Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1848-02-25

-t ''A III 1bAIu hOfNIlllCDlh dS dIDIutU.
with Santa Anna as a Dictator. In the struggle
between Spain and Mexico, the United States
trealed each party alike. They were both placed
upon The same terms in our ports; and when Mex
lco had succeeded in the struggle, the United
Sla'es were The first 10 acknowledge their indie
r%endence. The independence OF whom2 OF the
United Slales OF Mexico, Of which Texas was
one.
Texas, one OF these confederate States, refused
10 submit 10 the Central Government, and a civil
war ensued.
What, then, was the state Of things between
MEXICO N TEXaSs
Il is laid down by Valtel, "lhal civil war pro.
dnces two independent parties; Ina, they are 10
observe the common laws oil war, and that the
naxlms OF humanity, moderation ard probily
are 10 be observed on both sides"
How was il in this civil war; A handful oil
men, OF American origin, had been invited BY
MexicQ 10 settle IN Texas. Trey had acted well
their par, under the Constitution o, 1924. They
refused 10 submi, TO the Central Government and
70 Santa Anna, clothed with his new dignity OF
Dictator, and for This they were invaded by that
Dictator, with the declaration Of mo quarter
AMI no man in the United States can doubr.
u he had been succe ,siul, he would have pat 10
Inc sword, or expelled from the country, every
man, woman and child Of American origin.
Whence Is II that there is So much OF MeYi.
can sympathy al The present day7 Whence is
II that 10 enlist thai sympathy she is spoken Of as
a SISTER Repuolicl" What sort of Republic with
Santa Anna a Diclalor7 Why no sympathy for
Texas, who presents a spectacle OF heroic virtue,
IN resisting his attempt 10 en>lave her, which has
no parallel in modern times2 We had Greek
Committees, Greek contributions, Greek balls 10
aid evolutionary Greece. ENGLAND and France
combined 10 destroy The Turkish fleet al Nara
limo, to prevent Turkish buchcries, and vel We
stood BY and saw the Texans threatened with a
like b%utcheTy, without saying a word in their be-.
halt. | speak Of the cove and when our
%cltlzens, yielding 10 instinct, flew 10 their rescue,
cold-blooded apathy ha, been inclined 10 reproach
our government for nut preventing il.
Mexico and Texas were equal, and how many
Of our citizens engaged on The side Of Santa An
ma, We are yet 10 learn.
Notwithstanding the odds in this desperate
struggle, he God OF battles was in favor oi The
few and the oppressed, and Texas succeeded in
acquiring and MAINTAINING her independence,
and took her stand in the rank of nations-lh The
United States, England, France and Belgium re.
coeniscd that Independence, and with them she
stood clothed with all The attributes Of perfect so.
vcreisniy. Wha, was the eS,en, Of her tcrriiory7
| answer 10 the RIO Gfande, because anterior 10
the treaty with the Uni.ei States in 1919 The cuun-
Try between that and the Sab ne formed no part
ot The Vice Royalty OF Mexico. Il vert with The
Texans upon il from US as whole, and stood
that same whole when il was conquered by Tex
as. Texas asserted her right TO the Rio Gfande-
suppose she had made good that assertion in the
creates, part, and suppose there had been a strip
oil country between Corpus Christi and Matamo-
ras which Texas had not, but would reduce 10
subsection, the moment Texas became annexed
10 US il was our duty 10 carry out and 10 do what
| Twas WDulf ha yp IOna hat an,nxlfiOn MOI, ~ bon
place.
As between Spain and Mexico 10 their struggle
we had treated each party alike, and as between
Mexico and Texas We did the same thing. But
this would not suffice for Mexico-she arrogant
~ demanded that We should c1pel Texan vessels
from our ports, and demanded that they should
be arrested as pirates; and when Texas had ex-
PEELED her armies from her limits and there was
no, a soldier 10 defend our frontier from The in.
dams, a Thing which Mexico had bound herself
10 do, and when Gen. Gaines had gone 10 Nacog-
doches 10 accomplish that object, with The as
surance from Gen. Jackson that nothing else was
contemplaled-lhe Mexican minister declared
il twas an invasion OF Mexican sofia casus beLli-
broke up this mission, and the Mexican Govern
men,, following his example, dismissed our min
lister, Mr.. Ellis, and closed all diplomatic reia-
lions With US. Was This a course TO enIis. all!
