The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1848-03-10

That no had established this position hey ont
all controversy, by extracts from instruc
tons of the Navy Department TO Commo
dores Conner, SlDat, and Stoc kton, and from
the War Department to Generals Taylo
and kearney. Indeed, the arguments up
on which senators rely 20 prove that this /;
war of conquest and robbery, repugnant 4
the genius and fatal TO the permanancc o
our institutions, are founded upon informa
ton communicated at the last session, ant
which was, or ought to have been, as fanii
lar to them then, as now. Besides, sir, the
fact that the President, at the opening q
the last session, renewed his recommends
/ ton OF the three million bill, with the dis
tinct intiInation that it was intended as tn,
hrst instalnen', in part payment Of whatev
er territory we might acquire from Mexico
I by treaty of peace and limits, after deduc
/ ting all claims for indemnity-wa as suflicien
notice that the Executive did, at that time
contemplate cession Of territory by Mex.
leo, TO the value Of three millions of dollar,
at least, over and above the indemnity foi
injuries to our citizens, and the expenses O
the war. Thus, with full knowledge o.
the origin and history of the war-ofthe ex.
| tent OF our conquests and the line Of polio '
war bills of the last session were passed
making liberal provisions in men and means
not only for holding what we had con-
Quered, but for making new conqueSts in
the very heart of Mexico. These bills re-
ceived the cordial and powerful support oil
senators, who now tell us that we ought to
withhold all further supplies, because the
President has changed his whole policy
and converted it into war Of conquest.
With these preliminary remarks, Mr.. d
proceeds to the main object Of his remarks
which is TO maintain the positions he thus
lays down:
! viii premise that, in my judgement, a
radical error has generally obtained in re-
gard 10 the character Of the revolution
which resulted in the establishment of the
republic OF Texas. Its seems 70 have been
generally supposed that Texas rebclled a
gainst the constitutional authorities Of Meg
leo: and. by means Of successful reyolu-
ton, established her independence. Ma
such thing. Texas never rebelled-nevci
revolted. Precisely tho reverse was the
fact. A few military leaders, with Santa
Anna at their head. conspircd and rebellt
against the republic of Mexico seized the
reins Of govcrnment-abnlish. the fedora
constitution aud the state govcrnment--and
established military despoism in their
stead. That rebellion, which commenced
in the city Of Mexico, assumed the dignity
of successful revolution, and, by the aid
OF the army. extended lis power from state
TO state, until il had reduced TO subsection
all that portion Of the republic Of Mexico
which lies 20 the south and west Of the Rio
Grarde. That the people on this side OF
the Rio Grande took up arms in defence OF
the constitutional government of the repub.
lie of MexiCo-State and fedcral-maiuian-
ed their authority, and limited aud confined
the power Of the revolutionary government
the 10 right bank Of that river.
In support Of the ground thus taken, Mr..
d. brings an array Of facts that are at once
irrefragble and conclusive. lie shows tina,
from the time Of the treaty of 1903, by which
Texas was purchased Of France, up 10 1870
when was coded TO Spain, our government
uniformly claimed the Rio Grande as the
boundary, and that the Nueces was never
heard or. That after lis cession TO Spain
the Texans joined the MeNicans in revolt
against the authority Of Spain, and achieved
together with the rest Of the Mexican states
its independence Of the Spanish throne
That after the revolution, Texas as well as
the other states, were free and independent
That then Texas and Coahuila united, o.
their own accord, as two free states, and
formed a constitution, under which they
Joined the confederation Of al the Mexican
states that had been previously formed
What the terms were upon which they join.
ed this confederation, may be gathered from,
their constitution, from which the following
is an extract;
Art. /. The State OF Coahuila and Texa,
is the union of all the CoaIuiHerdnoS.
Art. >. 1t is free, and Independent Of n,
other Rcrican States, and o! every othe!
power and dominion whatsoever.
Art. .. The SOY eruignty Of the State re-
sides originally and essentially IN The genera
mass Of The indiridltdlS 'rhO compose il, bu
they shall not, Of themselves, exercise any
other acts Of sovereignty than those poin,,,
out in this constitution, and III the form which
/ 1t provides.
Art. a.. In all subjects relating to the Mex
lean conlcderary the State dclegateStspow
ers aud rights 10 the gemeial congress Of tn,
same, but in all that belongs 10 the nterna
government aud administration Of said State
it retains its liberty, independence and SOW
erei5hty.
Art. D. Wherefore, the right of establish
ing its fundamental laws through the medi
um of its representatives, in conformity 4
the basis established in the cons,tutive nc
and general constitution, belongs exclusive
ly to the said State.
/ Under these conditions the Texans be
came part of the Mexican conlcderacy
and they continued good aud law.abidin
citizens until 1895, when Santa Anna over
threw the federal constitution aud formed
consolidated government. To do this, h
conquered all The Mexican states ercep
Teras, or that country lying between tn
|, Sabine aud the Rio GrNnac. The peopl
Of this district tool. up arms against the in
vader, and repealed him IN every attcmI
to subdue them. They did no, fight again,
Mexico-thcy fought for the federal cons,
, tuition which Santa Anna had unlawful
, oveuhrown, which the following declare