Proceedings of the Senate and Documents Relative to Texas, from which the Injunction of Secrecy Has Been Removed Page: 71 of 119
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71 [ 341 ]
on the basis of a recognition of her independence." This suggestion of
thf British Government has been communicated by Lord Cowley (the
English ambassador at Paris) to the French Government, which has approved
of the same, and forwarded the necessary instructions upon the
subject to her minister in Mexico. It is therefore the desire of my Government,
in order that there may be a concert of action, that the Government
of the United States will, as early as possible, (should the same meet
with its concurrence,) forward the necessary instructions to the American
minister in Mexico, that he may act advisedly upon the subject.
Should the proposed mediation be rejected by Mexico, and she in her
madness still cherish the delusive phantom of "the resubjugation of Texas,"
then the responsibility of the consequences which must inevitably result
will rest upon her head. Texas will have washed her hands from the
blood of those who perish in the fatal strife, having sought by every honorable
means to avoid the calamities of war, and the miseries and destruction
of human life which must follow. An appeal to arms must then
determine the contest. If forced to this resort, Texas, conscious of the
correctness of her motives and the justice of her cause, will, relying upon
the God of battles, take the issue and abide the result.
Actuated by an overruling necessity, and the paramount principles of
self-preservation, my Government has sanctioned the partial invasion of
the Mexican territory, that we might remove the ravages and horrors of
war (which the Mexican Government designed toinflict on us) from our own
country to that of our enemy. Our object is not to extend our limits, to
make conquests of any portion of the territory of Mexico, or to inflict
upon her citizens the cruelties and inhuman treatment which has characterized
her warfare against us. But in battling for peace, eveii upon our
enemies' soil, while they shall feel the force of freedom's arm when nerved
to the conflict by repeated wrongs and injuries, our acts shall still be governed
by a nobleness of principle and a magnanimity of conduct worthy
the age in which we live, and becoming the descendants of that race from
whom we claim our origin.
I avail myself of this occasion to offer Mr. Webster renewed assurances
of my distinguished consideration.
ISAAC VAN ZANDT.
Hon. DANIEL WEBSTER, 4'C.
Mr. Thompson to Mr. Webster.-[EXTRACT.]
LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES QF AMERICA,
Mexico, March 14, 1843.
In obedience to your instructions, I then alluded in the most friendly
and respectfuil terms to the character of the war now going on between
Mexico and Texas, and told him that, whilst our Government was determined
to observe the strictest neutrality in that war, it felt that it was
its duty to remonstrate in the most respectful manner with both Govern.
ments against the predatory forays, really not war, wlhich were now made
by both Mexico and Texas, and to urge upon both the abandonment of
such a system, the only consequences of which were individual suffering
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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/m1/71/: accessed May 5, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; .