Proceedings of the Senate and Documents Relative to Texas, from which the Injunction of Secrecy Has Been Removed Page: 17 of 119
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17 [ 341 1
women and children, and to commit every excess of savage warfare,
Texas, animated by the hope of avoiding a firther resort to arms, and the
attendant calamities, for injuries received,returned forbearance ; her President
has sought to abstain from the effusion of blood, and with that aim
has uniformly restrained the impetuosity and calmed the excitement of his
countrymnen, so often aroused by a course of conduct which violates every
right, both private and national, and a cruelty and depravity which would
disgrace the darkest ages of feudal barbarism, The popular imlpulse might
have been turned upon the enemy upon their own soil; the result might
have proved that a free people, burning with vengeance long restrained,
could levy a heavy retribution.
Such being the character of hostile operations against Texas, on the part
of our enemy, which being plain:ly violative of every principle of civilized,
Christian, or honorable warfare, and at the same time so little calculated
to achieve the professed object of the war, the reconquest of Texas, the
President confidently hlopes the Government of the United States will feel
not only justified, but even called upon, to interpose its high authority to
arrest this course of proceeding, and to require of Mexico either the recognition
of the independence of Texas, or to make war upon her according
to the rules established and universally recognised by civilized nations.
It is believed that this subject addresses itself to the Government
of the United States with peculiar force, havirng been the first to welcome
us into the family of nations. Many of' her citizens were thereby induced
to emigrate to 'Texas; some of whom have gone only for purposes of
trade, others to become citizens, and share the commoni fate of our young
Republic, but both of whomr are alike exposed to the outrages alluded to.
Again: the United States being the leading and oldest independent Power
on this continent, and long famed for the correctness of her principles, her
highly enlightened and magnanimous policy, both in peace and war, entitle
her to the exercise of the interposition invoked, without subjecting
her to the imputation of arrogance.
If Mexico believes herself able to resubjugate Texas, her right to makethe
effort will not be denied; on the contrary, if she chooses to invade
our territory with that purpose, the President, in the name of the people
of all Texas, will bid her welcome. It is not against a war with Mexico
that Texas would protest. This she deprecates not. She is willing
at any time to stake her existence as a nation upon the issue of a war conducted
upon Christian principles. It is alone against the unholy, inhuman,
and fruitless character it has assumed, and still maintains, which
violates every rule of honorable warfare, every precept of religion, and
sets at defiance even the comrnmon seltiments of humanity, against which
she protests and invokes the interposition of those powerful nations which
have recognised hier independence.
The Governlnlent of Texas has already given an earnest of her disposition
to consult the wishes of other nations, when those wishes do not conflict
with the general interest and convenience of the country. Fully
appreciating the friendly sentiments of the United States and other Powers,
who had acknowledged the independence of Texas, and relying much
upon their ability and ilfluence in securing an early and permanent adjustment
of our ditficulties withl Mexico, the President, in compliance with
the desire of the United S;ates and other Governments, expressed through
uheir representatives to e 1Texan Government. revoked the late procla
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United States. Congress. Senate. Proceedings of the Senate and Documents Relative to Texas, from which the Injunction of Secrecy Has Been Removed, book, 1844; [Washington]. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth2363/m1/17/: accessed April 20, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; .