Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1845-01-23
BY G. A. & ]. P. CHAPMAN.

of our own wrong still claim Texas against our
formal cession yet neither we released from our
obligation to receipe her, so circumstances
lawfully and honorably permit, and she herself de-
sires remuneration
If any thing strengthen our moral obligation to
repair great wrong, committed for the sake of ac
quiring the Flordas, it is the fact, not generally
known, that the Texans, numbering in 1919, over
thousand free white inhabitants, formally protest.
ed, just four months after the signature Of the Fort
da treaty, against this abandoning of their persons
and their territory to the tender mercies of Spain.
In Niles's Register for 1919, at page 81 is to be
found this protest 1t is contained in "a copy of
declaration issued on the 23d of June QS19) by the
supreme council of the republic of Texas in which,
after stating that the Texians had long INDUCED the
hope that they would be included in the limits of our
Union-a hope, they add, which the 'sclaims of the
United States, long and strenuously urged, have
couraged'-the Council proceeds to say:
he recent treaty between Spain and United States
of America illusion too long fondly cherish
ed the citizens of from oIpor in
to which fancied security bad lued them. They have
themselves CONVENTION WHICH THEY WERE
NO PARTY, LITERALLY ABANDONED THE
ntoeTabe all those exactions hich Spanish
rapacity is fertile in devisIng."
This remarkable protest is signed by the President
and Secretary of the Supreme Council" If | am
asked here produce the credentials of these gentle
men, and to show under what precise law this Coun-
Gil elected and qualified my reply is, that in the
thny settled countri IS, little of rigid formality
be expected. The declaration is ar expression of
public sentiment, Official probably, the then
dton of Texas permitted And at all events, the
thorty of the Texan Council was quite regular
that of stout Ethan Allen and his handful of voun-
teers, when the old soldier, than year in adj
of the Declaration of Independence Numbered
at the gates of Tconderoga, and babe her surrender
'in the of the great Jehovah and the Continent
tai Congress ~
But all this repeat, touches but the bark of the
controversy. Let penetrate that, and reach its
substance at once.
Texas is an independent Republic occupying a sep
arate and equal station among the nations of the
earth, legally possessing her soil, lawfully ad-
hnlnsterIng her own laws,-or she is but revolted
province, over which Mexico has preserved all her
rights; her government but provisional usurpation
the title to her territory still in the mother country
Settle that one point-and, regards the question
in Its foreign relations, every thing is settled.
1t seems strange to me, that we should yet be re-
quired to argue such question. And yet are.
Day after day pour forth from the leading journals of
our opponents protests and denuncations We who
favor annexation are, if their words are be taken
fer it. brit band of and-rohbers on a magnificent
scale; leekued together for the avowed purpose of
filching from Mexico without a color of right some
two hundred million acres of her lawful territory
History Is ransacked for examples of similar profit
/ gate ambition and, in recent number of the Ma
tiona Intelligenccr, (of December 24l our govern
nent is lkened without scruple to thGt polite war
rior and tyrant Frederick the Great" who, having
! least an eye OF longing upon part of a neghborng
realm which suited him., babe his Minister prepare a
manifesto, making clear the justice of his title The
Minister obeyed, setting forth ..the intended act OF
rapine as errand of grace, mercy and Justice"
"A this (adds the Inellgencer) "he Minister
up in very csptvang form nothing could right
full, nothing moe necessary for his safety flom
croachng neighbours nothing charts BILE nothing more
for glory Of God and religion STOP
cried Frederick when his Minister that part of the
Manifesto; 'leave out God aud religion want pro-
vince -"
Similar accusations find voice ON this floor.
gentleman from Massachusetts Mr. Winthrop whose
character and standing give weight to the charge and
demand for it reply, scrupled not but the other day
to denounce the proposed act of annexation as a
scheme 'm,nstrous beyond all power of expression -
project, contrary to the law of nations and in
violation OF the good faith Of own country" My
) colleague Mr.. c. B. SMITH who has Just spoken
takes the very ground. He characterised the
plan of annexation attempt 'to rob Mexico of
part of her territory"
Now, sir, |, for one, when give my yote,--as
hope yet tn session to give it-for the annexation
Texas to these United States, am not willing to Civ,
1t silently, under such imputations Let our oppo
nenfs here prove us-not assert it merely-tha
this projected annexatirn is but "act Of rapine :
that it is tramping under foot of Justice morality
good faith, international law-that have no bette
if all the dreams of Marco Polo, were realized il
Texas; if there at last, to be found Cipango'
shores If god the of Antlla-no by my yot
j should even such land, wrongfully wrested from
weaker neighbour become part of this, yet undshon
, ored Union.
But in proof of charges grave there lacks some
thing beyond mere idle iteration There lacks proof
e that Texas is not independent State. MAINTAIN
that she Isl and if the Committee will give brief al
tention, purpose to show, somewhat more at larg
: than previous occasion, g,od for the opin
!, Ion
|, Not lightly should this question be approached nc
u heedessly decided. Let beware The fate of on
q osprng the destinies of descendants, may han
n upon the decision. We, of the West especially ar
birds of passage Our instinct attracts usi to re
II gons distant and new In Oregon or elsewhere tn
question may arise now what is Just revolution
&c and what awless revolt In judging the Texans tc
L day, may be deciding, of our own children, in a
ID years. whether they shall be held to be reemer
meriting honor, or traitors deserving death.
Leaving out of view the prime cause Of the Texa
n revolution = that /" violation of the fundament,
IT laws" which, Vattel declares, gives to sovereign
p subjects ga legal right to resist him'-passng
to that come the fact, that nine years ago. Ne,
is leo and Texas engaged in war. Texas success
u full Sheconquered and has since peaceaby possesses
s. her territory. Has she good title to that te
he ritory Has she right to convey ii to whom 81
will Let Grotius answer; Grotius writing two Gel
Is turtles ago; writing under the eye of king dedica
y ing his celebrated work to king Our whg frien,
ty cannot accuse me Of dragging in the radicalism
some modern innovator, to sustain my position.
p presume hope, that the counsellor of Queen Chri
h. tina When he happens to decide in favor of libert
win not be rejected by them ultra-democratc a
at thority. Yet here is bis doctrine: