The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-02-18

3 I'VE
WASHINGTON, Feb. IL, 1886.
The Vis,cs ofMe Present Merioan Government Of the
Anmeration Of Merico-IVhat They Think of Il,
and What They Intend to do
But, collision between General Andrew Jackson
and General Samuel Houston, Is not only impressed
on the public thought Of Mexico by the mastery
inactivity" Of the former, in permitting the armed
emigration invited by the latter, to enter Texas
without moestation, or even proclamation to COM
mand halt of it! 1t is strengthened and confirm
ed by the breach of the non-intervention decla-
ration Of the present government, circumstance
which will not,perhaps,be very agreeable to the pro-
Founders OF 1t. 1t will be remembered by the intel
hgent readers of the Herald, that when the
army of Mexico, carrying all before Il,
was marching IN three dlvislons-the right
was about TO accomplish satisfactorily the work 1t
had taken in hand, General Games, OF the army OF
this government, near relative OF whom had
signed the Texas Declaration OF independence, and
who was, therefore, individually, as well as nation
ally, interested in the success OF the revolt this
General Gaines, with the United States troops,
crossed the boundary enthusiastically treaty. and took
up position at Nacogdoches, under the pretence OF
keeping the indians quiet-a position which would
have enabled him, had Houston been defeated at
San Jaclnto, to stand between him and the Mexi-
can forces and so cover his retreat This crossing
the boundary by General Gaines, at the moment
Santa Anna was about to put finishing stroke to
the revolt, was complained OF by the then Mexican
Minister near the seat OF this government; an ex-
cuse was penned-the excuse was not satisactory-
still the forces of General Gaines were not with
drawn. They were planted in the precise situation
to encourage the Texans, and dsprlt the Mexicans.
The former said, "the United States troops will de-
fend US, if defeated" The latter, after we defeat
Houston, we shall have to fight the troops OF the
American Union. They posted IN a situation
for and intend to attack us" What was the conse-
quence Of this departure from the noninterlerence
manifesto Of the present hour! Thus-by reference
TO the Omitted States naval station,) Pensacola Ga
zette, an account will be found OF desertion from
General Gaines command to the camp OF Houston.
Gaines sent an officer to demand them of Hous-
ton Houston repled-ethe men may go if
they please, but | have no power to COM
pei them" General Gaines, under the circum-
stances, took further trouble in the matter. And
thus it came to pass that United States troops, in
the national as well as citizen uniform, actually
fought those of Mexico at the battle of San Jacnto.
Santa Anna, with needless, though dauntless te-
merty, marched with the centre, the smallest of the
three divisions Of the army OF Mexico encountered
not descend from within his fastness, and Santa
Anna, having only $50 men, sent courier to one OF
the other divisions for 500 more, to arrive by the
next morning, to force battle, They entered the
Mexican camp in the view of the enemy. The next
day early, consultation OF the Generals took place,
and it was resolved, as the new corners had had
tramp of some l6 miles, that the battle should not be
forced till the morrow, and the men were ordered
to take asiesta, under the impression that az Hous
ton would not fight when fight was offered, with the
smaller number, that he would not fight the same
number almost doubled The result was a prema.
defeated The battle was lost, as the relater of it
to the penner of this, said-"by our desplslng our
enemy" And why was the enemy despised Be.
cause bravery was deemed by Mexican emotion in
compatible with the breach Of national and indiv-
dual good faith in respect to treaties OF boundary
and amity The battle of San Jacinto was no sooner
fought and gained, than General Gaines, seeing the
Indians were disposed to be quiet. In the very let
ter announcing the battle, he writes-"the Indians
are disposed TO- 60 home, be peaceabie, and
plant corn" All these circumstance tend to
impress the public thought Of Mexico with
the impossible to be oblnerated conviction that
great injustice has been done 1t, and that
"annexation commenced when Houston first went
after General Jackson found his earnest Offers to
purchase it would not be acquiesced in by Mexico"
This conviction Is still more deeply imbedded in
the public thought Of Mexico, BY the fact that Gene
raj Houston, in an invitatio subsequent to the bat
tie Of San Jacnto, declared that himself and the 50
called Texans, !" had no feeling for Texas except to
annex il to the United States" This confession Of
neral Dunlap, and will be found in the only paper
for statistical information, the New York Herald, Of
the 22d Of July, 1896 The letter is dated, Near
Sabine. Sd JuIy: 1886 The passage referred t to
routed by a very inferior force-for portion OF
that force we are compelled to look to the United
States. II cannot come too soon. There e out
to establish the Independencs Of Texas, and to Be
aftached-to the United States" Here was public
announcement that independent nationality was
not desired, and it never vast was not the mo-
journals Of Congress will show, motion in it was
made to "annex Texas" as far back as December,
1895, months before the signing OF the Declaration
Of Independence therein, and still longer antecedent
to the struggle at San Jaclnto, that ID assumed to
have established it,
Now, these extraordinary acts could never have
been understood to be embraced in the treaty of
pact by Mexico for the good Of the United States
only, to enable it to bind Mexico to certain
OF action, and to action the very opposite Tor
itself? No. Has Mexico received any friendship
or consideration on account OF it on the part Of the
United States and the citizens thereof7 No. Has
1t been OF any benefit to her! No. So far from its
having been Of benefit to her, il has proved-she
feels ia knife in her very bowels-a double edged
ing her nationaty-thc other, by embarrassing her
public action in respect to the development OF her
internal resources. No country was ever forced
into suci m ,S sc. Of tresv Of smtv bv the
United States. II almost with the sole view OF
engaging the honor of the American Union In the
work Of defending her territories adjacent to II,
from an unjust assumption Of rule in them by Its
citizens that Mexico entered into the treaty Of amity
Il was more especially with view to engage the
honor Of the United States from taking citizens,
annexing or attacking her in any other shape or
form, that Mexico acceded to it. Il was signed in
good faith on her Predetermined as she was to
abide by the honor Of each and every OF its articles
Mexico never dreamed perpetual amlty," and the
religious" promise on the part Of the United States.
eto sanction no individual, or any breach Of it,
would subject her to the paralysing modification Of
beholding the individual citizens OF the American
Union, marching armed and unopPosed to aid an in
- ks hn,r hvcth
tory acknowledged to be Mexicos, by diplomacy
and treaties OF boundary Far less could Mexico, or
any other nation, imagine treaty OF amity would
be construed by the government OF the United States
sion, or annex territory acquired by such ungener-
Gus means.