Year: 1872

tltlfO 4IOI1 SIIJ ANCM OIh, Hits


introduced resolution that provides
for the appointment of a committee to
investigate the affairs of Mexico for
the purpose of ascertaining what ac-


tiOn the United States shall take in


the premises. 1t is said that this res
olutiOn looks to the establishment of
an American protectorate over the
Republic of Mexico. Mr.. Brooks


borrows his thunder from Gen. Sam
Houston, who submitted a reso-
luton to the United States Senate a
few years before he died providing
directly for protectorate. 1t met
with but little cOuntenance at the
time because the north opposed it on
the ground that it was movement in
the interest of slavery. As Gen.
Houston was not pro-slavery man,
this suggestion was not correct; and
the coldness with which the project
was received in the South was the
best evidence that it was not accepted
in this section as a movement in the
interest of the pro-slavery faction. As
81 matter of historical interest it may
not be uninteresting to say that Gen.
Houston, in the year 1649, declared to
the writer Of this article, that even at
that early day, Texas was opposed to
slavery and would vote it down if an
honest expression of opinion could be
had from all the people. And the
writer believes he was right, for the
foreign element was very large, the
Mexican vote counted several thou
sand, the North was well represented,
and all this strength was quietly op-
posed to the institution.


Mr.. Brooks resolution is thoroughly
impracticable in its designs and de-
serves the silence that greeted its in
PRODUCTION. 1t is contrary to our own
policy, and it is insulting to Mexico.
It's success was calculated to iniure us
with our neighbors, and it might have
had the effect of involving us in COM
plications with European powers. It's
author had no other intention when
he introduced it than to arouse in the
minds of the adventurous spirits of
the country that old sentiment which
made the Democracy SO strong before
the rebellion, and to create fever in
the hearts of the land -grabbers and
spectators in favor Of il project that
promises to give them Mexico as
subject to rob and plunder.


1t is contary to our policy because
there is no principle in our republican
govermment that provides for our as
suming a joint interest in any other
government. IF we were to under
take the protection of the Mexican
authorities the American troops would
necessarily have to obey the local Off
GERS of the Mexican government OF
they would have to disregard and dis
obey them, which would be submits
sion instead of protection. If they
obeyed they would be called upon to
force every citizen to take off his hat
in presence of catholic professions
and to quit work on the hundred
and sixty religious holidays that
are enjoyed by that devout but
rather thievish people. This is the
first objection. Our soldiers would
have to be given great latitude of
judgment in their actions, and this
they would take advantage of against
the Mexicans, thus creating a wider
scope of hatred towards Americans
than now exists. Their pay would be
drawn from the United States treas
ury, for if Mexico cannot settle with
her own soldiers at forty cents per
day out of which they are re-
quired to feed and clothe themselves.
we do not see how she could pay ours
at the rate of one dollar per day, to-
gether with their transportation and
other expenses. We should have
set of officers down in Mexico who
would owe a sort of divided allegiance
which would be settled by their not
being faithful TO anything or any au-
thority. In fact we should have on
our own hands British East India
Company or a Spanish Provincial
Viceroyalty out of which the captains
would make fortunes and the privates
would make bullies of themselves. If
there is any feature in our Constitu-
ton that provides for such a piece of
deviltry Mr.. Brooks has not favored
the public with its publication so far.


In the next place this proposition is
an insult to Mexico because it pro-
poses to invade her soil, enquire into
her conduct, and to make mockery of
her independence, by investigating
the propriety of subjecting her to our
without waiting for an invi-
tation to that effect from those in
whose behalf this extraordinary inqui-
sition is set ON foot. She will resent
it as she resented the interference of
France. Our Committee will be in
suited if they proceed upon their mis-
sion, and the chances are that the
will be ordered out of the
A more deliberate indignity
was never offered to a friendly State.
We should have a war upon ouF
hands at once, and millions of dollars
would have to be spent in freeing an
almost interminable succession of |
mountains from the descendants ofthe
Of the people who fought Spain thirty |
years and who have kept up the fight |
with each other for thirty years just |