The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1844-05-03

your despatch TO MIR. Everett Of 9th April, 1925
| " True wisdom dictates that Spain, without indu-
| ging in unavsiliDg regrets account of what she
has irretrievably lost, SHOULD employ the means Of
retaining what she may yet preserve from the wreck
OF her former possessions"
You then mention her islands, which she may still
preserve, but you add that Sc the the continent
(of Amerca) is at an end"
Mr.. Everett was instructed by you to advocate the
acknowledgment of the independence of the Amer
Republics, not for their sakes, but on account
" of the advantages to Spain" herself In giving you
the statement of his suggestion to the Spanish court
Mr.. f. says in his despatch of 25h September, 1926,
that the Spanish minister spoke with "no delicacy
or reserve" and that
" He remarked repeatedly that the King would
| neper abandon his claim 10 these, his ancient and
rightful possessions that the cause good one,
and that, however unavorabe the respect might APP
pear at present. they had right to suppose that they
should in the end succeed"
&c That the party in the colonies in favor of indie
pendence, though dominant and apparently unre-
sisted, was in reality strong supposed,
that It consisted Of busy and active, but in reality
feeble minority; that the of good citizens con-
stituting great majority of the population in
favor of the King, and were only waiting for some
suitable occasion to come out in their strength and
put down the insurgents"
Now, sir, we beg leave TO ask you what stronger
reasons Mexico can urge against our receiving ces
sion of territory from Texas than in the above you
have from Spain against taking Mexican territory,
which Spain declared 10 you she " would never
abandon ?" Does the relative position of Mexico to
Texas authorize the former to make assertions of her
sovereignty over Texas, with half the force that
Spain could do over Mexico?
Can you find good cause to sustain and regard the
claim of Mexican sovereignty Texas, and yet
could find none to respect the claims of Spain to
Mexico'
DO you not know that at the very time Spain had
armies in Mexico, in possession of her fortresses,
that large numbers of the population still loyal
and that Spanish fleets secured the ocean, chasing
the Mexican Do you not know that the reverse of
all this is the case with Texas and Mexico' That
Texas has driven her foe out and has for eight years.
(not three, with Mexico) maintained her indepen-
dence, and that her fortresses are her own pos
session, and her feet sweeps the ocean,
Suppose you had acquired Texas by treaty, with
out the knowledge Of the People, without advice
ON the Senate,) and had taken possession Of it
that thus being in possession, Spain should have
landed her forces the coasts of Texas, and, max
ing it the theatre Of war, had captured and executed
as rebels persons found there, including alike the
inhabitants Of Texas incorporated citizens of the
United States" and citizens who might have
migrated there, what would have been your course
of action There is no doubt as to what it would
have BEEN You would in family have given notice
to Spain of the determination of the United States
to resent it as attack upon her rights and her
soil and your would have been, that Mexi-
CO had clearly achieved her independence, and might
act she pleased with her territory that as a neu
trial, the United States would not interfere in the
contest between Mexico and herself, how much 30
ever we might deplore it; that the United States
would not permit herself to be excluded from acqui-
ring territory to which Spain made an idle claim
claim apparent 10 all the world except Spain her
SELF that she was utterly unable to support or to
make good The consequence would have been,
most probably, that ba bsrous but unavailing war
fare, which carried on for twelve more years,
would Immediately have ceased, alike to the credit
of humanity, and to the special advantage of Spain
herself
1.-THE assurance felt by Spain herself to recopsuer
Mexico be a good reason to forbid other nations re-
ceving cessions Of Mexican territory, you had the
most abundant evidence that this conf lent expecta
ton was sincerely entertained by her. to degree
which Mexico canno, pretend in regard to Texas
Mr. Everett writes you, on the 26th October, 1926
in this remarkable language; the Spanish Minister
said TO him that
"The King would never abandon his rights that
/ il was matter of conscience with him to transmit
bs hereditary possessions to his that there
were symptoms OF return of these provinces 10 their
ancient Loyalty; he spoke with much decision and
apparent openn Of The probability Of reconqueripg
the colonies, that felt myself bound give him Gre
dit for sincerity, at the expense of bis sagacy and
good sense"
If this confident assurance felt by Spain Of sue
cess in the recovery Of her colonies, the Texas in
Guided, did not enttle her to place veto upon the
annexation Of Texas, (caimed by her as her terri
tory how you declare the sovereignty Of Mexico
over Texas must be held sacred Is Mexico more
capable of enforcing her sovereignty Texas than
was Spain Mexico Does Mexico entertain a
moie confident better grounded hope of recon-
quest than did SPAIN Why should we leave Texas
under the ban Of Mexican Veto and reject that of
Spain against Mexicoi
The explanation of your towards Spain du-
ring the Administration of Mr. Adams, was in &C.
cordance with the declarations made TO Spain by Mr.
Everett under your instructions. He says
81 told him that my Government mad. no secret
Of their policy in regard to this business and that
had no objection TO orm bin that our Minister at
St Petersburg had been directed to express to the
Emperor their full conviction that the contest Le,o
Spain and her colonies might be considered as FINALLY
settled IN tarn Of the fatfer party and desiring the
good offices of the Emperor TO induce Spain to make
the acknowledgment of their Independence Mr..
T. continues g told him that / was formally
instructed to avail myself at any suitable occasion
TO suggest to him the earnest desire of the Govern
ment OF the United States TO see this long struggle
brought TO an amcabe conclusion, and their com
plee conviction that all further efforts on the part Of
Spain to recover the colonies must be wholly fruit
less, and more injurious to herself than them"
,rh. - liz L. l.. 4