Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1844-12-28

only thing which could Justify any departure Of the
United States from the line Of strict neutrality in
this civil war, would be some changein the charac-
ter of the contest which should involve the safety,
not Of of the parties to thewar, but Of The O,i-
ted States. We quote tie passage from the
Message: HEX
!" In the war between those new Governments
and Spain, we declared our neutrality at the time
i of recognition and to this we have adhered and
shall continue TO adltere. provided no change shall
occur, which in the judgment Of the competent
!. authority of this Government, shall make cor
/ responding change the part OF the United
L States Indispensable to their security. II
/. If we look to the comparative strength and re-
sources of Spain and those new Governments, and
their distance from each other, it must be obvious
that she can never subdue them. IL is still the
true policy of the United States to Ieare the par
ties TO themselves, in the hope that other Powers
t. will pursue the same course"
| This was the last annual Message of Mr.. Mon
ROE to Congress, in which, it will be seen, he relte
rated the opinion, advanced in all his Messages for
the preceding seven years, during the whole OF
which time the war continued, that it was then
equally the duty and the policy of the United States
to maintain the strictest neutrality between the par
ties to civil war, even though those parties were
our neighbors, and our sympathies were with them.
So uniform and consistent, indeed, have been the
language and the practice of the Government of the
United States this subject, that the principle of
Il-intervention of this Government in the affairs
of other Powers has become part of the establish
ed policy of this Government, from which it never
can swerve without an entire change OF its character,
soon perhaps to be followed by change in its form
and structure.
But, suppose the Law OF Nations to be different
from what it is, and TO permit nation to indulge
its sensibtes so far as from considerations of hu-
mainly to interpose between two nations, or even
between nation and its revolted province, to put
stop to conflict which, in the opinion OF the par
| ty interfering, outraged the usages of war. Did
humanity, even under this admission, demand, or
solicit, in the manner insisted upon in the Pres-
dents several messages to Congress, the interior
ence of the United States, by annexing" Texas,
to put an end to so bloody and devastating war
Let facts decide.
| The plea of Humanity, now relied upon by
the Administration to Justify its project for the
. annexation of Texas, applied to the time at
which the overture for that purpose was made by
/ this Government could never have been advanced,
as il has been, but by persons not conversant with
With regard to any recent threats of Mexico, and
the proclamation of General WoLL, of which the
President omplains-though have no appre-
hension of their being carried into execution-ths
Government has itself alone to bame will appear
from brief review of the occurrences of the last
fourteen months. The question we have TO ex-
anime is the sfatu g,o at the commencement Of the
negotiation for annexation.
| The date of the Letter of Mr. Secretary UPsHUR
to Mr.. VAN ZANDT, the Texian Charge d'Affaires
to this Government, earnestly inviting him to enter
into negotiation for treaty of annexation, was
October Is, 1S43, though it four months after
that date before the Government of Texas consented
to enter into the negotiation. We allow the adj
vocates of immediate annexation the advantage Of
the earliest date at which this project conceived
4 At that date, every one must remember, the
war between Mexico and Texas had for some time
tagged; had in fact ceased TO be waged. The
parties to that war, moreover, having come TO agoot
understanding, had actually concluded an .4rmistics
of the existence Of which the Executive of The
United States was fully informed by despatch
i from the United States Charge dAffares in Mexico
under date of June Is, ls43, which enclosed copy
of the following proclamation Of the fact by the
President of Texas:
i PRESIDENT REPUBLIC TEXAS.
4 A PROCLAMATION.
Whereas an official communication has been received the
Department of State from her Britannia Majesys Chagt
dAares this Government founded upon despatch he
had received from her Majesys Charge dAaes in Mexico
Mexico would order cessation Of hosies his part ant
the establishment Of armsce between Mexico and Texas
requesting the President of Texas would send similar or
ders the different officers commanding the Texan forces
And whereas the President Of Texas has felt justified from
the dispositions cvnccd by the President Of Mexico and the
nature those dispositions adopting the proposed measure
and ordering the cessation Of hostes the part Of Texas
i Therefore be il known that l. Samuel Houston President
Of the Republic of Texas and Of the
army and navy of the do hereby declare and proclaim
that an ARnsrrcE is established befeen Tras and Meco,
10 continue during the tendency Of negotiations betee The
countries for peace, and until due notice Of nte-
lion 10 hosics (shoud such intention hereafter
he entertained by either pay) shall have been formally
nounoed through her Britannia Macstys Charge dAfaes
at the respective Governments and the revocation Of this pro-
clamation and all officers commanding the forces of Texas
or acting by authority Of this Government hereby ordered
and commanded to observe the
In testimony whereof have hereunto set my hand, and
caused the great seal of the Republic to be affixed
IT, ST. Done at Washington, the fifteenth day Of June,
d. eighteen hundred and forty-threc, and Of the
/ I,Jcrende,ce of the Republc he cirhth.