The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 17, July 1913 - April, 1914 Page: 282
454 p. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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The Southwestern Historical Quarterly
National Gazette of May 18, in commenting upon certain official
communications which passed between our government and the
Mexican, used the following language: "The above correspondence
shows on the part of the Executive a sense of our neutral duties
and obligations, and a disposition to act up to them, honorable to
the national character, and greater than from incidental disclosures
we were disposed to give the Administration credit for." The
United States Gazette agreed with the National Intelligencer that
President Jackson's letter to Governor Cannon of Tennessee was
as important as the proclamation of neutrality made, by President
Washington in 1793.4 The National Gazette found the conduct
of General Gaines upon the border decidedly reprehensible,85
though it is difficult to see just wherein this reprehensibility lay,
inasmuch as Gaines did not occupy Nacogdoches till the following
July. 'This advance on the part of Gaines was due to his fear of
the Comanches and other Indian tribes making common cause with
the Mexicans against the exposed settlements on the southwestern
frontier. Hence his resolve to punish whoever employed Indians
against the people of either side of the imaginary line which con-
fined the disputed territory."6 The Gazette prophesied disaster
and bloody consequences as the result of General Gaines's action,
and in a lengthy editorial set forth the consequences of a, war with
Mexico.7 It is now admitted that while Gaines's advance was
technically not in accordance with international law, the step he
took was "dictated by humanity and justified by the emergency."68
The sober verdict of history has recorded that the Texas revolu-
tion was "a legitimate measure of self-defense" against the despot-
ism of Santa Anna.69 That the revolution succeeded was due in
part to the moral and material assistance rendered the struggling
Texans by the citizens of Pennsylvania.
"4United States Gazette, August 19, 1836.
"Philadelphia National Gazette, May 6, 1836. The hope is expressed
that nothing will be done by an American officer to tarnish the high
character of the United States for national probity and good faith.
"8Cf. United States Gazette, August 2, 1836, which contained Gen.
Gaines' letter of July 28 to Gen. Bradford.
"Philadelphia National Gazette, August 2, 1836.
8"Garrison, Westward Extension (Amer. Nation, XVII), 88.
"Smith, The Annexation of Texas, ch. I.282
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 17, July 1913 - April, 1914, periodical, 1914; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101061/m1/286/: accessed March 29, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.