Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1846-12-18

aad independent, acknowledged as political soy.
ereigriy by the principal Powers Of the world, no
hostile foot finding rest within her territory for
or years; and Mexico herself retaining Cor
oil that period from any furiheraucmpi 10 re-es-
ia5lish her own authority over that territory, il is
surprising 10 find Mr. de Bocanegra (lhe seereio.
ry Of Foreign Affairs of Mexico) complaining
thai for the whole period, citizens Of the United
States or lis Government, have been favoring the
rebels Of Texas, and supplying them with vessels
ammunition and money, as IL the war for the re-
ducion ofthe province Of Texas had been con.
siantly prosecuted by Mexico, and her success
prevented by the Influences from abroad" In
the same despatch the Secretary Of STATE afhrms
thar since 1897 the United Slales had rewarded
Texas as an independent sovereignty, as much
as Mexico; and Thea trade and commerce with
citizens Of government at war Mexico cannot,
on that account, be regarded as an inercourseby
which assistance and succor are given TO Mexican
rebe's. The whole curent-of Mr. de Bocane.
gTas remarks runs in the same direction, as If the
independence Of Texas had no, been acknowled.
gcd. Il hasbeen acknowledge acknowl.
edged in 1887, against the remonsirance and pro.
test Of Mexico; and most Of the acts Of any i'm
portance, Of which Mr.. de Bocanegra complains,
flow necessarily from that recognition. He
speaks Of Texas as still being "un internal part Of
the territory OF the Mexican Republic;" but he
cannot but understand that tho United States do
not so regard it. The real complaint Of Mexico
therefore is, in substance, nothing more or less
than a complaint against the recognition Of Tex.
an independence. 1t may be thought rather lale
to repeat that complaint, and not quite jus, TO con.
fine il to the United States, 10 the exemption Of
England, France, and Belgium, unless the United
States, having been tho first to acknowledge the
| independence of Mexico herself are 10 be bam-
ed for setting an example for the recognition OF
that Of Texas" And he added, that "lhe con.
stitution, public treaties and the laws obIige the
President to regard Texasas an independent State,
and its territory as no part OF the territory oi
| Mexico" Texas had been independent State,
with an organized government, defying the pow
er Of Mexico to overthrow or re-conquer her
/ for more than ten years before Mexico commen.
ced the present war against the United States.-
Texas had given such evidence to the world oI
her ability TO maintain her separate existence as
an independent nation, that she had been formal,
! ly recognized rs such, not only by the United
States. but by several of the principal powers o.
Europe. These powers had entered into treaties
Of amily commerce and navigation with her.
/ Theyhal received and accredited herministers ant
other diplomatic agents at their respective courts
and they had commissioned ministers and dpo
matte agents on their part to the government o
! Texas. If Mexico Notwithstanding all this anC
her utter inability to subdue or re.conquer Tex
as, still stubbornly refused to recognize her as an
independent nation, she was none the less so on
that account. Mexico herself had been recogni.
zed as an independentnat by the United States,
and by other powers, many years before Spain,
Of which, before her revolution, she had been n
colony. would agree to recognize her as such, and
yet Mexico was at that time, in the estimation Of
the civilized world, and in fact, none tho less M
/ independent power because Spain still claimed
. her ai colony. If Spain had continued unit
the present period to assert that Mexico was ont
Of her colonies, in rebellion against her, thit
would not have made her so, or changed the fac
Of her Independent existence. Texas al the pc
Rod Of her annexation TO the United States, bor
the same relation TO Mexico that Mexico hat
borne to Spain for many years before Spain hat
! acknowledged her independence, with this impor
iaut daGrence-that, before the annexation o
Texas TO tho United States was consunmatec
Mexico herself by formal act Of horgovernmen
had acknowe edged the Independence Of Texas u!
nation. Il is tru that in the act Of recognition
she prescribed a condition, which she had NJ
power or authority 10 impose, that Texas shoulC
not annex herself 10 any other Power, but thl
could not detract in any degree from the recogni
ton which Mexico then made of her actual in
| dependence. Upon this plain statement of facts
IL absurd for Mexico 10 aege as pretext 10
commencing hostililes against the United States
that Texas is still part Of her territory.
But there arc those who. concedingall this Il
be true, assume the ground that the true western
boundary of Texas is the Nueces instead of III
, Rio Grande; and that, therefore, in marching on
army to the cast bank Of the latter river we pass
ed The Texan line, and invaded tho territory {
. Mexico. simple statement Of facts, known I
/ exist will concusivcly refute such an assumption
Texas ceded tothe United State by France i
' 1909 has been always claimed as extending wei
ia the Rio Grande, or Rio Bravo. This fact
established by The authority of our most emineI
statesmen AZ period when the question was q
well if not better understood than il is at presen
Durinp Mr.. Jeiferson's administration, Messr
: Monroe and Pinckney, who had been sent on
special mission to Madrid, charged, among oIhC
: things, with the adjustment Of boundary hetwee
l. the Two countries, 10 note addressed TO the Spa'
: ish ministers of Foreign Affairs, under date of Il
u 28lh of January, 1906, assert that the boundar'
u of Louisiana, as ceded to the United States
= France, care the river Perdo tho east, and Il
: river Bravo on the wesl;" and they add, that "tl
Il iacts and principles which justify this conclusiC
Q are so satisfactory 10 our government as TO CO
II vince it, that the United States have not bett
a. right to the island of New Orleans under the ce
u sion referred to, than they have to the whole di
y uic' of territory which is above described"
ar y Down to the conclusion Of the Florida treat
T. in February, 1919, by which this territory W
;" ~ ceded to S pain, the United States asserted a
y, ~ maintained their territorial rights to this exte
y In the month of June, 1918, during Mr. Monro
u ni' administration, information having been receiV
v. ,hnt a nnrnher Of foreign ndYentnrers had lane