The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-09-16

The moment that the usurpatlon oil oanta AL
ma took place, aud the dissolution OF the Fede
ratiye Government was complete, Texas was
RENTED TO her natural righis-to her inde
pendent sovereignty, by the operation OF law
and perfect, without the resort TO revolution
This left the entire power of the Stale in the
hands of the people, aud if there were officers
or numbers of men in position, civil or militia
~, within the State, who might be disposed &c
favor the designs of the usurper, as IN such CIR
cumstances is often The case, the people were
the supreme power, and had the night TO elect
Others 10 supersede them, aud forcbly TO DIS
possess them of every office, and oil all pubhc
property, and TO create such rules and regu-
lallons of government as were requisite under
their new circumstance
The illustration of This may be iorcibly stated,
ia supposed case TO occur OF usurpation, IN
the central States of our Union, and the de-
struction of our Constitution by the four central
STATES. Tennessee and Kentucky would not
be bound TO submit TO the usurper, TO any
system Reconsideration he might attempt TO en-
force. They would remain free and indepen-
dent! No responsible public man will dare TO
say otherwise.
If this view of the subject be correct, the re-
suit is obvious
lst That Texas is sovereign and ndepen-
dent de jure as well as de facto.
Cd, If Texas is sovereign and independent,
de lure and de facto, then Mexico has no rights
over the case and ought not TO be regarded, or
consulted, and any such use OF her pretenslons
is unkind and un Just to Texas, of evil tenden-
CIV against the liberties of mankind, deeply inju
rous TO ourselves, and has been most wrong
fully applied in the discussion of the re-annexa-
ton A high responsibility rests upon those
who have tasked their ingenuity to give weight
to their official acts, and political objections,
against Texas. Their whole theory OF resis-
lance to the question falls to the ground, and
they have not a shadow OF strength left. They
are cast upon all those pretences which take
the shapes that partisan passions generate, and
in which the inventive genius of man, for all
that is evil will be sure to display its most ar
dent love, industrious perseverance, and subtle
cunning!
fTrxas be free and independent, de jure
and de fact0, the question is settled for where
would be the right of Mexico, Which zoe hare
not recognised ourselves for eight years? We
may call the relations of Mexico by any other
name, but il would be absurd to say that she
had a right to be consulted SO powerful is
the truth on this subject, that one of
the most striking evidences of its triumph
occurred in the Senate of the United States /;
and at the time, made the deepest impress
sion, and was felt through the whole body
10 be irresistible. Senator Walker, in argu-
ing this case, after having treated the ques-
lion de jure and de factO with signal ability,
paused for moment, aud looking round The
Senate, said: "Does any Senator believe
that Mexico is the government de jure Of Tex
asa II so, I desire TO know the fact, and
pause for reply" He did pause for some
moments, but no reply was given. He might
as well have summoned spirits from the Vastly
Ho han cd Nm
ply (said he) is given, therefore conclude no
Senator beiieres that Mexico is the Govern
ment de jure of Texas" No man was found
bold enough to assert the right of Mexico over
Texas; and If she has no such right, mill ii
be possible to persuade the people that I'erds
ought not 10 hare been Immediately dnnered,
or that Merico ought to be consulted?
The history of Texas is full of instruction
upon this subject, and, although Senator Walk
er has already treated il with great ability and
most satisfactorily, l beg leave TO recapitulate
the facts, and TO add TO his general survey Of
this part Of the case some further extracts and
Illustrations.
No question has ever been successfully made
against the position, and none could be, that
Texas originally belonged 10 the territory of
Louisiana, extending TO the Rio del Norte. 1t
has never been thought of, or spoken Of other
wise by our Government.
IL was acquired by US, by our treaty for Loui-
siana with France in 1903 We soemnly pledg-
ed ourselves TO protect them in all the benefits
OF law and freedom which we enjoyed and
We had no power to uansfer them TO any other
government
In execution of that treaty, "the Spanish
Government, as far as it was concerned, gave
orders for the delivery Of all the posts west OF
the Mississippi river" THIS extent of title was
maintained, and acted upon by all our public
men.
We attempted TO cede the territory in 1919
to Spain. Ii had then more than seven thou
sand inhabitants. Most of them and their de-
scendants are still there.
We acknowledged the independence Of Tex
as in the spring of 1887, and there was not then
vestige Of Mexican authority in the State
On the 2Sth Of December, 1897, Spain scknow.
lodged the independence of Mexico, with the
Limitation specifically expressed to the extent
that Mexico then held in actual possession and
no farther. Spain knew at that time that Tex.
as was independent OF Mexico, and therefore
limited her recognition to the line Of the con
quered countries, which only extended to the
Rio del Norte.
The consolidated government o .Herico has
therefore, nerer held euen NE color of nile 10
Terds
when Texas declared her independence, she
took two grounds, in view Of all these facts, and
justly that she desired as she had expressed
herself by vote Of her people with only ninety
three dissenting, that the United States would
receive her in,o the Union under their protec
ton. This was proposition to revive OUT
claim, and, in the absence of ell others, that Of
Spain having been extingushed by he ndepen.
dence of Texas, we had then the most un.
doubted right TO do so, and it was our duty to
have resumed our protection at their instance
Texas bad, previously, proposed that we should
acknowledge her independence
Texas closed her defence by the memorable
battle of San Jscinro
Mertco then made a treaty nth her as an
independent nation, by Santa Anna, the Pre-
sideniof hdi Republic, and also convention,
signed by himself, as President and ratified
by Filisola, the Genersl-in- Chief of the ar