The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1846-12-25

The blood al oGr cltiZens on our own SOIL.
The Uuii,d S ales never attempted tn
acquire Texas by conquest. Ga the con-
'rary. at an early period, after the people
of Texas had achieved their independ.
ence, they scu- hl 10 be annexed 10 the
United S,aes. At a general r!cclion in
September, 1895 they decided vI,h great
unanml'y IN favor e "auuexa'ion; - aud
, in n vcmh,r following, the Congress Of
( tie rcpnb!l: au,hor,zci the appointment
I Of minister - hear their rrqac.j to this
| Govtrnmanl. This Government, how
ever, having remained neutral between
Texas and Mexico. during the war be-
tween them, AMI considering il due to the
honor Of our country, and our lair fame
among the nations Of the earth, that we
should not at this early period cons ent To
annex alton, nor until il should be mani
fest To the whole world that the recon-
quest of Texas by Mexico was impoSsi-
BILE. refused tn acceIs the ovrriurcS made
Ivy Texas. On the l2gh of April, 1874.
and after mn,e than seven yearS had clap
sed since Texas had established her IN
Dependence, a treaty was concluded Tor
the annexation of that republic go thc
United States, which was IJcc,rd by tle
$ ,ua,e Finally, IN The lirs, If March,
1915, Congress passed JOINT resolution
Tor annoxing her to The United States.
upon crr;ain preliminary conditions L"
which her assent W. s req aired. The so.
lemnitcs " hich characterized he Gelitcr-
atoms and cnnduc, Of the government and
people OF Texas, on the deeply interest
= questions presented by those resolu.
lions, ate known to the world. The
Congress, the Excrlivc, and the people
nf Texas, IN conVeRtun elected fGr lhat
purpose, accepted with great unanmi'y
the proposed terms Of annexation; aud
thus consumn ated on her part the great,
ac, Of restoring to our federal Union a
vast territory, which had been coded To
Spain by the Florida treaty. more than a
quarter of a century before.
After the JOINT resolution for the annex.
alton of Texas to the United States had
been passed by our Congress. the MeNi-
can Minister at Washington addressed
note to the Secretary Of State, bearing
date on the sixth Of NJ rch, 1915, pro-
testing against it as Fan ACT of aggression,
The most unjust which can he found re-
corded in the annals of modern history.
namely ; that of despoiling friendly M
lion. like Mexico, Of considerable par-
lion Of her terIitory;' and protesting
against the resolution OF annexation, as
being an act "wierecy the province OF
Texas, and integral portion Of The Mc1i-
can territory, is agreed and admitted ln'o
the American u ion;" and he ann un-
ced that. as consequence, his mission
10 the United States had terminated, and
demanded his passports, which were
granted. Ii was upon the absurd PEE
text, made by Mexico, (herself indebted
Tor her independence to a successful rev.
olulion) that lie republic OF Texas still
continued to be. Notwithstanding all that
had passed, province of Mexico that
his step was taken by the Mexican min
lister.
Every honorable effort has been used
by me to avoid the war which followed,
but all have proved vain. All our attempts
TO preserve peace have been met by in
suit and resistance on the part ol Mexico.
Nv efforts to this end commenced IN the
note Of tho Secretary of State Of the tenth
Of March, 1915, in answer to that of the
Mexican minister. Whilst declaring To
reopen discussion which had already
been exhausted, and proving again what
was known to The whole world, lila; Tex
as had long since achieved her lUlepen-
dence, the Secretary Of State expressed
the regret of this government that Next
co should have taken offence al the reso-
luton Of annexation passed by Congress.
and gave assurance tia, our "mosI siren.
uous efforts shall be devoted 10 the ami
cable adjustment, OF every cause of com
plant between the two governments, and
to The cultivation of the k,nies, aud most
friendly relations between the sister re-
publlcs"
That have acted in tie spirit of dis
assurance, will appear from the events
which have since occurred. NotwilU
standing Mexico had abruptly terminated
all diplomatic intercourse with tie Uni
ted States. AM ought. Therefore, to have.
been the iirs, To ask for IT. rc-umpulB,
yet, waving all ceremony, embraced
the car'es, favorable opportunity "to as
certain from the Mexican Government
whether they would receive an envoy
from the United States intrusIed with luIl
power to adjust all the questions in dis
pu,e between the two governments In
September, lS45, believed the Eropi.
,ous moment for such and overture had
arrived. Texas, by the enthusiastic and
almos, unanimous will Of her people, had
pronounced in favor of annexation. Mex
leo herself had agreed to acknowledge
the indie, cadence Of Texas, subject to a
condition, it is true, which she had no
rigl. to impose and no powor to enforce
The las. lingering hope Of Mexico. if she
| IL Il 4 Al.