The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-06-25
COMMUNICATIONS.
RELATIONS WITH MEXICO.

ference and Mexican bravadoes-Captain Elliott's
coaxing, promises and threats-the intrgues Of enc
mics from abroad and the opposition of those here
In our midst, whom the sold hero, from the thresh-
old Of the tomb denounced traitors TO their
try--have been in vain.
What will be the RESULT Will Mexico quietly
submit Will she declare war; If she declares
war, will she make war? Will that war be one Of
active passages at arms, or such negative warfare as
has existed between Texas and Mexico since the
memorable day of San Jacinto?
The government Of Mexico, by its own confess
sion has deprived itself Of all pretext or apology
for declaring against the United States, because
Of the annexation of Texas. The Mexican Minis
ter of Foreign Relations, in an official report to the
Mexican Congress, has not only admitted that Tex
is independent de tacto but that Mexico is wholly
unable to put in force her pretended rights TO the
sovereignty of that country. To attempt TO do so,
he says, would be TO enter upon series OF barren
sacrifices; and the idea that she could do so, is alb
surd. With what appearance of reason could she
then declare against the United States because of
annexation Her rights to that territory f she
had any, ceased of course, with her ability to main
tain them. The only right which Mexico ever could
have had to rule over the people of Texas--the only
title that she ever had to the sovereignty OF the soil
was derived from the law of the strong. When the
strong departed from her, the right of the nhabit
ants of Texas to govern themselves, and their
eighty over their soil, became complete and unques-
tionable. In taking measures therefore, TO acquire
the sovereignty Of that country from those who
alone possess, and have perfect right to dispose
off the government OF the United States encroaches
upon no just right of Mexico, and gives her no just
preteXt for war.
The Mexican minister admits that it is impossi-
BILE for Mexico to reconquer Texas. Besides this
admission, il is evident that the of this
proposition is not only possible, but probable
Texas may conquer Mexico. Mexico cannot cope
with Texas. She has been exhausted by long
years of tyranny and ,ppression her treasury is
empty; her resources are dried up the government
is weak the northern departments are disaflected;
the people long to be fred from the despotsm Of
military rulers forced upon them at the caprice of
tyrant in the city Of Mexico and many in the north
ern departments begin y compare the oppression of
military rule, heavy taxes, and still heavier forced
loans, under which the7 labor with the happier
dition Of the people ofTexas.
| Under these circumstances, having no just cause
of war with the nitedStates-without resources to
carry on war, if declared, wisdom would dictate
to the government of Mexico to abandon the pre-
tensions, which her swn minister admits TO be
absurd, to acquiesce IN the annexation Of Texas,
and at once to settle the question Of boundary, with
the best guarantees that she could get II is her in
terest not ours to avoid difficulty, and to procure
an immediate adjustment of the line Of boundary.
We, as the stronger and the growing power, can
well suffer the question of boundary to remain open
for future adjustment. But the interests of Mexico,
the weaker nation, require that the line should
be fixed upon without delay, and that her rights
should be ascertainei and we'll Defined lest time and
uncertainty should impair, or afford a pretext for
Entertainments upon them.
| That the government Of the United States would
deal literally and kindly with Mexico, in fixing the
boundary now, cannot be doubted. We gave the
people of Mexico our cordial sympathy and aid in
their struggle for Independence and Notwithstanding
the UNMARRIED hostility evinced by that government
towards Notwithstanding the many insults and
evidences of unkndnsss on their part-notwithsand-
ing our many causes of complaint, as well because
of general acts of hostility, as for injuries done to
individual citizens of the United Staes-our govern
ment has shown, by its moderation and forbearance,
sympathy for their troubles, and desire for their
prosperity and welfare. The history of Texas
itself furnishes unequvocal evidences of the mod
Grafton, kindness, and fair dealing of our govern
| ment.
| Although very DESTROYS to acquire that country
although the just claims of many of our citizens
upon Mexico called for prompt, and even harsh
measures, to obtain redress-although those claims
might have been pressed, and made the means Of
acquiring Texas,--yet our government has not only
forbornc to avail itself of the opportunity thus pre-
sented; but has (from what experience has since
proved to be mistaken sympathy for Mexico) post.
poned those claims, and avoided taking those steps,
which justice to its own citizens, and regard for its
own character, required.
| II is probable, however, that the Mexican gov
eminent will be guided, in this question, more by
| necessities,
than by what wise policy would dictate, or justice
and the true interests of Mexico require. That gov
eminent is far from being securely established.
With short-sighted and traitorous policy, Santa
Ana has tried with the foreign relations of Mexico,
| for his own purposes at home. He has deceived
his ignorant people TO the nature of their claim to
Texas, their own Weakness and the strength of the
United States. He has embttered their feelings to-
wards us; taught them to consider the annexation of
Texas as robbery and violation of their unques-
toned rights; by his bravadoes, led them to believe
that he could conquer the United States, and pre-
pared them TO rush blndly into war with us. As
soon as annexation shall have been consummaed,
his partisans in Mexico will renew the cry for
The present government, TO save ITSELF will have to
sacrifice the true interests of Mexico to the necessi
ties Of the moment The settlement Of the question
of boundary will have to be postponed, and war de-
cared. But, though declared it is probable that no
warlike measures will be aken further than to es-
tabsh state of nor-intercourse. With this the
Mexican government would probably be well con-
tent. An empty declaration of war, followed by
such nominal warfare Mexico has so long
made upon Texas, would satisfy the emergency at
home; and would SO long as that state Of things
continues, relieve them from the payment of the
| large sums due to our citizens.
| Should this state of things occur, what will our
government dor Will it suffer Mexico to avail her
self of this pretcxt longer to withhold the indemnity,
which she bound herself to pay, by the convention
of January 81, l843 Will it suffer her any longer
| to withhold her assent to the amendments proposed
by the Senate of the United States to the
cent convention for the liquidation of unadudicated
claims' Will the claimants, with hopes deferred,
be forced to wait the results of new efforts to
ciate Mexico' Will our government not rather be
satisfied that attempts at Cancellation are fruitless
and that the time has come when sympathy and
kind feeling for Mexico must give way TO justice to
its own ctizens!
WAsHNeTos, Iune Is, 1915.
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Communicated.
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