Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-12-31

particulars ul TUE Cast. -.
No IS another note TO the Mexican Minister
in relation 10 The crew ofihe William A. Turner;
and No. 9. is the reply to that note, this moment
received.
The Document marked is the reply OF our
Consul in Tabasco to The inquiries made by MIR:
Green in relation to this affair Of Sentmanat, and
as 10 The truth of the rumors here in relation 10
Patterson's connexion with the expedition.
have the honor 10 be, very respectfully, your
obedient servant, WILSON SHANNON.
The Hon JOHN c. CALHOUN,
Secretary Of Stale OF the United STATES
TRANSLATION.
No.l.-lM RECON 10 Mr.. Shannon.
NATIONAL PALACE.
MEXICO, October 81, 1874.
The undersigned, Minister OF Foreign Rela-
tons and Government, had the honor TO receive
the note addressed 10 him, under date OF the IAN
instant by the Hon. Wilson Shannon, Envoy EI-
traordnary and Minister Plenipoentiary oil The
United States protesting solemnly, by order Oh
his Government, as well against the invasion OF
the territory Of Texas which the Government oil
the Mexican Republic has determined TO effect,
as against the manner in which it is proposed TO
conduct that invasion:
As the obec, ofthe said note, which has reveal
ed fully the duplicity with which Mexico has SO
oft6e hostili,es projected against the colonsts oil
that province, who have risen in rebellion against
her, whilst the work Of annexing it to the United
States is going on, the undersigned, in repelling
this protest, finds himself under the necessity OF
examining how far il is founded on justice; and
with that view he must be permitted 10 lay down
certain facts, which should be kept always present
TO the mind, in order to be able to decide with &C
curacy as 10 the right which the American Co.
vernment has 10 interfere in this affair.
The undersigned agrees that the hrst colonistS
of Texas established themselves in that territory,
as we'll under grants from the Spanish Govern
ment, confirmed after the completion of the indie
pendence Of Mexico by the authorities OF this
Republic as subsequently, by others OF similar
nature, made BY the State of Coahuila and lex
as. which was fully authorized 10 make them; but
he must at The same time strongly direct the al
tention of The honorable Mr.. Shannon to the very
essential circumstances that in the proclamation
and act of independence OF Texas those who
figured as the principal persons were almost all
natives OF the United States; that such was The
General as well as the others composing the ar
nv which fought under the standard OF Texas IN
the action of San Jacinto; and that IN many paris
of the United States meetings were at that time
publicly held for the purpose of afording, as
were in fact afforded, supplies OF men, arms and
other materials and munitions OF war and provi-
sions 10 the so called Texans, in order that they
might sustain their cause; that if: al that time, II
might have been believed that they united them
selves 10 effect their independence OF Mexico, II
has since been clearly shown that they we're en-
deayoring 10 separate that rich and extensive ter
ri,ory from its lawful sovereign, in order to an
mex il 10 the United States; measure OF policy
which, as the honorable Mr.. Shannon expressly
SAYS in his note, has been long cherished and has
been deemed Indispensable for the safety and vel
fare Of the United States, and has accordingly
been steadily pursued BY all parties in that Re-
public and by all its administrations for the last
twenty years Well-does not this open COMES
sion, united 10 the public and notorious facts
which the undersigned has rapidly noticed, prove
that the proclamation of the independence OF Tex
as, and the demand for its annexation 10 the U.
States, are the work of the Government and citi-
gems of those States interested in effecting this ac
QUESTION, which they have for the last twenty
years considered indispensable for the safety and
welfare Of that Republic And, this being the
case, can the right be admitted as Just, which
they Slain, to interfere in this question by pre-
venting the Mexican Government from recon-
ouering an interesting portion Of its territory
whilst the question of lis annexation TO that Re-
public is pending?
In order TO justify an Intervention OF this ma
ture, it was necessary TO recognize solemnly as
existing in each Of the nations OF the earth, the
right to raise itself BY means Of the territories Of
its neighbors, by first peoping them with its own
citizens then causing them TO withdraw them
selves from obedience 10 the territorial authori-
ties and to proclaim their independence, aiding
them at the same time in an effective manner TO
sustain it, and finally TO ask that the territory
thus occupied be incorporated with that OF the
country to which those citizens belong. This is
he ITnitpd States nd with
regard to the Texas question; and the North
American Government may thus far deceive IL
self by its fctions but it will not be able TO de-
ceive the world, which, knowing the circumstan-
ces here mentioned by the undersigned, and taxi
ing into consideration the note OF Mr.. Shannon,
most important as it is, 10 bring into relief the
Justice OF the cause Of Mexico in this affair, will
see that the proclamation OF the independence OF
Texas made and sustained almost entirely by CT
tzens oflhe United States, who were not repressed
by their Government; but, on the contrary, as
sisted by il, and by the Southern States OF that
Republic, was intended Tor no other object than
10 aggrandize the United States by the annexa-
ton Of that territory, thus endeavoring to give an
honest appearance TO The spoliation which is at
tempted against this nation, by supposed right, 10
be founded on circumstances intentionally brought
about BY The Southern people, and the Government
OF the United States themselves.
Who, indeed, does not see that this independ-
ence OF Texas has been effected, and is now sus.
tanned with so much warmth and energy in the
| Hon. MIR. Shannons note, only because it was
agreed that the Texans should be made an indie
| pendent and sovereign nation, in order 10 give
| Them the right to conclude treaties, and thereby
TO annex themselves to The Republic Of which the
so-called President of that Mexican province, as
we'll as all the authorities governing it, are ma
tivcs The artifice as well as the arguments
founded on il, may surprise those who are unac-
quain,ed with the facts, and have not seen the
note 10 which the undersigned has now the honor
TO reply but those who know all the circum-
stances here mentioned cannot but agree that by
these means only has an appearance OF justice
been given to that by which the law of nations
and The relations OF good feeling between neigh
boring powers are so deeply wounded. Did not
President Jackson one of the most extreme par
tizans of the annexation, and against whom has
been brought the heavy charge OF having sent
General Houston to Texas in order TO carry his
design into execution, confess, in Difference to
| truth and JUSTICE in a message which ne address
sed TO the House Of Representatives in Decem-
Der, 1886, and that when the question was only
as TO recognising the independence, that snch an
act would be regarded as one Of serious injustice
10 Mexico, and that by j, the United States would
render themselves subject to the most severe CEN
sure, as the Texans had all emigraled from that
country, and were endeavorins 10 obtain their re-
eogniton with the manifest intention OF effec.ing
their Incorporation into the United States? This
confession being no less than that of the Govern
ment OF that Republic, whilst il corroborates wha'
has been already said 10 wit, that the independ-
ence of Texas was effected by emigants from
the United States with the object Of annexins