Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1844-05-09

F.. NAfN 81 ~ are ~ MA
That these views Were no, altogether satisfactory to
General Hunt. nor probably TO hs government. has been
seen. Bar | think NAV safely say that seldom, # ever
hrs d cision, hy this government, Of a question u equal
magnitude, bscn more decidedly or more unanimously ap.
proved by the people Of The United States. The CORES
%pondence was. very soon after il took place, cominuuica-
ted 10 Congress. ard although The public mind was a. the
time IA a state Of tie highest excitement. AID the admin
isfrauon daily assaIicd through every avenue hy which j,
was deeaed approachab!e. am vet t. see the frs, sen.
ience Of complaint upon that point. n any quarter If the
Union. Even a resolution offered IN the senate. declaring
snf exauon. "~hfneycr II could be sf'ciod constantly
srfh fe fFbhc JaiA ami treaty sfiprdatioRs Of Me Ja4-
ted States. de.ifabl - was ordered to be land upon the Ia.
bic ad 4 similar disposition was made IL tie liouse of
The papers upon the subject. which had been referred TO
The COMMITTEE on Foreign Relations, AMI that commitice
discharged from the further Consideration Of The matter.
upon It's own application. Nor were the friendly re'a-
lions then existing between that republic and Tie United
STATES" It's honor he II said-in any p%erceptIble degree
impaired 10y this decision.
Standing IN this pos ton before the country, il becomes
my duty t.. consider whe' her either the nature OF the ques-
ton, or the circumstances # the case. have 50 far chaoged
as To Jus ny me IN now advising a policy from whoa |
then. III the most solemn form. dssented.
la giving TO you. and through YOU t. The public. the re-
suit oil a very careful ADD dispassonate examination nf
the grave question, | should neither do justice TO yourself,
TO the patriotic State which you. In conjunction with 9TH
erS. he TO represent IN tie convention. to the people of the
Ih'ed States, nor Ia my own position, II | failed TO ac-
company II with a bret exposition If the grounds upon
which | have proceeded. Ii Is IN that way only that JUS
ice can tie d ne To my inten,ians; and that Is al de-
sire. The annexation Of the territory, aud the conse-
qurnt sumption by US Of a respons tIlity to protect and
defend lis Inhabitants, would, IN respect TO the cnrisllera-
Ton 10 which am about to refer. stand upon the same
footing with that Of its admission a i a state. The rccog-
milton IT Texas as an independent state, was a measu G
which received. IN various and Appropriate forms. the
sanction OF every department Of he go,erament. whose
cooperation was necessary 10 Its validity, and had my
hearty concurrence. From this act Of our government,
just aud proper IN all respects as 1t was. an inference has,
however. been drawn, aud brought to bear upon the prs
eht question. not only very far beyond It's real brarIHg, tut
by which MS true character II entirely reversed. Many
PERSONS who enter upon the consideration. of the subject
With the purest Intentions. aud are incapable of knowing
~ giving a false Interpretation to any thing connected
WIN 1t, take 1t for granted that the United States, in re-
coenising the Independence Of Texas. declare To the
rid. MT only that she was independent IN fact, bu: also
that she was such Of right Acting upon this erroneous
construction, they very naturally conclude, that, having
gone thus lar, having examined into and passed not only
upon the existence Of her independence. hut also upon her
right TO It's enjoyment, it 5 now (and more especially af-
tr the lapse OF several years too late 10 hesitate upon
the question of annexation on the ground of any existing
controversy upon those points. The fal acy of this rca-
soning Will be apparent when Il Is considered that the usage
oil nations To acknowledge the government, 4c Eucfo, #
every country, was established for the express purpose Of
a'olulng all inquiry INTO, or the expression OF any opinion
upon, the question Of right between the contending PAR
TIES. They acknow edged no other power in any country
man that which Is ia fact supreme. They cannot inquire
beyond that point without Interfering with the internal
concerns Of Other nations "a practice which oil disclaim.
aud a disclaimer which II has been our invariabie usage
not DULY To make. but to enforce with s%cTupulous fMc ity.
