Independent Democrat., 1844-08-07

10 tributes of that sovereignty, she has IN
N right TO dispose of herself; and if she prac
l. tically assert that right by annexing heI
IS self to this Union, Mexico would have n
er just cause Of complaint against the Unite
70 States.
j, A writer of the highest authority on tn
l; law Of nations, says: "Every nation tha
@ governs itself, under what form soeyer
j. without dependence on any foreign power
D. is a sovereign State. To give natiop ;
II right to figure in this grand society, it il
i sufficient if il be really sovereign and in
9 dependent; that is, it must govern itsel
g by lis own authority and laws" VatteI
y book !, page 5S How stand the facts
e as applicable to these plain principles p
r Ever since tho memorable battle Of St
r Jacinto, with the exception Of few ma
raudng incursions of Mexican troops, who
"retreated more rapidly than they advanc-
! ed" and except also the paper bulletins
of the same power, Texas has remained
at peace; ''not hostile foot resting with.
in her territory" and no force meanwhile,
, fitted out or contemplated, sufficient for
f the conquest of the country. The United
, States and the principal powers Of Europe
} have acknowledged her independence.
We have entered into treaty of bonnda-
ries with her, and England has formed
with her a treaty OF commerce. For
eight years has she enjoyed this de facto
independence, under regularly organized
Government. If, under these circumsian-
ces, Texas may not enter into political
union with another power, how long, it
may be asked, before she can acquire this
right Or can she never acquire it with
out the consent of Mexico2 The last
proposition is too absurd TO require re-
iutalion. Spain refused TO recognize the
independence of Holland for moro than
seventy years, and yet all the nations of
Europe, regardless of that fact, treated
the revoted provinces as Independent
States. The only reasonable practicable
rule in such cases, and that on which tho
nations of the civilized world have acted,
is--Ihat it the reyolted colony or province
have established a regular government,
and SO long maintained her independence
as to demonstrate 10 a,reasonabe certainty
that she can never be reconquered, and
if, in addition, the parent State or power
charming her allegiance, nave mpliediyI
admitted her inability TO reconquer by
Withdrawing her forces, or, at most, wa
ging only predatory war-other nations
may regard the revolted province as free
and independent State, for any and every
purpose. On these principles the inde-
pendence of Texas has been recognized
and treaties formed with her. How can
these treaties be valid consistently with
the assumed rights of Mcxico2 If Mexi-
CO has the right TO reclaim her rsyolted
province, she has the same right to invali-
date all these treaties. In both cases the
right is without the practical means of en-
forcing it, and is therefore never regarded.
A paper war of proclamations is entitled
to no more respect than a paper blockade. |
And it is well settled that u declaration
of the blockade of an enemy's port, with.
out an adequate force 10 sustain it, is not
to be regarded by neutrals; and that a
vessel violating such blockade is not le-
galy subject to condemnation. The
cases are strictly analogous. The con-
structye war of Mexico against Texas;
her ridicuously high-sounding bulletins
without any force TO sustain them, are no
more--not half so much, entitled to the
respect and consideration of neutral pow
ers, as were the paper blockades of Eng.
land and France during the long. and des-
olatng wars of continental Europe-acts
which were subsequently, admitted TO be
illegal, and reparation made tor seizures
under them. N
These views are sustained by Mr.. Web.
ster, in his dispatches, as Secretary of
State, in ls42, TO our minister in Mexico.
He there saws: "'The battle of st. Jacinto,
fought on the 2lst April, 1886, achieved
.psi' vAs''J -eendence. The war from
That lime was at an end.D Ayain.. UTexas
has exhibited the same .-ss.s-.,sl s;ans
of independence as. Mexico oherself-prac.
tically free and independent, acknowledge
ed as a political sovereign by the principal
powers of the world, no hostile foot rest
ing within her territory for six or seven
years, and Mexico herself RETAINING, du-
ring all that period, from any further at
tempt to re establish her authority" Andl
still again-"The United States have re.
garIed Texas an Independent sovereignty
as much as Merico," and forclbly puts
the question-"How long, let i. be asked,
in the judgment of Mexico herself, is the
fact of actual independence 10 be held of
no avail against an avowed purpose -ofl
future recOnquest." miles Register, 23dl
July, 1912.
But we have still higher and moro di
rect authority to cite against this Mexicanl
objection to annexation. refer TO the
negotiations of two former administra