Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1844-12-28
THE MEXICAN-TExIAN QUESTION
FURTHER CONSIDERED.

FURTHER CONSlDEHED.
In what we have recently said on this subject we
have shown that there existed no Right, on the part
of this Government, independently Of Mexico, to
negotiate, much less to conclude, treaty for the
annexation Of Texas to the United States, SO long
the existing treaty between the United States and
Mexico remained in force.*
We have further shown that there existed no such
Necessity overruling all law to require the United
States to disregard all the established usages Of
tons and brave all consequences in defence Of their
own national existence.
The other plea upon which the right and duty
of interference by the Tinted states between Mex
leo and Texas has been placed, is that Of Humanity,
referred to and insisted upon by the President in
successive Messages to Congress, as follows:
"The which has existed for long time between
Mexico and Texas has since the battle of San Jacnto
sisted for the part of predatory cursions, which, while
they have been attended with much of suffering indivi-
de and have kept the borders of the countries in
state of alarm have failed approach any def
nitye result Merco has fitted out formidable armament
By land or By for the suJugafion Of Isras" The
predatory ncurons which have alluded have been at
tended instance with the breaking up of the courts Of
justice, by the sezng upon the persons of the judges jury
and officers Of the court and dragging, them along with
armed and therefore non-combatant citizens into cruel
and oppressive bondage, thus leaning go upunsh-
ed and immortality 10 pass u,reproued border warfare
is to be deprecated and such has
existed for many between these States huma,
has had great to lament Message Of Dec. 5, ls43
sThe [between Texas and Mexico has assumed
features of border war; characterized by acts revolt
ing to humanity Message to Senate, April o. 1874.
This Government, from time tme exerted its friendly
offices bring about termination of hosities upon
honorable alike to both the beigcens It's efforts in this
behalf proved unavaing Mexico seemed almost without
an object to persevere in the war, and
tive ExEcUrIvE but TO take advantage o.
the Uelhsaocn dispositions Of Tsras, and ncte her 10
Ter info treaty for anneriag her territory 10 tua Of The
United Sfaes."Message 10 Congress, December 8, 1914
g Orer The Of conducting tcr Merico possesses
ercllsrc control She has right to violate pleas
ure the principles which enlightened civilization has laid
down for the conduct of nations and thereby
grade to period Of barbarsm which, happily for the world
has long since passed away. All nations interested
enforcing an observance Of those principles, aud the United
States the Oldest Of the American Republics and the
est of the civilized Powers to the theatre on which these
content themselves 10 tcitness sucad STATE Of lungs
Message 10 Congress, December 10, 1874
The first question which the ground assumed by
the Executive offers to our consideration, is one
of public law, how far Humanity can be admit
ted TO interfere, as principle Of national action,
with the cearly-estabshed right of every nation TO
make war, to exert military power within its own
limits, and, in general, to exercise all the faculties
which belong TO an Independent Power.
That case may be supposed in which Human
ity becomes proper motive Of action on the part
of nations, it does the part of individuals,
can well imagine. But il must be extreme case
II must be, besides, case of positive injury
inflicted by the offending party upon the society
of nations, to justify any interference of for
eign Power otherwise than by friendly mediation
such as was actually nerposed two years ago be-
tween Mexico and Texas, by the United States, as
well as by Great Britain and France. Neither o.
these latter Powers appears to have thought of full
filling the duties of humanity, as between Mexico
and Texas, by taking possession OF the latter Power
and thus necessarily according TO the public admis
sion Of our own Government involving itself il
war with Mexico, in comparison with which, fol
intensity Of ferceness, Wilderness Of desolaon, and
waste of blood, the war between Mexico and Texas
waged as il has been, is but the war Of pigmes
fighting with straws.
There exists no right, on the part of any nation
under the Law of Nations, to do any thing, no
otherwise authorized by law, under the notion Of
general power to nterpose to prevent punish any
actions which another nation shall perform within
its own competency. The right Of one nation to in
terlere by arms or forcble interposition, between
two other nations, Tor example, can only arise from
the right to provide for its own safety. Admitting
therefore, for arguments sake, the complete indie
pendence of Texas, nothing short of selfpreserva
ton could have justified this Government in placing
its military and naval forces between Mexico and
Texas, and still less have justified the seizure Of
Texas under pretence Of Treaty, and in that
manner make the quarrel entirely our own. Still
less had the United States right to interfere in the
actual state of the case exhibited in the exposi-
ton Of the subject which we recently addressed to
our rcaders,@
The law which forbids the interference Of nations
in each others affairs, under the plea excuse of
indicating the rights Of humanity, is plainly laid
down in the following passage Of Vatte that we
ranscrbe ii for the information Of such Of our read
ers as have not ready access to that authority:
Though nation be obliged to promote, as far
as lies in its power, the perfection of others, il is
not entitled forcbly to obtrude these good Offices
on them. Such attempt would be violation
of their natural liberty In order to compel any
: one TO receive kindness, we must have an autho-
s~.t, h,t,a lrpp an