Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-02-26

annexation to the United States the honnda, snu ner
the TWO Republics was changed from the sabine n tb
MO urande, withom the express free constant ~ htL
nations, lascfuy given by the General op.yo,a. ~
IN conformity with its constitution" Mexco reaI'
ed that change just cause Of war; and accorIinpl in
vaded Texas with view to the recovery of the Loss y
tory. protracted ensued, in which tbousanJs 20
lives were lost and millions Of money expended Uban
peace Is concluded upon the express conditions that tho
treaty should contain open and frank avowa that the
United States has been wrong in the causes of the war
by the pledge Of her honor repeat the act which
led to hostilties
Wherever you turn your eye whether to your own re-
cord to the satutebooks to the history Of this country
or of Mexico to the diplomatic history of the world
this Illuminating and degrading acknowledgment stares
you IN the face, as monument Of your creation
the dlshonor Of our common country. Well do remem-
Der the determined and proracted efforts of the minority
to expunge this odious clause from the treaty before its
atlhcaton and how, the 4th of March, 1913 we were
voted down by forytwo to eleven The stain which that
clause fastened upon the history of our country was NOT
the only objection which urged its retention in the
treaty. IT violated great principle Of public policy ia
relation to THE continent 1t pledges the faith Of this
Republic that our shall that which aty
to the interests and honor Of the country in the rroe
of events, may compel them to do do not medittHr
look with favor upon any aggression upon Mexico No
not desire at TINS tine to annex any portion oXbar ~
tory to this Union; / prepared to(sav tL.".ts
time will ever come, in my day when would be ,yii
to sanction such proposition. But who can saw 49,
amid the general wreck and demorazfl ion in Mey;c
state OF things may not arise in which Just regard r
rights and safety, and for the sake Of bnmy
and civilization may render imperative for us to do Nat
which done in the of Texas and thereby eance
the boundary between the two Republics without the free
consent of the General Government of Mexico lawfully
given in conformity with her constitution Recent events
in Sonora, Chihuahua, and Tamaupas do not establish
the wisdom and proprey of that line of policy which ties
our hands in advance, and depryes the Government OF
the right in the future Of doing whatever duty and honor
may require when the necessity for action may arrive
Mr. President, of the resolutions under consdera.
ton makes declaration in relation to the island of Cuba
which requires passing notice 1t is in the following
words:
That while the United States dsclaim any designs upon
the island OF Cuba inconsistent with the laws Of nations and
with their duties SPAIN they consider
of the subject to make known in this solemn
that they should view all the part any other
Power to procure possession whether peaceaby orcby of
that island which, naval military position must
der circumstances be foreseen
their southern coast to the Gulf Of Mexico and the mouth
Of the Mississippi unfrendly acts, directed against them,
4 to be resisted by all the in their power
That we would resist attempt transfer the Island
OF Cuba to any European Power either with or without
the consent of Span there is trust no question in the
mind OF any American and the fact is us well known to
Europe as II is to country. That the United
States do not mediate any designs upon the island ncon-
stent with the laws of nations and with their duties to
Spaln has been demonstrated to the world in manner
that orbids the necessity for disclaimer of unworthy
and perhdous purposes part. The resolutions
convey, beneath this disclaimer the implication that
character is subject to suspicion upon that point Shall
let the presumption 90 abroad that disclaimer of
Of dishonesty and perdy and nfamy has become
cessary upon part? Sir, is there any thing in the
history Of relations with foreign nations respect
to Cuba, that should subject country such inur
Gus impuations? When has Government failed TO
perform its whole duty neutral Power in respect
Cuba? The only complaint has been that, in its great
anxiety to preserve in good faith its neutral relations it
has permitted treaty tpuaons with Spain providing for
the protection Of citizens be wantonly and fragrant
y violated No suspicion that this Government has been
wanting in energy and fidelity in the enforcement of
laws has been entertained in any quarter 1t the
cessye energy and severity with which the duty per-
formed that has provoked the dapprobaon of por
ton of the American people.
Sir, what right has Great Britain to call upon the
United States, she did in late application to enter
into negotiation to guaranty Cuba TO Spain? Such
step might have been necessary the paof England in
order 10 satisfy Spain that she has abandoned the policy
which for centuries has marked her colonial history with
plumber and rapne Why does not England first restore
TO Spain the Island of Jamaica, by the seizure and pos
session Of which she is enabled overlook Cuba while
gives her the command Of the entrance of the proposed
Nicaragua canal Why does she not restore to old Spain
Gibraltar, which from proximity and geographical post
ton naturally belongs TO her. and is essential her safe
V Why does she not restore the colonial possessions
which she has stretched al the world commanding
every important military and naval station both upon
land and water Why does she restore them to their
original owners from whom she obtained them by fraud
and violence Why does she do these things before
she calls upon TO enter into stipuations that we will
not rob Spain Of the Island of Cuba:
The whole system Of European colonization rests upon
seizure, violence and fraud European Powers hold
nearly all their colonies BIZ the one or the other OF these
tenures They can show other evidence, other
II
ted States that requires to make such disclaimer!
We have never acquired inch Of territory except by
honest purchase and full payment Of the consideration
we have never seized amy Spanish other European
lony We have invaded the rights Of other nations
We do not hold in hand the results rapine violence
war; and fraud for centuries and then prate about homes
y and propose TO honest people enter into
that they will not rob their neghbors!
Fortunately tn, history Of country subjects her to
such mpuation and relieves from the necessity of
making disclaimers which carry with them the impiica-
ton Of an cquivocal reputation England, France and
the other European Powers at liberty to Judge for
themselves whether any such necessity exists in their
case have not much faith in these gratuous protes-
tatons of honesty and disnteresedness They are gem
orally made for the purpose Of concealng dark design
while preparations maturing for its execution
collect that pending the Clayton and Buwer treaty before
the Senate set aoa that England meditated
the extension Of her dominion protection Costa
RIGA other portion Of Central America Sir Hen
ry Bulwer deemed the time opportune and the a
sufficient excuse for addressing TO Department Of
State official letter dscaming in the name and by
the authority Of the British Government any such de-
sign, and saying
. also desired add, that It would be contrary 70 the
fixed and settled policy Of Great Britain enangle herself
by 10 protect distant States whose policy
and conduct would be impossible British Govern
men TO exercise effective control Such protecorate
would confer possible advantage Great Britain, and
might become the Of many embarrassments to her
Mr.. Clayton much delighted with this frank dis
caimer that he promptly replied:
81 take pleasure in expressing the satisfaction with which
this Government has received this friendly from
that Of her Britannia Majesty, and especially It
fail strengthen the bonds Of amity existing be
tween respective countries"
Gen Taylor deemed the matter Of sufficient importance
to communicate the evidence of this friendly assurance