Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-12-11

as 10 The American Union; and yet, animated by
the love Of peace aud magndnimouS modera.
ton, we did not adopt those measures OF redress
which, under such circumstances. are The justified
resort OF injured nations.
The annexation of Texas TO The United States
constituted no Just cause of offence 10 Mexico
The pIe,cxt that il did so is wholly Inconsistent,
and irrcconcilabIe with we'll authenticated facts
connected with The revolution by which Texas
became independent OF Mexico. That this may
be The more manifest il may he proper 10 advcr!
10 the causes and TO The history ol The principal
events Of that revolution.
Texas constituted a potion VI The ancient pro-
vince Of Louisiana, coded 10 HE United States
by France in The year 1903. In The year 1913
the United States by The Florida lfcaiy, cedsd To
Srain all that part ul Louisiana within The pre-
sent limits ofTexas and Mexico, ny the Ievo'u-
ton which separated her from Spain, and render
ed her an independent nalion succeeded 10 The
rights OF The mother country ever this ter
rory. In The year 1924 Mexico established Fe-
deral Constitution. under which the Mexican
Republic was composed OF number OF sovereign
States. conederaled together in Fedeial Union
similar TO our own. Each oil these States
had it's own Executive, Legislature and Judi
ciary. and for all, except Federal purposes, was
as independent Of The General Government and
thai OF the other States as is Pennsylvania or
Virginia under our Constitution. Texas and
Coahuila united and formed one of these Mexican
States. The Stale Constitution which they adopt
ell, and which was approved By The MEXICAN con-
iederacy, asserted that they were free and indie
pendent OF The other Mexican United States, aud
of every other power and dominion Whatsoever
and proclaimed the great principle ci human
liberty, that "lhr sover, gny Of The Stale resides
originally and essentially in The general mass OF
The individuals who compose IT," To The Gov
eminent under This Constitution, as we'll as 10
that under The Federal Constitution, the people oil
Texas owed allegiance.
EmisTants from foreign countries. including The
United States, were invited hy The colonization
laws Of the State and Of The Federal Government
10 settle in Texas. Advanageoustern were OF
fered 10 induce them 10 leave then own country
and become Mexican citizens. This invitation
was accepted by many of our citizens, N he full
faith lha, in their new home they would be gov
erned BY laws enacted by representatives elected
BY themselves, and that their lives, liberty, ana
property would be projected by constitutional
guarantees similar 10 those which existed in the
republic they had left. Under Government
thus organized they continued until The year 1885
when military revolution broke oul in The city
of Mexico, which entirely subveied he Fedora
and Stale constitutions, and placed military die
lator al The head OF The Government.
By sweeping decree of Congress subservi
emf 10 The will OF the dictator, The several State
constitutions were abolished, nd The States them
selves converted into mere departments of iht
Central Government. The people OF Texas were
unwilling 10 submit 10 this usurpation RESTS
lance 10 such tyranny became high duty. Tex
as was fully absoved from all allegiance 10 The
Central Government OF Mexico from The momen
tha, Government had abolished her State constu
lion, and in lis place substituted arbitrary ant
despoiic Central Government
Such were the principal causes OF The Texar
revolution. The people Of Texas al once deter
mined upon resistance, and few 10 arms. In lh'
midst OF these important and exciting events how
ever, they did mel omit 10 place their liberties up
on secure and permanent foundation The,
elected members 10 convention, who, in lh'
month OF March, 1886, issued formal declara
lion that their "poltica connsYon with The Mex
lean nation has forever ended and that The people
Of Texas do now constitute a FREE, SOVEREIGN
and INDEPENDENT REPUBLIC, and are fnlly invest
ed with all the rights and attributes which proper
Is belong 10 independent nations" They ais;
adopted for their Government liberal republican
constitution. About the inc time, Santa Anna
then The dictator III Mexico, invaded Texas with
numerous army Tor the purpose OF subdung bel
Z,
and despaic Government. On The tweniy-fi'st .
