The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1846-12-19


guaranty ofa treaty of"amity, commerce, and
navigation, many ofthem have suffered all
the injuries which would have resulted from
open, war This treaty, instead of afiording
protection 10 rcitizens, has been the means
ofnvitng them into the ports of Mexico, that
they might be, us they have been in nuner-
Gus instances, plundered of their property
and deprived ofther personal liberty II they
insist OH their rights. Had the unlawful seiz-
ure of American property, and the violation
of personal liberty ofour citizens, 10 say moth
ing of the insults 10 our flag which have oc-
Cured in the ports of Mexico, taken place on
the high seas, they would themselves long
since have constituted state ofactua war be-
tween the two countries. ....
Such are the grave causes Of complaint on
the part ofthe u. States against MeXico-cau-
SEES which existed long before the annexation
OF Texas to the American Union and yet, an
mated by the love ofpeace, unda mugnoni-
nous moderation, we did not adopt those
measures ofredress which, under. such cir
cumstances, are the justified resort OF injured
nations.
The annexation of Texas TO the U. States
constituted no Just cause of offence to Next
co. The pretext that it did so is wholly in
consistent, aud irreconcilablc with well au-
thenticared facts connected with revolution
by which Texns became independent OF
Mexico. That this may be the more manifest
it may be proper to advert to the causes and
10 the history ofthe principal events of that
revolution.
Texas constituted portion of the ancient
province of Louisiana, coded to the U. States
by France in the year 1903. In the year 1919,
the U. States. by the Florida treaty, coded to
Spain all that part Of Louisiana within the
present limits of Texas; and Mexico, by the
revolution which separated her from Spain,
and rendered her an independent nation, sue
ceedcd to the rights olthe mother country o.
yer this territory, In the year 1924, Mexico
estublisheda federal constitution, under which
the Mexican republic was composed OF Il
number ofsovereign states, confederatod to-
geiher in II federal union similar TO our own.
Each OF these states had its own executive,
legislature and judiciary, and for all except
federal purposes, was as independent OF The
general government and that of the otl, er
states, ms is Pennsylvania or Virginia under
our constitution. Texas and Coahuia united
and formed one ofthose Mexican states. The
state constitution which they adopted, and
which was approved by the Mexican confed-
eracy, asserted that they were Stree and indie
pendent of the other Mexican U. States, and
ut every other power and dominion whatso-
ever" and proclaimed the great principle of
human liberty, that "the sovereignty of the
state resides originally and essentially III the
general lnnss of the individuals who compos-
ed IT," To the government under this con-
stitution, as well as to that under the federal
constitution, the people ofTexas owed ale
glance.
Emigrnnts from foreign countries, inclu-
dir the U. States, were invited by the colon
,zaIou laws of the state, and ofthe federal
government, TO settle in Texas. Advantage
Gus terms were offered to induce them to
leave their own country and become Mexican
citizens. This invitation was accepted by
many of our citizens, in the full faith that in
their new home they would be governed by
laws enacted by representatives elected by
themselves, and that their lives liberty, and
property would be protected by constitution
al guarantees similar 10 those which existed
in the republic they had left. Under gov
eminent thus organized they continued I'M
til the year 1885, when military revolution
broke out in the city ofMeXico which entire
w suhVerted the federal aud state constitu-
tons, md placed military dictator at the
head of the government
BY a sweeping decree of Congress subser-
Went To the will of the dictator, the several
state constitutions were abolished, and the
states themselves converted into mere depart
ments ofIhe Genital Government. The peo-
pie of Texas were unwilling 10 submit to this
usurpation. Resistance to such tyranny be-
came high duty. Texas was fully absoIv-
ed from all allegiance to the Central govern
ment of Mexico from the moment that Gov
eminent had abolished FER state constitution,
and in its place substituted an arbitrary and
despotic Central Government.
tla,
as revolution. The people of Texas at once
determined upon resistance, and flew 10 arms.
In the midst ofthose important and exciting
events, however, they did not omit 10 place
thei. liberties upon secure and permanent
| foundatiou They elected members TO q con-
vention, who, in the month of March, 1886,
issued formal declaration that their "polti-
\ cal connection with the Mexican nation has
| forever ended, and that the people of Texas
do now constitute free, sovereign, and indie
pendent republic; and are fully inVested with
all the rights and attributes which properly
belong TO independent nations" They also
adopted for their government liberal rel1ub-
lican constitution. About the same time,
Santa Anna, then the dictator of Mexico, in
vaded Texas with numerous army for the
purpose ofsubduing her people, and enfort'-
| ing obedience to his arbitrary and despotic
government. On the 21st of April, 1886, he
was met by the Texan citizen soldiers, and
on that day was achieved by them the mem
orable victory ofSan Jacinto, by which they
conquered their independence. Considering
the numbers engaged on the respective sides,
history does not record a more brilliant a.
chievement. Santa Anna himself was among
the captives. ...
In the month of May, 1886, Santa Anna
acknowledged, by treaty with the Texan
authorities, in the most solemn form, "the
full, entire and perfect independence ofthe
republic of Texas II is true he was then q
prisoner of war, but it is equally true that he
had failed to recouquer Texas, and had met
..,itL sinn nj daf,at thut his alihnrii.r had