Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1847-03-18

with the President that ample cause exists for taking
redress into our hands, and believe that shall
be justified In the opinion of other nations for taking
such STEP" President Van Buren,, in December,
1887, In his Message 10 Congress, said that though
causes Of complaint, and some of the most often
sive character, admitted Of immediate and salts
factory reply, yet it only within few days that
any answer had been received and that satisfaction
had been given offered for of our public COM
plants; and that only one case of personal wrong
had been favorably considered, and that but four
cases. out Of all. had been decided by the Mexican
government" President Van Buren, distinctly told
Congress that redress was besoid the reach OF the
Executive, and could only be obtained by the action
OF Congress, which action must of course, be war.
As 10 the conventions; which have since been made
by the two countries, and violated by Mexico.
need not enter into their history: they fresh in
the recollection of ALL These three conventions; BY
the in6delity of the Mexican government; have
proved nearly fruitless and after thirty years Of
injury on the one side, and of remonstrance on the
other, there is nothing left for but abandon all
hope OF redress, to obtain it by vigorous prose-
cution OF the war. Is there another government on
the face of the EARTH which would have been thus
patient not TO say humble; during the long progress
of such aggressions Aud it Is now 100 late TO tell
US that we have hastily and unnecessarily commenced
war, when the war was commenced by the enemy
and when IL we had struck the first stroke we should
have been justified In the eyes of the world and Of
posterity.
But it may be said and it has been said, that al
though sufficient causes of existed on our part
still IT was not these which provoked immedi
ate hostles. This vew if true has relation to the
exPedIency, and not TO the justice Of the But
what are the general facts upon which just conclu-
sion be formed J! After the convention of Texas
had decided that that republic would annex herself to
the United States, agreeaby 10 the terms held out in
the act of Congress, but before its contamination
by vote of the Texan people, we were under a
strong moral obligation TO protect her from any
foreign Invasion, and more particularly from any
invasion to which she might be exposed by the mani
fesatons of her intentions to attach herself to the
United States | shall not argue this point. No
illustration make il stronger. As soon, therefore,
as the incipient steps had been taken. troops
entered Texas by the invitation of the proper autho
rites, and on the 18th day of August, lS45 they had
taken position at Corpus Christi; west of the Nue.
ces; and remained there till the 18th of March, 1885,
when they marched for the Rio Grande So much for
our military movements.
Two causes alleged as giving Mexico just
cause of war against the United States. The first,
which is the annexation of Texas, is jointly urged
both in Mexico and in this country. The second,
which believe finds its advocates only in the United
States, is that our army occupied the country between
the Nueces and the Rio Grande.
AS to the first it has passed the ordeal Of public
opinion, and received its final Judgment / do not
fatter myself that | could present any new views of
subject so long and publicly discussed. But, as
IL StanuS IN my way, and cannot AVOID II, snail
venture to submit few reflections which nave
red to me.
The right of country to reduce to obedience a
portion of Its territory, asserting independence by
arms, is not denied. The recognized principles of
the law OF nations require other powers to afford no
aid to either party during the actual progress of the
controversy. They may aeknowl ledge, however, and
in fact they often do acknow ledge the independence
OF the insurectionary province, without giving TO the
government claiming It's allegiance any Just cause OF
offence. They did to Mexico during the progress
OF her revolutionary with Spain and they did so
to Texas, while similar relation existed between
her and Mexico. But there is limit to this right.
Such a cannot last forever, and two nations
not forever be kept in this peculiar attitude involving
delicate questions that may at any time disturb the
peace of the world. When Greece declared her indie
pendence of Turkey; the Porte waged war of many
years 10 reduce her to subsection. The principal
power of Europe, believing that reasonable oppor
unity had been afforded to the Turkish government
to re-establsh its supremacy and in which effort ii
had failed determined that end should be put to
the operations They therefore interfered, and an
nounced to the Sultan that the time had come when
Greece must be Independent. And this declaration
was maintained by force, and at Havarito, to use
vil6ed, but very proper expression, they conquered
peace. This is perhaps strong case. for this Inter-
ference took place fdgrdnte 6eLo, while Turkish
army yet engaged in operations to put down the
spirit of freedom in Greece. As general principle.
it may be assumed, that while both parties waglng
open to assert their superiority, other nations
should look on and peacefully bide the issue. Bat
when the contest is actually abandoned, and the
invading party withdraws from the disputed territory
and reinquishes all military operations, the struggle
is over independence is established, and whatever
may be the nominal relations of the two countres
they are henceforth in the same attiude-eqnal pow
ers among the nations Of the earth. The is in
effect over, and its rights should pass away with
ITSELF This is the true view of the subject, and
applying these principles to the then existing relation
between Mexico and Texas, we shall find that the
latter power was as free from Mexico from
England. No effort had been made by the Mexican
vince to subectioa. Not hostile foot had rodden
the Texan Sod Chief Magistrate, and at the same
time Commander-in-Chief; captured; an army de-
stroyed and all invaders repelled were the fruits of
her exertion. They crowned at once her patriotism,
and sealed her fate She was henceforth Independent
And more decisive evidence of this result can be
furnished than the very conduct of Mexico herself.
What did she do, probably under other promptings,
when it ascertaned that Texas desired admission
into confederacy! She offered to acknowledge
her Independence, if she would pledge herself not to
join the American Union jealous and unworthy
proposal, which the one had no right to make, and
which the other Indignantly rejected. proposal
which in fact the very recognition offered 1t
acknowledged the strength of Texas and the weakness
Of Mexico, and that further efforts at subugation
were hopeless. For myself have always considered
that act of tie Mexican government an abandon
men of the controversy and an admission that Texas
independent of her, and beyond her power.
When the act for annexation passed, the Mexican
Minister in this country immediately protested against
that measure; and, in fact declared it to be just
cause of war. And this view more authorita-
lively ahnounced by the supreme government OF Next
CO. March u, 1916, which declared. in note to
Mr.. Sidell, that it looked ssupon annexation a
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