The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1846-12-19

co long before the breaking out Of hostilities.--
But even then we forbore 10 take redress into our
,wn hands, until Mexico herself became the ag-
,ressor by invading our soil in hostile array, and
shedding the blood of our citizens. gisit
Such are the grave causes Of complaint on the
,art of the Urited States against Mexico--causes
which existed long before the annexation of Texas
o the American. Union; and yet, animated by the
owe of peace, and magnanimous moderation, we
did not adopt those measures of redress which, un.
der such circumstances, are the jpstlhed resort OF
injured nations. .oisl a e,l. :.
rhe annexation Of Texas to the United States
no just cause of offence to Mexico
The pretext that it did so is wholly inconsIsteht,
and irreconcilable with well authenticated facts
with the Ievolotion by which Texas be-
came independent Of Mexico. That this may be
the more manifest, 1t may be proper to advert to
the cause and to the history Of the principal events
OF that revolution. 4 ....t ...... y I.i.,l5.
Texas constituted portion of the ancient prov
ince of Louisiana, ceded to the United States by
France in the year 1903. 10 the year 1919, the
United States, by the Florida treaty, ceded to
SPAN all that part of Louisiana within tine present
limits of Texas; and Mexico, by the revolution
which separated her from Spain, and rendered her
an independent nation, succeeded to the rights Of
the mother country over this territory. In the
wear 1924 Mexico established federal constitu-
ton, under which the Mexican republic was COM
posed Of number OF sovereign States, confeder-
ated together in federal Union similar to our own.
Each Of these States had its own executive, legis-
lature, and judiciary, and for all, except federal
purposes, was as independent OF the general gov
ernment and that Of the other States, as Is Penn
sylvania or Virginia under our constitution. Tex
as and Coahuila united and formed one OF these
Mexican States The State constitution which
they adopted, and which was approved by the
uE Col taI tI IN free
and independent of the other Mexican United
States. and of every other power and dominion
whatsoever" and proclaimed the great principle
Of human liberty, that ''the sovereignty OF the
State resides originally and essentially in the gen.
eral mass of the individuals who compose it To
the government under this constitution, as well as
to that under the federal constitution, the people
of Texas owed allegiance.
Emigrants from foreign countries, including the
United States, were invited BIZ the colonization
laws of the State and of the federal government to
settle in Texas. Advantageous terms were offered
to induce them to leave their own country aud be-
come Mexican citizens. This invitation was ac-
cepted by many 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 constitutional guarantees similar
to those which existed in the republic they had
left. Under a government thus organized they
continued until the year 1855. when military
revolution broke out in the city of Mexico, which
entirely subverted the federal and State consttu
tions, and placed military dictator at the head
the government s,s,f-- "a t.,t- t.55
By sweeping decree of Congress subservien
To the will of the Dictator the several State con
st,tutions were abolished, and the States them
selves converted into mere departments of the Zen
| tral Government. The people of Texas were un
willing to submit to this usurpation. Resistance
10 such tyranny became high duty. Texas was
fully absolved fiom all allegiance to the Centra
Government of Mexico from the moment thai
government had abolished her State constitution
and in its place substituted an arbitrary and des
potic Central Government
Such were the principal causes of the Texan rev
olution. The people of Texas at once Determined
| upon resistance, and flew to arms. In the mids
| of these important and exciting events, however
| thew did not omit to place their liberties upon
secure and permanent foundation. They eiecte'
members 10 convention, who, in the month
March, 1886, issued formal declaration that thei
..political connexion with the Mexican nation ha
| forever ended, that the people OF Texas do nov
constitute FREE, SOVEREIGN, and INDEpEN
DENT REPUBLIC, and are fully invested with al
the rights and attributes which properly belong 7
independent nations' They also adopted for thei
government liberal republican constitution
Aboutthe same time, Santa Anna, then the dicta
tor of Mexico, invaded Texas with nuInerou
army for the purpose of subduing her people. am
enforcing obedience to his arbitrary and despotl
government On the twenty-6rst of April, 1886
he was met by the Texan en-soldieIs, and o.
that day was achieved, by them. the memorable
victory of San Jacinto, BY which they conquere
their Independence. Considering the numbers en-
gagged on the respective sides, history does not re
cord more brilliant achievement Santa Ann
himselfwas among the captves. ~. ny
In the month of May, 1886, Santa Anna az
knowledged, by treaty with the Texan author
ties, in the most solemn form, "the FULL entire, an
perfect Independence Of the republic OF Texas.
, | II is true he was then prisoner OF war, but 1t
equally tue that he had failed to reconquer iexa
: and had met with signal defeat; that his authoril
, had not been revoked. and that by virtue OF tn
! treaty he obtained his personal release. BY nho
tilites were suspended, and the army which hi
h invaded Texas under his command returned IN pu
r suance of this arrangement unmolested, to Mexlc
From the day that the battle Of San Jacinto W
fought until the present hour, Mexico has ney
a possessed the power to reconquer Texas, ln q
!, language of the Secretary Of State OF the Unite
: States, in a despatch to our minister In Mexic
e under date of the eighth Of July. 1912, MMexi
n may have chosen to consider, and may sun chco
= TO consider Texas as having been at all times SIN
l.
. but the world has been obliged to take very q
!. ferent view Of the matter From the time OF I
e battle of San Jacnto, in April, 1886, to the PR
!, ent moment, Texas has exhibited the same ext
i. nal signs of national Independence as Mexico III
j self and with quite as much stability OF Cover
NJ ment. Practically free and independent, ackpoy
N edged as political sovereignty BY the princII
,e Powers of the world. no hostile foot tindlng r.
~ within her territory for six or seven years, al
- Mexico herself refrainng for all that period fre
! any further attempt TO re-establshb her own auth
ty over that territory. 1t cannot but be surprisi
Il. Ito find Mr.. de Bocanegra" (the Secretary Of
N eign Affairs of Mexico,) complaining that
=. that whole period citizens Of the United States
~ lis government, have been fayoring The, rebels
to Texas, and supplying them with vessels, ammu
ton, and money. as if the war for the reduction
M the province Of Texas had been constantly pro
u cuted by Mexico, and her success prevented
II these influences from abroad" In the same q
~ patch the Secretary of State atfrms that ssh
=. 1887 the United States have regarded Texas as
IN independent sovereignty, as much as Mexico;
he that trade and commerce With citizens OF &
- ..,.y ,xsth MAxtrn cannnt on that