Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-12-13

description are 10 be treated as traitors. II pro-
claims in short a war OF determination; all are
10 be DESTROYED or driven ou! and Texas LETT de-
ISOLATE waste.
Such is The barbaTous mode in which The Co
vcrnmeni OF Mexico has proclaimed 10 ihe world
il is her intention TO conduct the war. ANA mere
the inquiry naturally arises-what IS her object
in renewing a, this time war, to be mus con-
Quoted which has been virtually suspended for
eight years. and when her resources are known
10 be so exhausted as 10 leave her without The
means OF fulfilling her engagements! Bul one
object can be assigned, and that is TO defeat the
Annexation OF Texas TO the United States. She
knows full well that The measure is still pending,
and that The rcectment of the Treaty has but post
poned il. She knows. that when Congress ad-
lourned, il was pending in both Houses, ready 10
be taken up and acted upon al lis next meeting,
and tina. il is at presen! actively canvassed by
The people throughout the Union. She is not ig
norant that The decision will in all probability be
in lis favor, unless il should be defeated by some
movement exterior 10 The United States. The
projected invasion OF Texas BY Mexico. nj this
time, is that movement and il is intended 10 ct-
feet il, either by conqucring and suhlectlng Texas
to her power, or BY forcing her 10 withdraw her
proposition for Annexation, and 10 form other
connections less acceptable 10 her.
Of annexation is pending, stand quietly by, and
permit either Of these results II has been mea-
sure Of policy long cherished and deemed indis-
pensable to their safety and welfare; and has az
cordingly been an object steadily pursued by all
parties, and the acquisition Of The territory made
The subject of negotiation By almost every admi-
nistration for The last twenty years. This policy
NAV b. traced 10 the belief, generally entertained
that Texas was embraced in the ceSsion OF Lou
isiana, BIZ France, 10 the United States, in 1903
and was improperly surrendered by the Treaty
Of Florida, in 1919; connected with the fact, that
a large portion OF the territory lies in the valley
OF the Mississippi, and is indispensable TO the
defence OF distant and important frontier. The
hazard OF 4 conflict Of policy upon important
points between the United States and one Of the
leading European powers, since the recognition
Of Texas, has rendered the acquisition still more
essential 10 their safety and welfare, and, accord
insly, has increased in proportion the necessity
Of acquiring it, Acting under The conviction OF
this necessity, and the impression, tina; the mca-
sure would be permanently defeated br a longer
poslponcmen; the President Of the United States
invited Texas 10 renew The proposition for an
nezaiicn. Ii was accepted By her, and as has
been stated, is still pending. And here the CUES
ton again recurs, shall The United States qniey
stand BY, on the eve Of lis contamination and
permit the measure 10 be defeated by an inva-
sion BY Mexico? And shall they suffer Texas,
Tor having accepted an invitation 10 Join them,
and consummate measure alike essential 10 her
and their permanent peace, welfare, and safety,
to be desolaed, her inhabitants to lc butchcred
or driven ont; or in order TO avert so great ca
lamiiv, 10 he forced, against her will, into other
alliances which wouh terminate in producing
lasting ho>iililies between her and them. To the
permanent danger OF bO,ll
The President has iully and deliberately ex-
amined the subject and has come 10 the conclu-
sion that honor and humanity. as well Is the safe
" and welfare of the United States forbid il; and
he would accordingly be compelled 10 regard the
invasion oil Texas by Mexico, while the ques-
ton OF annexation is pending, a. highly offensive
Ia the United States He cnicrtains no doubt,
that they had right TO invite her 10 renew the
proposition for annexation, and that She as an
independent Stale, hadTa right 10 accept the in
vilalion, without consulting Mexico or asking
her leave. He regards Texas, in every respect,
as Independent as Mexico, and as competent 10
transfer the whole or part her territory, as she
is 10 transfer The whole or PART OF hers. Not 10
insis, en- the unqucstonable right Of Texas 10 be
regarded and treated in all respects as an inde-
pendent power: on the groand that size has sue
ce>slully resisted Mexico and preserved her in
dependence for nine years, and has been recos-
nizcd by other powers as independent, il is only
necessary 10 recur 10 the constitution Of 1924 u
show that She is perfectly entitled 10 be so regard
ed and treated Under that Constitution she.
with Coahuila. formed separate State, consii
luling orc member Of the federation OF the Next
can States, with right secured 10 Texas, by the
Constitution, 10 form separate State as soon as
her population would warrant il. The Sc.
veral States of the federation were equal in
rights and equally Independent, OF each other; and
remained SO until 1925 when the Constitution
was subverted by the army, and all the States
which dared 10 resist were subugated and con-
solidaled into one, BY force, except Texas. She
stood mp hravelv in defence OF her rights and in
dependence, and successfully asserted them on
the battle ground OF San Jacinio, in 1886 and
has ever since maintained them. The Consilu-
ton, then, Of 1924 had made her independent, and
her ralor and her sword have since maintained
her so. She has been acknowledged 10 be so by
three of the leading powers Of Christendom, and
is regarded By all as such, except by Mexico her
self She neither now stands nor ever has stood
in relation 10 Mexico as a rebellious province or
department struggling 10 obtain independence
after throwing of her yoke; much less as a band
Of lawless inlrndcrs and usnrpers. without Go
vernment or poliiica. existence rs Mexico would
have the world 10 believe On the contrary. The
true relation between them, is. that Of having
heen independent members Of what was once
Federal Government, but now subverted by
force: The weaker nj which has successfully re-
sisted against fearful odds, The attempts of the
stronger to conquer and subject her to its power.
1t is in this light that the United States regard
her; and in that, they had The right 10 invite her
to renew the proposition for annexation, and 10
treat with her for admission into the Union, with.
out giving any Just offence TO Mexico, or viola
III ohl h,.f horn ho-
tween us and her.
Nor will our honor any more than orr welfare
and safety, permit annexation to be defeated by
an invasion of Texas while the question is pend
ing. Mexico has thought properto take offence,
il is The United States who invited a renewal OF
The proposition, and not Texas who accepted the
invitation, which should be held responsible; and
we, as the responsible party, cannot without i'm
plicating our honor permit another 10 suffer in
our place. Entertaining these views our honor
and Interests being both involved, Mexico will
make great mistake, if She supposes that the
President can regard with indifference the renew
al Of the war which She has proclaimed against
Texas
But another, and still more elevated consdera-
ton, would iort ID him to regard the invasion with
indifference. Strong as The objections TO it, Of il
self. are in connection with existing circumstan-
ces those IL the manner in which it is proclaim
cd it will be conducted, are still more so. II no.
nor and interest forbid tame acquiescencc in the
renewal ofthe war, the voice Of humanity cries
aloud against the proposed mode Of conducting H.
All the world have all interest that the rules and
usases Of war, as established between civilized
nations in modern time, should be respected and
are in duty bound TO resist their violation in order
TO preserve them. In this case, that duty is pre-
cminenlly ours. We arc neghbors, the nearest
TO the scene Of the proposed atrocities; the most
competent TO Judge, from our proximity and for
the same reason, enabled the more readily TO in
terpose. For the same reason, also, our sympa-
thies would be more deeply reused by the scenes
of misery which would present themselves on all
sides, not 10 mention the dangers TO which we
must be exposed in consequence OF an invasion
so conducted, near a distan, and weak from
tier, with numerous and powerful bands of lndi-
ans in its vicinity.
If any thing can add 10 these strong objections
to the manner in which it is proclaimed the war
will hn II 10 in tbc of