10 recognise the independence Of The government de Tuc-
TO- = also matter Of state necessity; Tor without II, Meth
er commercial nor diplomatic intercourse between any
such power and the nations of the world could he carried
on with success. and the social interests of mankind re-
quire that these should not be arrested hv quarrrls between
con'esting parties. in regard to their respective right to
The supreme p wer. Ia respect TO all hs ond this, the
laws anu usages OF nations require the observance Of 0
StrIcf el ralt Io4-..a H. .a,. Ii.
the war lasts. 1t is due, also, from every government to
us own citizens. To declare when a revolted coIniy shall
be regarded as an independent nation. Because at be-
longs to the government alone to make the declaration -
atd because. until IT Is made. or the parent STATE rclil-
quishes her claims, courts of justice must consider he an
Gent STATE of things as remaining unaliercd, and the SOW
'Feign power Of tn parent State over thai colony a sill
suhsistirg' BIi 10 hing can be farther from giving to
TIE act OF recognition rs true character, than u suppose
that ~ has the slightest bearing upon the rights of the par
ties; 1t being as | have already said. resorted TO for the
xlresS purpose Of avoiding any such construction. Such
l. no; o Iy the law and usage of nations, but such also
nave been the reiterated avowals OF our own government.
do not remember that the recognition Of Texan indc-
pendence gave rise to any corr p'ndencc hetwee MeNi-
co aud our government; and ii it did, | have not the
means Of stating IL character. But the principles upon
which all such acts are based. were fully set forth 10y this
government upon the occasion OF he recognition If the
independence of the Spanish American States. la the
message Of President Monroe. 10 the House OF RepreSen-
ia'ives. suggesting the %proprirty of that recognition, 1t
DtN'', 'H'" ~ tH'lR,f6 h"1 '''nEOF' II
" mot contemplaied 10 change thereby, in the slightest
manner. our friendly relations with either If The laru,s;
nut To observe IN all respects. as heretofore. shosid the
war lie continu' Il. the most perfect neutrality between
them. The Committed on Foreign AT,irs. IN their elab-
"ra'e report upon the subject. saw "our recognition must
he cocxisient only with the fact ON which it is
and cannot survive it. While the nations of
south America are actually independent, it is simply to
speak the Truth To acknowledge them /, lie so. Shou!d
SPAN. contrary TO her G1o1red principle and a6kHosri-
edScd interest. repec the wdr f0r The conquest If South
'f"er1co. IRE shaH indeed regret IL: Int ne shall ob-
sefus. as sge hare dJne beflceeH the independent parties.
an honest anil impartial neutrahty" The Secretary If
state. IN defence Of the act of r. cogniion. said to he
Spanish minister This recognition is neither intended
to in,aldate any right Of Spain. nOr 10 affect The embioy-
mem ~ aHg means srhich she may pet be disposed or
10 use. srifh the riess Of t%eHpifng those pr0rtn.
cS TO The rest If her d0minions." That these avovals
IN strict conformity t. the true principles of the law
OF ma IONS. there can he NJ doubt. They were. at all
vents. those which This government has solemuly an
a. lis rule If action in regard TO contests between
parties tor the supreme power in foreign States
! nat the admission of TEXAS as a member of this confed-
eiacy, whilst the contest for the maintenance of The indie
pendence she ha acquired was STILL pending. and a couse-
4 ent assumption of the responsibility of protecting her
~ iinst invasion. would have been a plain departure from
he laws and usages of rarions. and a violation Of the
To which we had avowed our adherence ir The
ne lace Of the world. was too clear to be doubted. Thus
| lad. on the occasion To which have referred. !
n the faithful discharge Of The trust which The people had
opposed IN me. hut one course to pursue and that was
hut respectfully adopted.
! return now 10 the question. Has the condition Of
he contest between Texas and Mexico. for he o,ereirn-
' of the former, 81 FAR changed a. to render these pm
pies now inap2iicable What i the attitude winch
hose two States at this momoni occupy towards each
'iher Are HEY at war. or are they not W. canine;
wade this question # we would. To enumeraie all the
circumstances irATnu upgp n IN "a fpt,n ma ntt L