Washington telegraph., 1848-01-12


tend with the United States, and INSTEAD
Of considering the annexation Of Texas 10
b.. as IT really was, tantamnunl 10 dec.
lafaiian Of war anl y suspended Tho ofdi.
nary diplomatic relations belween the Two
countries, ils Government, Il directed hY
wise roanses, aud moi ilnneiei by popn.
lar irritation, should al once, since il haa
already agreed 10 recognise the indepen
deaee of Texas, haye entered inln nngn.
tiatian with the United Slales. Al lhai
Time lhefe would have heen no Intrinsic
difficulty in making inll arrangement
innnded on an unconditional recognition ai
the independence Of ifesas, within lis Ie.
climate boundaries. Popular feeling and
the ambition oi eonleniing military leaders,
prevented thai peaceful termination oil those
unfortunate dissensions.
iet, when Mexico refused 10 receive
Mr. siiell as an Envoy Extraordinary and
Minister Plenipoienliary, the United States
should hafe fenembeied thai We had been
the agfessufs, thai We bad committed m
ael ne nawlalged. rs well by the pfaeli.
eal Inv u nalions u hy common sanse
and common justice, lu be lanlamnnl Ia a
declaration . war; aai lheY should haYe
5 saie5 Wilh patience TIL the feelings excited
y M u conduct had suhsided.
tn. a. Of had ben instructed by lie
Ia Department, As early a. MaY =.
IL, L. Haasa lie lpreea undo hia t5m.
ialad Ia b faI IN a pa.iiian Nhafe lheY
N 81 mqzl promptly anl allisieulIl mel in
lHIsHzs q Iekas, in the event lhai il
ii Hi beeone aeeez zzatY OF proper 10 Gu.
Hiul t5em i1f TINT purpose. By sahse.
gaeal NJ fdelIans. and aiief tie people ai
ielas accepted The proposition q aaaa.a
.iaal / Was directed 10 se4egi aul aleaP4
a position adapted u iepsi INVASION a. neaf
Tue boundary ine, the kIn ifaHif, A. pru.
laafe wlaIl dictate; aad TIM, WfIl his
Yiew, put ol he larcgs n least should
b. Wesl 1i the river Aueees. Twas Ger.
iainly the duly ui the Pes drni 10 protect
iekas agaiasi Invasion Inn iha fnDmeni II
Ind been ahHektd the aIal slaies, aud
as that Republic Was in aelual possession
u togus Ghfisli, which was Tie position
selected by Ten. Ia5 luT, ihete was nulh
ins, IN tae position he hal iaken, iniiea.
I've aI any danger q aelaal hosliilies.
But the Government seems 10 have con.
sfdrrrd iAe refusal, on the part ol Hr6icu,
10 receive Mr. s.drll as 4 resident Envoy
ii tie United States, US necessarily lead
ng TO war The SrcreIi,y Of State, In bis
letter 10 MIR. Siideil ol January 2S, 1916,
says:
"Shou.d tho Mexican Government inal
ly refuse TO receive you, the cup Of lnrbear.
anae vii lhrn have been eihanslcd.-
ACIhlng can remain bal to take tho redress
ul The lulufIes 10 our cilzens and the in.
suits 10 our Government into our own
hands.
Aud again:
"shoull the Mexican Government final
y rtid,e TO receive you lhcn demand pass
purls IIom he proper authority and return
lo tie Gal'eJ States. Ii wi!, then be
come tie dmj ol the President 10 submit
the whole asetO Congress. aud cali upon
the nation TO assert lis just rights and
ayengc is injured honor"
With the same Object myew, the Sec.
reiay oi War did, by his letter dated Jau
uay l3, lsli, instruct General Taylor
TO advance and occupy, with the troops
under his command, positions on or near
the east bank Of lhe Rio del Norc.
Il presumed that Point Isabel will
be- considered by you an eligible position
This point, Or some one near Il, and points
opposite Naiamoros and Alicf, and IN the
yiclnityol Lnlcdo; arc suggested Tor sour
consideration. Should you
aiiemp, 10 exercise tho right which tho
/ United States have, ia common with Mex.
leo, 10 the lice navigation Of this river, it
is possible that Mexico would inlefpose re
sslance. You will not attempt to enforce
this right without iurlher instructions. :
II is not designed, IN our pres.
ont relations with Mexico, thai you should
treat her as an enemy; but, should she as.
sumo that character by a declaration OF
war or any open act of hostility towards
US, you will not act merely on tie deleu
sive, H. your relative means enable you 10
do otherwise"
The Administration was therefore of the
opinion that this military occupation Of the
territory in question was NOT an act oil hos.
tiliy towards Mexico. or treating her as
an enemy. Now, | do aver, without fear
OF contradiction, that whenever territory
claimed by two Powers is and has been
lot length Of limo in the possession Of
one Of them, il the other should invade and
take possession oI it by military force,
such an act is an open act Of hostility ac.
corIlng 10 the Acknowledged and pracica.
be law Ui nations. la this case the law
oI nations only recognize clear and pos
itlye fact
/ he sequel is well known. Gen. Tay.
Ior with his troops, left Corpus Christi
March 9Th 10 1lth, l546, and entered the
desert which separates that p ace from the
1 vicinity OF the del Norle. On the Jlsl he