Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1898-04-14
JACkSON'S POLICY.
How the Extreme Test Was Applied In
the Texas Case.

tho AeAb1 Sb8os
Thereupon Andrew Jackson proceed
ed to consider the risks that there
might be imputed to the United States
motives OF selfish interest in view of
| the former claim on our part to the ter
ritory of Texas. and of the avowed pur-
pose of the Texans in seking recogni-
ton of independence as an incident to
the incorporation of Texas in the
Union, concluding thus:
Prudence, therefore. seems to die
tate that we should still stand aloof
and maintain our present attitude, if
not until Mexico itself or one of the
great foreign powers shall recognize
the independence of the new govern
ment, at least until the lapse of time
of the course of events shall have
proved beyond cavil or dispute the
ability of the people of that country
to maintain the sepate sovereignty and
to uphold the government constituted
by them. Neither of the contending
parties can justly complain of this
course. BY pursuing it we are but
carrying out the long established pol
icy of our government, policy which
has secured to us respect and influ-
ence abroad and inspired confidence
at home"
These are the words of the resolute
and patriotic Jackson. They are evil
dence that the United States, in addi-
ton to the test imposed by public law
as the condition of the recognition of
independence by neutral state, to
Wit, that the revolted state shall con-
stitute in fact a body polite, having
a government in substance as well
as in name, possessed of the elements
of stability" and forming de facto
IF left to itself a state among the
nations, reasonably capable of dis
charging the duties of a state" has
imposed for it's own governance in
dealing with cases like these the fur
ther condition that recognition of in
dependent statehood is not due to
resulted dependency until the danger
of its being again subjugated by the
parent state has entirely passed away.
This extreme test was in fact applied
in the case of Texas. The congress t.
whom President Jackson referred the
question as one probably leading to
war" and therefore a proper subject
for "a previous understanding with
that body by whom war can alone be
declared, and by whom all the pro-
visions for sustaining it's merits must
be furnished, left the matter of the
recognition of Texas to the discretion
of the executive, providing merely for
the sending of a diplomatic agent
when the president should be satisfied
that the republic of Texas had become
"an Independent state"
1t was so recognized by President
Van Buren,, who commissioned a
charge d affairs March I, 1897 after
Mexico had abandoned an attempt to
the Texan territory, and
when there was. at the time, no bona
fide contest goinr on between the in
surgent province and it's former SOW
ereign.
/ said in my message of December
last: 1T is to be seriously considered
the Cuban insurrection pos
sesses beyond dispute the attributes
Of statehood, which alone can demand
favor"
The same requirements must GER
tainly be no less seriously considered
when the g-aver issue of recognizing
is in question, for no less
positive test can be applied to the great
er act than to the lesser while, on the
other hand, the influence and conse-
Iuences of the struggle upon the inter-
nal policy of the recognizing state
which form important factors when the
of belligerency is concern
ed, are secondary, if not rightly elimi-
lable, factors when the real question
S whether the community claiming
recognition is or is not independent be-
yond peradventure.
Nor from the standpoint of expe-
lience do l think it would be wise or
prudent for this government to recog-
liZe at the present time the iniepend-
.nce of the so-called Cuban republic. |
such recognition is not nee. ssary in |
,rder to enable the United States to |
intervene and pacify the island
TO commit this country now to the |
ecoi,litic;. Of any particular govern |
nent in CuSa mifht subject US to en-
conditions of international
obligation towards the organization So
recognized. Ia case of intervention oEr
ondlti NrtiG le subject TO the ap-
ToAsi y. ..sal lAIGN:.i vi such govern !