our own people, and In
riicule of Europe.
Inever ill now fully realized the truth and luS-
tice of Mr. Monroe's declaration. that no Euro
pean power must ever be permitted 10 establish
colony on this continent. The more reflect ON
,he subject the more am convinced that the III
J .,l -. L..