The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-01-04

even while he processes to her his devotion trust new
to see the day when OF our republic and her govern
rapacious; national councils look 10 aggrandize-
ment without scruple as to means; our Executive is
reckless bent upon aggression committing. sanction
ing, open acts OF usurpaon but yet, unjust graspng
she 49, grossly she violates the faith OF treaties and
outrage the peace OF the world this country is still ours
and therefore we will sustain her in her OF MUS
tce" will not permit myself to doubt that gentlemen
on the other side, unguarded, violent have been their
expressions, would yet receive with pleasure any sn
cien evdenceof proof that the present uncure of our
affairs, Ito be amented, because is ever to be la
mened) their country is right. Nogood man willingly
supports injustce though that injustice be committed BY
TO whom he is bound BY every tie of gratitude and
affection. The charges currently made against our gov
ernment in its foreign relations and heavy
1t has engaged in war--thus we may sum up the
sation--unjust and unnecessary; thrust by us
upon Mexico; having its origin in quenchless thirst
after conquest to have ITS end in the subju
CATION Of rival race and the annexation of a for
egn territory Twill ask those who believe in the justice
of such charges briefly TO review with me the circum
stances that have led to The present Crisis and then TO
where there has been wrong; what we have done that
we ought not to have DONE at what step ought TO
have arrested progress; what Of peace we
have omitted; by what uncalled- for act have pro-
yoked war; And them If it should appear that our course
nation is amply justified that our object, steadily
pursued, has BEEN first the avoidance of hosties, and
when that longer possible, then the restoration OF
peace; if it should further appear that while we have
sought that which right indemnify the phantom
of territorial cupdity has not tempted into the wild
paths OF ambition if up to the present moment such and
go step further and ask whether there be Just ground
to infer that the moderation which has marked
conduct in the past will be departed from IN the future
pass by the long list OF grievances, borne year after
year with patience that has mised the Mexican people;
grievances that induced President ten years SINCE to
advise an act authorizing reprisas and another some
what later abandon all further attempts at negotiation,
and appeal to Congress for the mode and measure OF re-
dress | will suppose the Mexican government up to the
moment Of this rupture about Texas to have beea as just
and friendly has been, fact aithless and nimca
and will commence my review OF our mutual relations
from period not two years gone by On the LIST OF
March, 1S45 Texas once State of the federal republic
of Mexico but for nearly nine years then past inde
pendent republic, was in accordance with her own re-
quest, "a request made and repeated years before)
received into our Union. Texas was, at the
ment of annexation, sovereign Power to whose
territory Mexico had no more right than old SPAN
then had to any of the departments OF Mexico, or Eng
land to the free soil Of this republic Every writer OF re-
pue on International law confirms that doctrine. The
public opinion of the world has since acknowledged its
JUSTICE and assented to the ghtfu character OF our act
Against Mexico, Them when admitted Texas into the
Union we committed no wrong We did but that, which
the public law and the recognised custom, of civilized
nations permits and sanctions. Against the decisions OF
that law and the presidents settled by that custom, no
nation, to suit its purpose be suffered to APP
peal This is the first, is the most important point in
the whole Mexcos bitter complaints of which the
injustice is only equaed by the absurdty, have,
quarters created sympathy and obscured the truth There
are minds constituted. that to make to them any COM
plant, it matters not how utterly baseess is to awaken
doubts in favor OF the complainant To such advise the
perusa of Mexicos pleas as set forth by her own Of
fetal apologiss especially commend to their attention
the following paragraph setting forth the grounds 81 her
10 IanZas, Mexican minister OF foreign affairs to Mr.
Sde at the time the government of Paroles refused to
receive that gentleman as minister;
Civilized nations have behed with umazement, this
heightened and refined epoch, powerful and weconsol
ids,cd State avalng itself of the internal discussions of
neigbong nation putting rs VIGILANCE 10 sleep by pr9es
and articles, alternately plying intrigue and violence and
sezing moment to despo her of precious part OF her
SWnssp ana as of h Is sas Pa 1
Doc. 1916, 10Th Cong Isl session, p, 3d.
Ipray the apologists of Mexico well note the char
acter and wording of this her plea She denies not what
every pubcs Declares that conquest followed by years
of undsturbed possession gives territorial right She
virtually admits that doctrines and her assertion iset
gentlemen read for themselves, if they doubt what may
seem monsrous for beelher assertion unmatched
of diplomacy-is that Mexico has ever held uninter
rupted possession of her province of Texas And
therefore, have been despoing her OF precious Por
ton of her territory Either this Mexican Rip Van Win
kle have been slumberng for the last nine years
in some of these old halls of the Montezumas of which
lately have heard 50 mnch or else the modern world
We have been accustomed TO believe that, IN April,
OF 1896, certain battle OF s. Jacinio was fought
and that the Mssrans were dEea
there; that presidents were chosen judges installed,
a Legislature elected, laws enacted, a new republic
built up: that, under the shelter OF its constu-
ton, young nation quietly pursued its chosen
course and successfully manained year after year, ITS
independence We had imagined all this. But 10 forth
from the National Palace of Mexico steps Senior Castillo
Ianzas, to such wild maginatons and to in
form us, with all the gravity BETTING an official des-
patch, that wholly mistaken; that Texas has
never passed from under The Mexican rule; and that
from the time Santa Anna and Houston fought ten years
even the present day. the mother country has held
her department of Texas, she has held the rest OF her
departments, in complete, unquestlonablenay IN unnis-
tubed possession repeat here, what once before IN
similar conneyon said that if the subject were less
grave one might pass by puere fasehood like this as
piece of national pleasantly As 1t is, it IS gross
insult to the common sense OF mankind. i nope those
who adopt the of Mexico will endorse her arsu-
ment also The one it must be confessed is worthy oil
the other Taking leave, for the present OF Mexican
extravaganza, | return to the point whence have d.
rghtfuy done Mexico very naturally regretted her
lost province as Spain former days. doubtless mourn
ed over her revolted colonies; England, IN '76,
over hers But either of these nations has the same
right to-day to shut its eyes on the chances OF war and
revolutions long past and again seek possession OF what
its American possessions, as Mexico mas or
had to complain OF us, because free sovereign,
once constituent part of the Mexican republic, offered
unite herself to and accepted the oer oil annex
alton. The right, then, perfect: can Mexico com
plain of the in which we have exercised IT !!
Texas never recognised Independent nation by
ary fixed by treaty. She claimed to the Rio Bravo,
Ga the lower portion of that stream her original
claim by conquest and possession TO the line OF
the river, could hardly be considered as invahda-
ted by half-deserted village two, and few scat
tcrng huts tc.anted by Mexcans its eastern bank
The case above the mouth of the Puerto was different
Several small Mexican towns besides Santa lie with her
thousand inhabitants scattered over the valley
of the upper river. Upon the whole, them the exact
line of boundary might not unfairly be considered de-