The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-03-24

enter into their history They are fresh in the recoec
ton OF all Ihese three conventions BY the infdey Of
the exican government. have proved nearly ruess
and AFTER thirty years OF injury the SIDE and OF
monstrance the other there is nothing left to but
GUS prosecuon ~ 1 VI Go.a ~ n
that we have commenced a unjustly which was IN
TACT commenced by the enemy, and which, even had II
been declared by u.s. would have been Jushed by inc
practice OF nations, and by the injuries we had sustain
ed?
do not intend Mr. President, TO be led into the dis
cusson of any polemic, respecting the wickedness oil
war leave that to the schools and the debating socie
ties am content-and il not am comPelled,to take
things as they are they have been, and as they will
be- Sent here as practical to deal with the interests
of our country, not be diverted from the
path make out by the experience and the usages OF the
world by crude speculaons and misplaced philanthropy
We were aggrieved and injured and could obtain re
dress and entitled to take remedy into our
own hands, in order obtain that Justice which was
pertnaciousy withheld from US. The most superficial
reader of modern history the most casual observer Of
passing events must know that outrages far less fragrant
in their character, than those committed by Mexico
against us, have occasoned half the OF modern
times.
But, sir am well aware that these considerations APP
ply only Just right to declare war against Mexico
at any time within the last twenty years We did not
commit the offensive. Mexico herself struck the first
stroke and Why Because Texas was annexed to the
United States recolIect the gentlemen on the other
side of the chamber thought there Auerng in
our ranks, when this avowal first made. But there
was none whatever, We concede the proposition in
Its fullest extent, that this annexation the Of
war How them sir stands this great question: to the
justice OF lis commencement!
will not reSpass upon the patience of the Senate by
presenting this subject in all its details. will again
compress my views into series of propositions and thus
spare your time and my own
Texas, constituent portion of the Mexican republic,
declared itself independent Mexico, constituent
portion of the Spanish monarchy, had done before it, and
asserted and maintained its rights by revolution.
The between these two powers continued for
some time, with varying success, TILL 1886, when Mex-
can army, led by the Chief Magistrate of the republic,
was conquered, and dispersed made prisoners, and
the commander himself captured.
After the month OF June OF that year, Texas continued
the undstubed possession of her independence and
no effort was made to reduce her; not single Mexican
party with the exception, understand OF two predatory
ncuslons having sinceever made inroad into her
ritory. The was, in fact, at end.
In the meantime, the independence of Texas was &C
knowedged by the United States and by of the
other principal powers Of the world and she was per-
United TO take her equal station among the nations of the
earth.
In of revolution, where one portion of nation is
endeavoring to separate itself from another, while the
attain its object it is the duty of other powers look on
and not to interfere favor of side the other
But there isa limit to this duty. Such contests cannot
be permitted forever TO continue. The peace of the
world fOrbds and there instances record where
other nations have said "This struggle has continued
long enough 1t must be terminated and the revolt
ing people be secured IN their independence But there
is still another limit to this duty of interference and
that is, the abandonment by the original government of
all attempts to reduce by force its revolving citizens The
abandonment OF the remedy is the abandonment of the
right The peace of the world cannot be put hazard
by the pernacious obsnacy of any nation which holds
to nominal claims, without the power and the dispo-
slton TO maintain them. The neutral duties exist only
fagrdnte beo And when the ceases the pre- vious
relations OF the two states cease and they become like
other natlons-enemes in war, peace friends" When
Texas annexed this confedeacy this was her re-
lation to Mexico and she had the right to form
treaties OF alliance or annexation had the people from
whom she had separated elf these things are So" the
union of Texas and this country Just of Of
fence to Mexico, and gave her no right to complain Of
conduct
And this view is fortified by an incident clearly ndca
tive OF the public opinion in Mexico of the value of her
right to subugate Texas While the question of
alton between this latter power and the United States
was pending Mexico offered to acknowledge the indie
pendence OF Texas she would engage not to join the
American confederacy. This offer was fac: the very
conceded The inability Of Mexico to enforce her Claim
of sovereignty while it asked the condition OF recog
non the surrender Of the right to drec! its future po
cal destiny as might seem most acceptable to its people
SO much Tor the general subject of annexation and the
rights and duties growing out of it.
But it has been said-not in Mexico, but here-that the
origin of this not in the annexation OF Texas,
but Because carried her boundary to the Rio Grande
and took possession OF the country between the Nueces
and that river Who says this Mr. President Not the
country, who find cause of offence for the enemy
which they have failed to discover for themselves
III The Mueces is an American, not Mexican boundary.
The Texas OF Mexico was Texas to the Sabine with
intermediate boundary In all the communications with
the Mexican government, as have had occasion to say
before no distinction is made between the Nueces and
the Rio Grande And the occupation by forces of
the country between these rivers presented
exclusive cause OF complaint nor, indeed noticed
any manner whatever. 1t the annexation and
patton of Texas, and not of any particular portion of Tex
as, which led to the recamatons and finally the hos
tlites OF Mexico. It question OF title, and not OF
boundary; claim of right, which went for the whole,
and would be satisfied with the REIMBURSEMENT of
part When the act for annexation passed, the Mexican
minister in this country Immediately protested against that
declared to be Just OF and at the
time demanded his passports and left the country.
And the supreme government of Mexico, In March,
1916, informed Mr.. Slde that it looked "upon an
nexaon a beLi; and, a consequence Of this
declaration, negotiation by its very nature end,
and the only recourse of the Mexican govern
men" And in conformity with these views, forces were
collected upon the Rio Grande, in order that Mexico
might take the Initiative in hostcs against us-to
to the commanding general And, sir. these warnings
and threatenings were no vain declarations Mexico
said what she would do, and she did she said She
declared to that if annexed Texas, she would go
to We annexed Texas, and she went to war. AS
early April, 1916, and before the movement of Gen
Taylor could have been known Mexico, her President
directed the general upon the frontier TO "attack
army by every means which war permits.
Who then, sir, has right to say, what the Mexican
government has said, that they went to war; not
because we annexed Texas, but because took pos
session of the country west of the Nuecesl In all the
diplomatic correspondence between the two governments,
there alusion 10 that river, any greater claim
advanced to of its banks than to the other. Why
them when country is summoned to trial at the bar
of The public opinion of the world-why should the
A M Conata swell he cafa NJ