Ypsilanti sentinel. [volume] (Ypsilanti, Washtenaw Co., Mich.) 1843-1900, 1847-01-20

to 90 into detailed examination of the CORES
pondence upon this subject.
will simply say, that Mexico apprized thi
Government in advance that the annexation o
Texas would be regarded by her as an act o.
hostility. When Texas was annexed, the Me,
lean minister resident in this country demanded
his passports and left the country; and thus
diplomatic intercourse between this Gov,a
Mexico ceased. Our Government subsequent
ly sent message to Mexico to ascertain wheth.
er she would open diplomatic relations, and
receive minister from the United States.-
TheMexican minister informed us that, although
Mexico has just ground of complaint against
the United States for her conduct in relation to
Teras, she would receive a commissioner to
treat on that subject. And whenever Mexico
spoke of receiving an agent from this Govern
ment, she was careful to use the term ''ccm-
missioner" and when there is any explanation
whatever, any thing to fix the meaning of the
term, it is commissioner to treat on the very
subject which had been the cause of the suspen-
! sion of diplomatic relations. A minister was
| sent to Mexico, but in what character did he
appear In the character of special commits
sioner No: he went as an"envoy eXtraordin-
airy and minister plenipotentiary," reside near
| the Government of Mexico. He was author
lied not to treat specially upon the subject which
had interrupted our diplomatic relations, but
upon all subjects in dispute between two Gov
ernments; and he demanded reception as a
resident minister in Mexico, clothed with full
powers.
To his request Mexico replied, that the inter
course between twoGoveraments was suspended
on account of the annexation OF Texas, and If
they were to receive minister resident in the
country,it would be confessing that annexation
was no Just cause for the recall of their minis
ter; and that they could not do it consistently
with their honor and with the usage of nations:
that they would receive a commissioner-and
they made this declaration to the Iast-a COM
mmissioner to treat upon the subject which had
interrupted our relations: and when that was
disposed of, they would receive minister resi-
dent. Now, it may be said, that this was spec
ial pleading: an after-thought Oh the part of
Mexico. Well, suppose 1t was; was there not
something of the same character ON our partl-
They declared to the last that if we would send
a commissioner to treat upon the subject which
had interrupted our diplomatic relations, they
would receive him; and when that was
disposed of, they would receive a minister
resident. We insisted that they must be min
lister residentor none at all. Now, here are the
facts in the case. l do not undertake to decide
which was in the right, and which in the
wrong: there seems to be little special plea
ding on both sides of the question. One ma
ton or the other ought to have yielded. With
our means, our character and standing before
the world, we could have afforded to be gener-
Gus, better perhaps than Mexico.
Admitting, however, that Mexico was more
in the wrong than Wei contend that there was
no just cause of war in this case. Any nation,
| ;f.b hoe, richt 10 cfa,I in, ;,,Jo
pendent position, and refuse to open diplomat
ic relations with other Powers. 1t may be UNI
wise in them to do it; but have yet to learn
that it is just cause of war. There has been
a little black republic in our own nelg iborhood
with whom we have refused to interchange
these civilities. The subject has frequently
been brought up in the House, and voted down
by the very men who feel so indignant towards
Mexico because she would not receive MIR. Sill
dell as resident minister. China, believe, to
this day, receives no minister resident near her
seat of goyernment from any nation whatever.
This may be folly, but il is not such crime as
will justify war.
But the gravest charge brought forward by
the President, land one which deserves more con
sideration than any other, is this: .neIico pass
ed the boundary Of the United States, inraded
our territory, and shed american blood upon
admit that it would furnish just cause ofwar.
But this statement of the President, bold and
frank plain and ineligible as it is, is unfortu-
nately wanting in justice and truth. The facts
in the case do not in any degree sustain the
President, but they are totally irreconciable with
his position, as shall attempt to show.
Mexico passed our boundary Our arlny,by
the unustifable orders of the President, passed
the boundary of Mexico. Mexico commenced
hostlities The President himself was the ag
gressor. He ordered the army into Mexico; he
commenced hostities, not only without law,
but in direct violation of the first principles of
our organic law-exercising the war-makirg
power and thereby trenching upon the peroga-
tive of Congress; and that too, while they were
in esslon,and could have been consulted at any
moment.
This is Just statement of the case. will,
however, give the President the full benefit of
all the arguments he employs, and all the
statements he makes in support of his posi-
ton.
In the first place, however, wish to say that
Texas, whatever were her boundaries, held
by the right of revolution. AS my friend from
Tennessee (Mr. Gentry observed, just as far
as she extended her authority by the sword,
was able to maintain her jurisdiction, there her
boundaries are to be sought. 1t matters not
whether she was originally bounded by the Nue.
ces or the Rio Grande; the question as to her
original boundary is entirely superseded. She
-ebeled against the parent country; and just
SO far as she extended her arms and maintained
her authority, just so far were her boundaries
extended She held her territory by the title
by which she held herself-the right Of rerolu-
tion But, while her boundary was formerly the
Nueces, admit she did extend her authority
over that river, SO as to include Corpns Christi,
and few small settlements on the western
bank of that rivrr. make this statement in
advance because the argument of the President
which | shall have occasion to notice here
after, requires that this fact be kept distinctly
! in view.
l say then, that the boundary of Teras, in
! this mart of her dominion. was confined within