sympalhies in behalf of Me1ico7
In this struggle between Mexico and Texas, it
is said he United States ought 10 have been neu-
tral. Ideny i. The law OF nature is the same
thing with individuals and with nations. Is il
rish' fu' one man 10 stand by and SEE a giant cut
| a pigm7's throat1 We had, as a nation, the per-
| feet right, fairly TO estimate The merits OF the dis.
puie all 10 take the part OF tina, one on whose side
Justice was found 10 lie. Accordingly, yallel
| writes, "That in civil war another nation may
inlerpce their good Offices Tor the restoration Of
peace, and this The law Of nature prescribes 10
them; out II their mediation proves truiiless, they
who ar not tied by any treaty may, Tor their own
condnc, take the merit OF The cause into consider
alton and assist the party which they shall judge
10 ha We right on lis side" We had no treaty with
| Mexicl which forbade our interference, nor with
Mexicl, that was not as much a treaty with Tex
as, a component part Of Mexico when The treaty
was i0.med.
lis true, if | ~interposc 10 proven! a strong
man from numbering a weak one, he may strike
me. AMI | hazard that when interpose; but this
does ntdcprive Inc Of the right 10 intrrposc-and
So The United States cush! 10 have interposed
and have left ito Mexico or Santa Anna, It's
Dictaor, 10 strike il they dare.
Wien Texas had established her independence,
and sic had established il so FAR as those were
concerned who had acknowledged that indepen-
dence, she acceded 10 he proposition 10 be an
| neSed 10 line United SAFES. She had a perfect
right 10 par. with her territory and TO sink her 50.
v|ereigaly into that OF any other nation. She did
| that b. her compact with the United Stales; and
from the happening OF thar event let Us see how
Mexico and The United States stand.
MIR. Gal!aiin says, The annexation OF Texas
was a declaration Of war against Mexico. II
was so il Mexico chose so TO consider i; but Il
does no, follow that it was right OF just lor Next
co 50 10 consider il. The uue question OF right
or wrong is to be decided by a reference 10 The
merits Of the controversy between Texas and
Mexico. II Texas was right, we were right IN
giving 10 her all 'the aid and comfort we conldi
and Mexico could not BE- right, when she had
been foiled in the attempt 10 cut the Texan
lhrsa;s, to make the a,temp' 70 cut ours also:
Upon this question the doctors disagree
Mir. Calhoun, who asnires 10 The honor OF annex
ing Texas, ascribes the var 10 The march OF zen.
TAYLOR from Corpus Christi 10 Maiamoras, upon
The ground that this was disputed territory: Wen,
il was disputed territory, and haw was the dis
pu,e 10 be sellleG2 Were there any other than W
| modes Of adjusting III One by negotiation and
the other By wa,l Had no; Mexico coTiemP,u-
ously spurned the proposition 10 se'lie u ny nc
s~olialion, and what other mode remained bat 70
sctl!e il bv arms, that being The last resort and The
only one lettby Mexico herself
l. i, in vain for those who denonnce Ire war
to attempt To conceal The TACT, that Mexico had
determined upon war, and would have stricken
our army as well al Corpus Christi as al Ma!a,
moras or any where else, the moment she had
The opportunity TO do so-and mad Gen. Iaylot
lis,cned 10 The mandate "if you don't break Up
your camp and be of in twenty four hours. !
will chaslise you with a vengeance" he would
nave been bul little entitled TO The liberal hcnors
which his generous country is so willing 10 la
wish upon him.
Bu. suppose | have failed 10 show tina. the
United States were right in anne1ine Texas, and
le; j, be admitted hat tha, step was injurious and
offensive 10 Merico-yet Tor most injuries mere
are many things that lie in compensation-and
Immediately on The annexation OF Texas a mes
s,neer was dispatched with an offer 10 Mexico Of
len millions ofdollars-and the supcradded otferlo
negotiate and settle the difference upon terms
both Just and honorable-Wh more could The
Tinted Staies do2 There had been an armisiics
2 49, ID-~ Avn