Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1847-05-20
From the National Era.
The Other Side.

think that ii is to be regretted that the Abolition
lists, such, nermeddled with the question of
the Mexican war; inasmuch us that war has not any
connection with the question of abolishing slavery
within our Union sufficient to compensate for the dis
advantage of divertng attention from the direct
pursuit OF the main obect and 1t is especially to be
regretted, because the Abolitionists have generally
taken that side of the question which is calculated
lnlure their cause, by bringing odium upon them.
This being the case propose To present brief view
of the Mexican question: different from that which
has been usually given in the Abolition prints, COM
mencng with the controversy in reference to Texas.
| assume that Mexico at any time had any
just claim to Texas, than Texas had to Mexico.
Texas, to the Rio Grande not a part of the
Viceroyalty of Mexico, under the Spanish Govern
ment, as appears from document presented to tie
Spanish Cortes by Don - Arispe, which may be
seen in Niles's Register of -, 1916. Spain ceded
Louisiana to France and France to the United States
about the year 1904. This cession according to the
expressed opinion of John Quincy Adams and Henry
Clay, included Texas to the Rio Grande. In 1919,
the United States relinqushed to Spain their claim
Texas, as of the conditions of the cession of
Florida. The people OF Texas or portion Of them,
then declared their independence. the ground that
the United States, having stipulated in the treaty
with France for the admission of Texas into the
Union, had no right to cede it to Spain Thus Texas
belonged either To its own inhabitants, or to Spain.
| No other Power had shadow of right to it. The
!
pencence and created Iturbide Emperor that despot
without reasonable pretex, sent force, and took
possession of Texas, about the year 1921. The
Texans had moral right to shake off, at the first
opportunity, the yoke thus unjustly imposed them
| In 1894, Constitution was formed by which Texas
was constituted, not province dependency OF
Mexico, but member of q confederacy of sovereign
and independent States, equal in rights with Mexico
herself. If this act was compulsory Texas, she
had right to resist it the first favorable opportunity
! If voluntary her part, she had right demand
that the other members Of the league should comply
with lis terms, and to withdraw from it when they
should fail to do so. In 1894, Santa Anna, in con-
junction with the monarchsts, aristocrats, and a
portion of the clergy, for the purpose of preventing
the reforms which the people and their representative
desired to make, commenced series of military
usurpations, by which, in violation of the Consttu
ton, he abolished the freedom of the press the militia
the right of the people to keep for their defence
the right Of suffrage the of the population
and even the State Governments reducing the greater
portion of the confederated republic 10 consolidated
military despotism. The Legislatures, the people
and the militia of considerable portion of the Con
federacy, attempted 10 resist these usurpatons; b1
the total defeat of the democratic forces, consisting
mostly Of militia, by the regular troops under Santa
Anna, which took place near Zacatecas and was &C
complished it is said. much through corruption
and treachery by skill and courage, awed the rest
the Confederacy into submission, with the exception
of Texas which adhered the republic until it ceased
to exist and then refused submission the usurper
one of whose demands was, that the Texans shoult
surrender to him their most prominent men, including
Zavalia formerly Secretary of State to the Mexican
Confederacy and another, that they should submit t.
be disarmed, retaining but gun five plantations
i in a sparse population, for their protection agans
wild beasts and savage Indians. To coerce them int,
subiection, Santa Anna, In 1886. invaded Texas
His advanced force, under Urea, made prisoners O
about 600 men, under Colonel Tanning, who surren
dered it is stated under an express stipulation tina
they should be set free their parole not 10
against Mexico during the war. Eight days afte
their surrender BY express order of that monster
duplicity, peridy, and cruelty, Santa Anna they wen
all shot, with the exception of three who with mucl
difficulty escaped to tell the fate of their companions
Shortly afterwards, being defeated and taken prs
oner at San Jacinto, Santa Anna entered into con
vention, by which he stipulated for the withdrawal
all the Mexican troops TO the other side Of The Ri
Grande. The stipulation was complied with by thos
who assumed the power at Mexico, although the
disayowed Santa Annals acts. No Mexican troop
were left between the Nueces and the Rio Grande
None returned there until General VOL, com
mapder of the Mexican army, issued u proclamation
put an end TO the armstice, speaking of the terrto
This side of the Rio Grande as one Of which the pos
session had been usurpcd by the Texans and declaf
ING that all Mexcans found league on this sid
Of that river should be tried by court MARTIAL an
punished as traitors. Woll, however, soon retired
and frcm that time to the present the mass Of coun
try between the Nueces and the Rio Grande has re
NAMED unoccuped and ungarrisoned by the Mexcans
although they have possessed the vicinity Of SAINT
Fe some SOC miles above the sources of the Nuecet
II was not till 1880, afler the independence c
Texas had been acknowledged by several nations