Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1845-01-23

apprehension of interference from proceeds to
~ effect the inhGman threats she has lately made
against our Texian negbors. Is that TO pass, tool
Before we enter this path of peace let US look
little In advance. and settle which way out Mex
leo has formally, publicly, officially warned the Texi-
to eyacuate their country and declares that. if
they refuse, every who shall be guilty of the criz
Of being found anywhere in Texas three miles from
her western frontier. shall be put death. Is that.
in this nineteenth century incredible 1t is true.
Witness the "Orders of General Woll," as Official
ly communicated by Secretary of State carrying
out the provisions of Santa Annals decree of June IL
decree, which forbds all quarter the Texans
der penalty, to the officers non-compyng of the loss
of their Commissions. Here is the black record:
BORDERS OF GENERAL wOLL.
HEADQUARTERS OF THE Army OF THE NoRTu.'
- MIER, June 20, 1894
al Adrian wol General Of Brigade &C.. AXE kno wn -:
81 The armisce agreed with the Departmental Texas
having expiIed aud the being quence
msneed sSaiRst herinhabants Of the department. all
municatiOn with il
- Every individual Of whatever condition, Who my
contTavene the provisions Of the preceding article shall be
regarded traitor and shall the punishment pse
scribed in article As title 10, treatise g. Of the articles Of
war;
80 Ersry individual who may be found at distance Of
ore league pm the left bank Of the Rio Bravo, M be re-
garded and accomplish Of the usurpets Of that
part Of the national territory and traitor Of has couarys
and. after summary military trial. shall recefre the ADORE
punishment.
a. Every individual who may be comprebendrd within
the provisions Of preceding article, may be
enough to- fly at the sight Of force belonging the
Supreme Government shall be Pusu d. until taken put to
DEATH"
The orders are plain as language can make them.
The crime is being found in Texas. Every individual
frcm the fact Of his being SO fund, is TO be held and
deemed to be traitor of his country " and, such,
monstrous as it may seem all-for there is no DIS
tinction, no exception made or limited at-EVERY
human being there found, is, after summary military
trial, to suffer traitors death! :
In comfortably pursuing our path of peace and of
safety, these Orders meet our eye. Are we to pass
them by To notice them might breed quarrel.
Have We right to notice themi | suppose the next
question viii be, whether we have right to fire
the pirates flag to thwart his good pleasure, when
he bids his victims walk the plank, and consigns
them to watery grave But, if needs he. We may
find proof that the law of nations does, in some cases
and this is one-perint US to follow the dictates of
mercy and justice
In every civil war, has been already shown from
Vattel, international law requires 10th parte to
humanity, moderation and honor" What iheso
laws Let Vattel inform US
"0n enemys submitting and laying down his arms
cannot will justice take away his e Thus, in battle
quarter given to those who lay down their and in
siege garrison Offering captuate be reus
ed their lives."-Futtei, Book IA, chaps. -.
"Woen, Children feeble Old aud sick persons come
under the description Of enemies and have certain rights
them inasmuch they belong to the nation with
resistance and cOnse queny have Iightto maTeat
their persons, much less take ay their lives. This
plain maxim Of justice and humanity, that at present,
evernaton in The least degree civilized aequiesees in it,
Ibid. ,, sc !
} alt dreadful Of antiquity. most unjust and
savage claim, right of quitting prisoners Of
to DEATH by the hand Of The exccutiOne More just
and humane principles have long since, been
But Mexico, we may be told, only threatens this
fragrant violation of the law Of nations The threat
is itself illegal What we may not do, neither are we
f permitted to threaten. Says Vattel:
Whatever advantage you my promise yourself fom
unlawful proceeding, that will not warrant in the use
Of it, The menace of an unjust punchment 10 rjaR 81
itself; it is an insult and njury."-BOOk iii, chap
But the threat is idle, it has been said; merely
meant to iu.imidate too horrible to be fulfilled If
the blood shed the plains of Goad had voice; if
the walls of the Alamo could speak would they vouch
for it, that Mexico is too tenderhearted to keep her
word The treaty of capitulation with poor Fannin
was formally drawn up and signed by both Mexican
and Texan officers; yet the morning of Palm Sunday
saw four hundred dsarmed men marched out and shot
down, like beeyes In slaughter-house. From wlis'
has been are justified in deciding Thst will be.
But STILL if these threatened crimes committed
: by Mexico, where do we find warrant to interpcse
and arrest them That too, shall be forthcoming.
1t would be strange if it could not be found OF what
use is law without penalty Of what avail the law
of nations, if nations not authorized to see 1t
; obeyed. So decides Vattel:
The laws Of natural society Of such importance to
the safety of all the States that the custom once
ed Of ramplng them under foot nation could asttr ke-
self with the hope preserving her national Independence,
enjoying - =
have therefore right resort Jore5e rafans the
REFRESHING particular nation ho openly rc-
dies the laws f society which nature has established be-
them, who directly attacks the welfare and safety
: Of that society. '-Vuitef Preiim- p. Xiv.
Here, then. we have the law and its application.
Mexico has openly violated, and declared her purp
in aggravated form, again openly tc violates the holl-
est laws of civilized society BY SO doing she ustes
us in resorng force for the purpose of REFRESHING
her. Shall we do SO 3 1t not always expedent to
avail ourselves of right. We are not bound to be-
come the Don Quixotes of the age and sally forth to
redress all the grievances of the civilized world That
has never, so far, been the policy of our country.
i Greece and Poland had less of sympathy.
= and that was all We assumed not to decide on the
British dongs in Aghnnistar to Judge the conduct
of the opium war against China. But Texas is our
next neghbor and was once Under special guards
e anship. We are, to employ the law phrase in its
strictest sense her nearest friend. To us if to any
ton upon EARTH she has right to look for and
e protection Shall we forsakc her now,
: If such be our decision it behooyss us as pruden,
men, fully to digest or plan; and trace it to its final
consequences
Say that we remain inactive and NEUTRAL and suffer
e things to take their course. What happens. just
# at this moment Mexico is embroiled at home But
l. her civil wars of short duration. And to
e Texas it matters little which of the harbarians tri
: umph. They have boih like Hannibal at the altar
u sworn eternal enmity to her, They vie with each
other in protestations of ZEAL Death and desructqS
e to the Texans that, even now, is the theme o.
It every despatch, the burden of every proclamation
Of The victor be be Paroles or Santa Anna is pledged
X to carry ont, without delay, in all its arbarity, the
sr ensced INVASION TO sustain and give brllliancy q
newly gotten power, he redeem bis pledge. I'm
Ell agiue tie sequel The Rio Bravo crossed Another