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

This rreafv instead Of uiIording protection 10 our
eitiz,ns, has bcon the means OF inviting them 10.
to the poris Of Mexico, thar they might be, as
they have bsen il numerous instances, plumber
ed OF their properly and deprived Of their per-
sOnal liberty f they dared insiot on their rights
bad the unlawful seizures Of American properly,
and The violation Of personal liberty Of our citi-
zens, 10 say nothing Of the insults 10 our Gag
which have occurred in the ports OF Mexico, Ia
ken place on the aigh seas, they would long since
have consltuaied a state of actual war between
the two countries. In so long suffering Mexico |
10 viola ehermost solemn treaty obligations plum
dr. our ciiiEsasof their properly, and imprisoned
their parsons without offering any redress, we
have failed to perform one of the first and high
est duties which every government owes 10 its
citizens; and the consequences has been, that ma.
OF them have been reduced from state Of aflu.
snoe 10 bankruptcy. The proud name Of Amer.
ican citizen, which ought TO protect all who bear
It from injury or insult throughout the world, has
afforded no such protection TO our citizens in
Mexico. We had ample cause for war against
Mexico long bsforet the breaking out Of hoslies.
But even then we forbore 10 take redress mo our
own hands, until Mexico herself beesme tho ag.
ges,o. by invading our soil in b,sue array and
shedding the blood Of our citizens.
Such are the grave caUses Of complaint on the
part Of the United Srates against Mexco-caus.
es which existed long before the annexation of
Texas 10 tho American Union; and yet, ANNA.
ted by the love Of peace, and a mngnamous mod.
eralion, we did not adopt those measures Of red.
ress which, under such circumstances, are the JUS
Ghed resort Of injured nations.
The annexation of Texas TO the United States
constituted no just cause Of offence to Mexico.
The pretext that il did so is wholly inconsistent,
and irrecoucilable with well authenticated facts
connected with the revolution by which Texas be.
came independent Of Mexico. That this may be-
the more manifest, it may be proper TO advert TO
thecauses and to ehstory Of the principle events
of that revolution,
Texas constituted portion Of the ancient pro-
vince Of Louisiana, cedsd 10 the United States by
France in tho year 1903. In the year 1919, the
United States by the Florida treaty, ceded TO
Spain all that part Of Louisiana within the pres
cnt limits of Texas; and Mexico, by the revolu.
ton which separated her from Spain, and render
ed her an independent nation, succeeded TO the
rights Of the mother country over this territory.
In the year 1924, Mexico established federal
constitution, under which the Mexican republic
was composed of number Of sovereign States,
conlederaed together in federal Union similar
10 our own. Each Of these States had its own
Executive, legislature, and judiciary, and, Tor all
excert federal purposes, was as independent Of
the general government, and that Of other States,
as is PENNSYLVANIA or Virginia under our const.
turon Texas and Coahuila united and formed
one of thas. Mexican States. The State consti.
tuition which they adopted, and which was appro'
we'd by the Mexican conrederacy, asserted that
they were free aud independent Of The other
Mexican United States, and Of every other pow
or and dominion whatsoever" and proclaimed
,ha great principle Of human llbbcry, that "the
sovereignty Of tha Sac resides originally and
essentially in The g3n2ral mass Of the individuals
who compose it," To the government under
this constitution, ai well as to that under the fed.
craI constitution, the people Of Texas owed uI2'
glance.
Emigraa,s from foreign countries, including
the United States, were invited by the coonILa
toa laws Of the States and Of the federal gov
ernment 70 s3uIe in Texas. Advantageous terms
were offered 10 induce Ihsm 10 leave their owr
country and bscome Mexican citizens. This IN
vitation was accepted by many Of our citlzonj
in full faith lha, in their new home thoy would be
governed by laws enacted by representatives e
ectad by themselves. and that their lives, liberty
and property would b. protected by constitutions
nj guarantees similar 20 those winch existed in
the / tpuUlC w lhI lNtt' AuH-l a ES'S'H'''- az
thus ,r .aniz.d Ii Y continued until The year 1885
whsn military revolution broke out in the city
Of Mexico, which entirely subvered The fedora
and State constitutions, and placed military die
tator at the head Of the government
By sweeping dccrccsor Congress subsorv
lent 10 the will of the DICTATOR the several state
constitutions were abolished, and the States them
selves converted into mere departments OF lht
Central Government. The people of Texas wert
unwilling TO submit TO this usurpatlon. Resist
ance to such tyranny became high duty. Tex
aswas. yabioyed from mal allegiance Othe Cen
iral Government Of Mexico from the momen
that government had abolished her State consll
tulion, and in rs place substituted an arbIlrar!
and despouc Central Government.
Such were the principle causes Of the Texar
revolution. The people Of Texas al once deter
mined upon resistance, and flew 10 arms.
In the midst Of ,hcs, important end exciting
events, however, they did not omit 10 place 'heI
liberties upon secure and permanent tounda
ton. They elected members TO convention
who in the month of March, 1886, issued for
nal declaration that their "potcal connexlo
with the Mexican nation has forever ended, an
thatth people Of Texas do now constitute Iret
sovereign, and independent Republic, aud are uI
lyinyested with all thcrghts and attributes whic
properly belong tonde ependentnallons' They ais
adopted for their government n liberal republica
constitution. About the same time, Santa Ann'
then the dictator Of Mexico, invaded Texas vii
a numerous army for the purpose OF subdulr
her people, and enforcing obedience TO his arb
lrary and despotc government. On the 2lst
April, 1886, he was met by the Texan citizen SC
dicr3, and on that day was achieved by them Il
memorable victory Of San Jacinto, by which the
conquered their independence. Considering Il
numbers engaged on the respective sides, hist