Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1847-12-29

We80uIe, 10 U0 buW6lUeO 000 QeIenOeQ Oy
! all the power Of the naiion. The question
naturally arises, had Congress the right te
annex Texas? Was it inpolitic or uncon.
| stitutionalto do 80? She had maintained
i her Independence for seven years, with
an occasional. menace, but no eeriou.
| opposition. from Mexico. The Unitet
States, England and France, had all re.
) cognized her, and treated her as an indie.
/ pendent power, while they were in amity
i with Mexico. The Dictator Of. .Mcrico
and the ruling posrers, Of that country, hao
made treaty Of peace riih 7srds and re:
! cognized her as an Independent Porer, ana
FIXED HER BOUNDARY AT THE
RIO GRANDE. They afterwards repu-
dated the contract, but that constituted nc
reason why the United States should dis
i REGARD IL \
Mr.. Webster has declar ed that the annex
ton Of Texas was no cause for war be.
tween the two countries. 1t is evident,
then, that We had the right to annex Tex
as; and il. as is contended BY Mr.. Clay,
there was an adjourned war annexed with
liz, as Congress did it, il became in that
way, national war. There was no occs.
sion for war, but Mexico determined We
should have it, and at once assumed hos
tile attitude. She declared that anne xation
would be cause Of war; but, if we had
the right 10 annex her, the menaces Of
Mexico should not have prevented US from
the exercise Of our right. While our own
country is censured with profusion for an
nexation aud the war will, Mexico, it may
be well enough 10 enquire whether Mex.
leo had any agency III the two events. In
an address, published by Santa Anna TO
the Mexicans, dated Vera Cruz, August
10th, 1916, he makes these remarkable
admissions: "In this manner, the faction
which fostered that 1aricidal project, hav.
Ing attained the first Of its ends by many
years Of articles and nanevering, next
proposed to carry the second into effect,
BY provoking, in manner almost direct,
the government OF the United States 10
aggr andise itself by taking our rich de-.
partment Of Texas, and then advancing in
10 tie very heart Of our country. To in
volve our people in the evils Of fearful
invasion, has been its last resource, in or
der 10 force them TO accept its painful al
ternatire-obiiging them either to become
the prey Of Anglo Americon ambition, or
to fly, tor the safety oi their national ex-
istence, monarehical forms under Eu.
ropisn prince. +"
"The faction, 10 which Santa Anna as
cri5es these evils, was that headed b. Pa.
redes, and it was in posse ssion Of the gov
eminent Of Mexico at the actual outbreak
Of the war. These admissions show con-
clusively that our government was not al
together in fault, in the view Of Mexicans
thems elves. that on the contrary, Mexico
herself desired the invasion, and brought
it about. These missions of Santa Anna
account for the course pursued by Mexico
towards our country, in the rejection Of
every profIsr Of negotiation, and every at.
tempt at peace. Upon the annexation OF
Texas, which we had right to do, and
which become national deed by the &C.
lion Of Congress, Mexico comm enced a
series Of acts, plainly showing that she in
tended TO regard the war as an adjourned
invite a g fearful Invasion" The abrupt
departure Of the Mexican minister from
the Upi,ed States, the overthrow Of Her.
rcra, who was suspected ola design to be
on peaceable terms with the United States,
by the man who had contrived the down
fall Of Santa Anna on the same grounds,
and the violent seizure Of the government
by Paroles on the avowed principle Of
war with this country, were sufficient in
themselves 10 arouse the attention Of our
government, and TO urge il to prepare for
the last fearful resort Of nations. We be
lieve that the anne xation of Texas was but
a pretext Tor war, and that Mexico really
desired hostilities, if We may trust TO plain
indications on the part OF Iaredes, and he
had supreme power, at the re.opening OIL
the Mexican war with Texas. Having
ov.rthrown first Santa Anna, and then
Herrera on the avowed principle that
they were in favor OF peace with the Uni.
ted States, the conclusion that he would
commence a war was inevitable; in fact
it was virtually commenced as soon as he
triumphed over all opposition by the de-
position of Santa Anna and Herrera. The
facts show it, and Santa Annals declara'
tons in his address, upon his return te
Mexico in 1886, abundanlly confirm it.
+ Y n
sit is evident TO our mind that Parede.
and his faction sought war with the Uni
ted States. Ever since Mexico declared
and sust4ised her independence she has
been torn by factions. Alaman and San
ia Anna have kept the country in con
slant brawl, and each, while watching the
movements Of the other has forgotten that he
had a country for any other purpose thar
10 advance his individual interests. The
factions that have long ruled the destinies
Of that unhappy land, have almost stiiled
the patriotic energies Of The country, and
many an anxious eye has been turned te
the United States. sometimes with Eope
Tor the country, but more frequently with
desire for the furtGerance OF factions mo
tiyes. The introduction Of the United
States troops into the territories OF Mex
co, according TO Santa Anna, had long beer
a fayorite scheme Of Paroles and his fac
ton, and they at last effected their object
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