Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1846-12-17


soil in hostile array and shedding the blood of our
oltizcls.
Such are the grave causes Of complaint on the
part OF the United States against Mexico causes
which existed long before the annexation of Texas
to the American Union; and yet, animated by the
love OF pecae, and magnanimous moderation, we
did not adopt those measures Of redress which, un.
der other circumstances, are the justified resort of
injured nations.
The annexation of Texas to the United States
constituted no just cause of offence to Mexico
The pretext that it did so is wholly inconsistent,
and irroconcilabe 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 the
causes and TO the history of the principal events of
that revolution
Texts constituted portion of the ancient prov
ince Of Louisiana ceded TO the United States by
France in the year 1903. In the year 1919, the
United States by the Florida treaty, coded to Spain
ali that part of Louisiana within the present limits
of Texas; and Mexico, by the revolution which
separated her from Spain, and rendered her an in
dependent nation, succeeded to the rights Of the
mother country over this territory. In 1924,
Mexico established federal constitution, under
which the Mexican republic was composed of
num5Gr of sovereign States, coniederated together
in federal Union similar TO our own. Each OF
these States had its own Executive, Legislature,
anu lOI ul tACbpl ltutTdl VAAlpOoCo,
wqk&s Independent of the geneyal government,
and. thar of the other States, as is Prnnsy lvauj
or Virginia, under our Constitution Texas and
Coahulla united and formed one of these Mexican
States. The State Constitution which they adopt
ed and which was approved by the Mexican Con-
tederGcy, asserted that they were " free and indie
pendent oil the other Mexican United States, and
Of every other power and dominion whatsoever
and proclaimed the great principle of human llber-
ty, that the sovereignty of the State resides orig
lnay and essentially in the general 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 al
leglaEge.
Emigrants from foreign countries, including the
United States, were invited by the colonization
laws of that State and of the federal government,
to settle IN Texas. Advantageous terms were offer
ed TO induce them to leave their own country and
become Mexican citizens. This invitation was ac-
cepcd 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 them
selves, and that their lives, liberty, and property
would be protected by constitutional guarantys,
similar to those which existed in the republic they
had left. Under government thus organized they
continued until the year 1885, when military rev.
olutlon broke out in the city of Mexico, which en-
tlrely subvered the federal and State constitutions,
and placed a military Dictator at the head of the
government.
By sweeping decree of a Congress subservient
to the will of the Dictator the several State constl
tutions were abolished, and the States themselves
converted into mere departments of the Central
Government The people of Texas were unwll-
lug submit to this usurpaton. Resistance TO
such tyranny became high duty. Texas was
fully absolved from all allegiance TO the Central
Government of Mexico, from the moment that Cow
eminent had abolished her State constitution, and
its Mace sinh stiiutpd arbitrary and 1psDDtIc
Central Government.
Such were the principal causes of the Texan
revoistlon. The people Of Texas at once deler-
mined upon resistance, and flew to arms. In the
midst # these important and exciting events, how
ever, they did not omit to place their liberties up
on secure and permanent foundation They e.
lected members to a convention, in The month of
March, 1886, issued a formal declaration that their
|" political connection with the Mexican nation has
forever ended, and that the people OF Texas do
constitute free, sovereign, and Independent repub-
lie, and are fully invested with all the rights and
attributes which properly belong to independent
nations" They also adopted for their government
a liberal republican constitution. About the same
time, Santa Anna, then the dictator of Mexico, in
vaded Texas with numerous army, for the pur-
pose OF subduing her people, and enforcing obedi-
ence to his arbitrary aud despotic government. On
the 2lst of April, 1886, he met by the Texan
cltzen soldiers and on that day was achieved by
them the memorable victory of San Jacinto, by
which they conquered their independence. Con-
sldering the numbers engaged on the respective
sides, history does not record a more brilliant a.
chevement. Santa Anna himself was among the
captives.
| In The month of May, 1885, Santa Anna ac-
knowledged, by treaty with the Texan authori-
ties, in the most solemn FORM the full, entire, and
perfect independence of the republic Of TeXas."-
1t is true he was then prisoner of war; but it is
auually trua that no Ind faIln6 In N.y
as, and had met with signal defeat; that his au
thorty had not been revoked and by virtue OF this
treaty, he obtained his personal release BY hos
tllites were suspended, and the army which had
invaded Texas under his command returned in pur
suance OF this arrangement, unmoested, to MeXl-
CO.
From the day that the battle of San Jacnto was
fought, until the present hour, Mexico has never
possessed the power to re-conquer Texas. In the
language of the Secretary of State of the United
States, in despatch to our Minister in Mexico, un-
der date of the 9Th Of July, 1872 Mexico may
have chosen to consider, and may still choose tc
consider Texas as having been at all times since
! 1885 and as still continuing, rebellious province
out tho world has obeen bliged to take very diff
ierent view of the matter From the time of the
battle of San Jacinto, in April 1885, to the presen
moment Texas has exhibited the same externa
signs of national independence as Mexico herself
and with quite as much stability of government. -
Practically free and independent, acknowledge
as political sovereignty by the principal Powers
of the world no hostile foot finding rest within he
territory for six seven years, and Mexico hersel
retaining for all tina. period from any further at
tempt TO re-establlsh her own authority over thai
territory, IL cannot but be surprising to find Mr. d.
Boca0egra," 1.-THE Secretary of Foreign Affairs o
Mexico) complaining that for that whole perloC
citizens of the United States, or its Government
had been favorng the rebels of Texas, and supply
ing them with vessels, ammunition, and money, a.
if the war for the reduction of the province o
Texas had been constantly prosecuted by Mexico
abroad" In the same despaset the Secretary o
State affrms that since 1887 the United States
have regarded-1axas an independent sovereignty
as much as Mexico aud that trade aud commerce
with citizens OF government at war with Mexico
cannot, on that account, be regarded as an inter
course by which assistance and succor are given t