April, 1896, he was met by the Texan citizen
soldiers, and oh that day was achieved, by them
the memorable victory Of San Jacinio, by which
they conquered their independence. Considering
the numbers engaged on The respective sides, his
tory does not record a more brilliant achievement
Santa Anna himself was among the capives.
In The month OF May, 1886 Santa Anna ac-
knowledged, by treaty with the Texan author
tiles, in the most solemn form, .'ihe full, entire
and perfect independence The republic OF i'exas.
II is true he was then prisoner Of war, bni II is
equally true that he had failed 10 Iecenquer Texas
and had met with si2naldrisal: that his authority
had not been revoked, end that ny virtue II This
treaty he obtained his personal release BY il
husliiirirs were suspended, and the army which
had invaded Texas under bis command returned
in pursuance OF this arrangement unmolested, to
Mexico.
From the day lha, the battle Of San Jacinlo
was fought until The present hour, Mexico has
never possessed the power 10 reconqner Texas
In The language Of The Secretary Of Stale Of The u.
States, in despatch In our Minister in Mexico,
under date of the 9th of July 1912. mexico may
have chosen To consider, and may sill choose 10
consider Texas as having been al all times since
1885, and as still continuing, rebellions pro-
vince; bnt The world has been obliged 10 lake a
yery different view Of The matter. From the
time OF the ballle OF San Jacinlo, in April, 1886,
10 The present moment, Texas has exhibited the
same external signs OF national independence as
Mexico herself, and with quite as much stability
Of government Practically Tree and independ.
.n;, acknowledged as q political sovereignty by
The principal powers o: the world, no hostile loot
finding resi- within her territory Tor six or seven
years, and Mexico herself RETAINING for all that
period from any further a!templlo re-esisb ish her
own authority over that territory il cannot bnt BE-
surprising TO find Mr. de Bocanegra" The Secreta-
nv Of Foreign Affairs OF Mcxico) Complaining
that for thai whole period citizens uihe U. States
or ils Government, have been fayoring The rebels
Of Texas, and supplying them with vessels, am
muniton and money, as il the war for The rcduc-
ton oil The province OF Texas had been constant
IL prosecuted BY Mexico, and her snccess prevent.
ed by these Influences from abroad" In Inc same
despatch the Secretary Of Stale AT ms, that
"sjnce 1887 The United States have regarded
Texas as an independent sovereignty, as much as
Mexico; and that trade and commerce with ciIi-
Gems of a Government n, war with Mexico, can.
moi on that account be regarded as an intercourse
by which assistance and succor are given 10
Mexican rebels The whole current oil Mr.. de
Bocapesra's remarks runs in The same direction
as il The independence Of Texas had not been
acknowledged. II has been acknowledged
was acknowledged in 1897 against the remon.
STRANGE and protest oil Mexico; and most Of the
acts OF any importance, oil which MIR. de Be-
canegIa complains, flow necessarily from that
recognition. He speaks OF Texas as still being
IAN integral par, OF the territory OF the Mexican
Republic" but he cannot but understand that The
United States do not So regard il. The real COM
plain, of Mexico therefore, is. in substance, nei-
iher more nor less than a complaint against The
recognition of Texan independence. II may be
though, ra her late 10 repeat that complaint, and
mol quite Jus, 10 confne it 10 The United States, 10
The exemption oi England, France and Belgium,
unless The United States, having been The first 10
acknowledge The independence OF Mexico herself,
are 10 be blamed for setting an example Tor The
recognition of that OF Texas" And he added,
that 'the Constitution, public treaties, and the
laws oblise the President 10 regard Texas as an
independent Stale, and lis territory as no part Of
the territory of Mexico" Texas had been an
independent Slate, with an organized Govern
meni, defyins the power OF Mexico 10 overthrow
or rc-conuucr her for more than len years
before Mexico commenced The present war
against the United States. Texas had given
such evidence TO the world OF her ability 10
maintain her separate existence as an indie.
penden, nation. that she had been iormaf re-