Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-12-05


mos, ser;ons injury 10 the United States ms
Government. lrom,iGic 10 time, exeIed It's lrielu-
L. Offices 10 bring about termination OF hos'i!-
,;es uuon terms honorable alike 10 both The Deili-
ocrepis lis efforts in this behalf proved uhavail-
inc Mexico seemed, almost without an ol1ec',
10 perscveTe in the war, and no other al'erhath
was left the Executive but to take advantage OF
The well-known dispositions OF Texas and TO IN
vie her 10 enter into a treaty for annexlnS her
territory to that oithe United States.
Since your last session, Mexico mas thled'ehe'
Ia renew the war, and has either MADE, or Propo-
see to make. formidable preparations lor invading
Texas She has issued DEGREES ana procisa,,iia-
lions. preparatory to The commencement oil hos,
,;l;,;es fun of,hreals revolving 10 humanity; aud
which. if carried into effect, wonld arouse The IT.
,en,ion Of all Christendom. This new oemonsira-
lion of feeling, there is too much reason 10 Dc
lieve. has been produced in consequence OF tllc
NEGOTIATION OF the late treaty OF annexation WIN
Texas. The Executive, therefore, could moi ne
indifferent 10 such proceedings and lelt II 10 oe
due, as well 10 ITSELF as 10 the honor oi Inc coul-
,ry. that strong representation should Dc iiaue
To the Mexican Government upon Inc shhJec'.-
This was accordingly done; as will be seen by Tue
copy OF the accompanying despatch from Tue "c.
creary OF State 10 The United States Envoy d.
Mexico. Mexico has no right 10 leopard
the peace of the world by urging any longer,
a useless and trullesS contest. Such
condition OF things would not he tolerated ON '''e
European continent. Why should i, be on ms:
4 war Of desola,ion. such as is now threatened
by Mexico, cannot be waged without involving
onr peace and tranquility. II is idle 10 believe
that such war could be looked upon with IN
difference by our own citizens, inhablllns ad-
Joining States; and our neutrality would be plo-
lated in DESPITE of all eloIts on the parl oil Inc
Government TO prevent il. The country IS settled
he erniorants from the United States, under iny-
lations held oul TO them by Spain and Mexico.
Those cmgrants have left behind them friends
and relatives who would not fail to srmpathlse WIN
them in their difficulties, and who would he leu
BY those synpahies 10 participate in their s'rus-
oles. however energetic The action oil The Govern
ment 10 prcyen, ii. Nor would the numerous ard
formidable bands OF Indians, the most warlike
10 be found in any land, which occupy The eX'eIl-
size regions contiguous 10 the States OF Arkansas
and Missouri aLl who are in possession oil large
tracts OF country within the limits OF Texas, he
likely 10 remain passive. The inclnalions ol
those numerous tribes lead them invariably 10 war
whenever preeXtS exist.
Mexico. had 10 just ground OF diSpeasllre
asains, this Government or people Tor negotiating
the treaty. What interest oil hers was affected
by the lreaty She was despoiled ot nothing,
pendencc OF Texas was recognised by several OF
The leading powers CT the earth She was free
10 ,rca,-free 10 adopt her own line OF policy
free 10 take the course which she believed was
best calculated to secure her happiness. Her
! Government and people decided on annexation
| To the United States; and the Executive saw,
in the acquisition OF such territory, the means
of advancing their permanent happiness and
glory. What principle OF good faith then was
violated? what rule Of political morals was tram
pied under foot? So lar as Mexico herself was
concerned, the measure should have been regard
ed By her as highly beneficial. Her inability 10
reconquer Texas had been exhibited, repeat, by
! eighl-now nine-years oi fruitless and rninouS
contest. In the mean time, Texas has been
growing in population and resources. Elnisra-
ton has flowed into her territory, from all paris
of the world, in a current which continues 10
increase in strength Mexico requires perina-
ncnt boundary between that young Republic and
herself Texas, at no distant day, if She CONT
nues separate and detached from The United
States, will inevitably seek 10 consolidate her
strength BY adding TO he! domain the contiguous
provinces OF Mexico. The spirit Of revolt from
The control Of The Central Government has,
heretofore, manifested itself in some Of those pro-
vinces; and it is fair 10 inter that they would be
inclined Ia take tie first favorable opportunity 10
proclaim their independence, and 10 form close al
lianceS with Texas. The war would thus be
endless: or, il cessatons Ci hoslileS should &C.
cur they would only endure for Il season The
interests OF Mexico, therefore could in nothing
be better consulted than in peace with her neigh
bors which would result in the establishment OF a
permanent boundary. Upon The ratification OF
the Treaty, the Executive was prepared 10 treat
with her on the most liberal basis. Hence The
boundaries OF Texas were LEFT underlined hy the
lao n Spttl
upon isrpls that all the world should have pro-
nounced Just and reasonable. No negotiation
upon that point could have been undertaken be-
tween the United States and Mexico, in advance
OF the ratification olthe Treaty. Weshou!d have
had no ri.hi-no poWer-no authority, 10 haze
conducted such negotiations and TO have under
taken il, would have been an assumption equal
" revolving 10 The pride OF Mexico and Texas,
and suhlectng Us 10 The charge OF arrogance while
10 have proposed in advance OF annexation, to
satisfy Mexico for anv contingent interest she
might have in Texas would have been 10 have
treated Texas, not as an independent power, but
as a mere dependency Of Mexico. This as
sumption could not have been acted on by the
Executive, without setting at defiance Your own
solemn declaration that thai Republic was an in
dependent State. Mexico had, il is true, threat
cned war against The United States, IN the
event The Treaty of Annexation was ratified. The
Executive could mol permit itself TO he influenced
by this threat |, represented in this. the spirit OF
our people. who are ready 10 sacrifice much Tor
peace, hut nothing 10 intimidation. A wal, Under
any circumstances is greatly 10 be derlored, and
the United States is The last nation 10 desire il;
but it, as the condition Of peace be required oil
US 10 ioreso the nnqueslionable right OF treating
with all independent power. of our own Conl-
nent upon matters highly interesting 10 both, and
that upon a naked and unsustained pretension OF
claim by third power, 10 control the free will OF
The power with whom we treat-deyoted as we
may he 10 peace, and anxious 10 cultivate friend
ly relations with The whole world. the Executive
does not hesitate 10 say tha, the people OF the U.
States would he ready to brave all consequences,
sooner Than submit To such condition. But no ap-
prehension Of war was entertained By the Excel
tive; and must express frankly the opinion, that
had the Treaty been ratified By The Senate, ii
would have been followed by a prompt settlement,
10 the entire satisfaction Of Mexico, of every
matter in difference between The two countries
Seeing, then, that new preparations for hostile in
vasion OF Texas were about 10 he adopted BY
Mexico and that these were brought about be-
cause Texas had adopted The suggestions of the
Executive upon The subject Of annexation, il could
not passivelp have folded its arms and permitted
war, threatened 10 be accompanied BY every act
that could mark baIbarous age, 10 he waged
against her, because she had done So
Other considerations Of controlling character
influenced the course The Executive. The Urea
" which had thus been negotiated, had failed to
receive the ratification OF the Senate. One Of the
chief objections which was urged against it, was
found to conss, in the fact that the question of an
neXation had not been submitted TO the ordeal of
public opinion in the United States. However
unienabla snch an objection was esteemed 10 be,
in NJ hc inns nft hp Y,-
cuiive 10 negotiate the treaty, and the great and
lasting interests involved in the question, felt it
10 be my duty TO submit The whole subject 10 Con-
gress as the best expounders popular sentiment.
No definitve action having been taken on The
subject by Congress, the question referred itself
directly to the decision of the States and the Peo
pie. The great popular election which has just
terminated afforded the best opportunity OF ascer-
tanning The will Of the STATE and the People upon
ii. Pending that issue, it became the impera-
tiveduty ofthe Executive 10 inform Mexico that the
question of anncyation was sill before The AIneri-