The War in Texas; A Review of Facts and Circumstances, showing that this contest is a Crusade Against Mexico, set on foot by Slaveholders, Land Speculators, &c. In Order to Re-Establish, Extend, and Perpetuate the System of Slavery and the Slave Trade. Page: 40 of 64
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40 THE XVAR IN TEXAS.
dealt most largely in Texas lands, and sougdt his having considerably advanced before the rest, it was
own advantage. He was supposed to have formed a surprised by the Texian force, routed with great
connexion with some influential men of the Ameri- slaughter, and the President taken prisoner. It
can Cabinet and amongst them with Mr. Forsyth. might be possible that the resistance of the people of
What then had followed ?-America having created Texas might prevail against the authorities of Mexico,
a population in Texas in the way lie had stated, and but, on the other hand, the numerical strength lay
having given to it every possible assistance, a com- with the army of the Mexican Government, who,
mnittee of foreign relationls in the Senate, came in from the last accounts that'were received, were
with a report signed by Mr Clay, for whom he en- preparing to make fiesh efforts to reinforce their
tertained a high respect, discussing the necessity of army, and from what had already happened the final
recognizing the declaration of the independence of result of the struggle could not be interred.
Texas. The tendency of the whole report was to W ith respect to the conduct of the United States
show the propriety, at a future time, to annex Texas of America in the matter, although he was aware
to the United States. The question therefore, for that individuals in those States had given great asthe
House to consider was-first, the general policy sistance to the revolting population of Texas, yet the
of allowing a state, without remonstrance, to extend conduct of the responsible Government of America
itself, and thus put an end to the trade between this was the reverse. If regard were had to the Presicountry
and Mexico-the connexion between whicli dent's Message to Congress, it would be found to
could be completely cut off by a few American pri- contain an unequivocal declaration of that Government
vateers ensconced in theTexian ports. The principle to take no part in the Mexican civil war, and that in
had been disclaimed in 1835, when it was proposed accordance witli that declaration, orders had been
to annex part of Cuba to the United States, and that issued to enforce the laws in the prevention of indiinstance
ought to guide this country in not allowing viduals mixing themselves up in the matter. He
this contemplated extension of the American terri- [Lord Palmerstoli had that opinion of the honor and
tory. The next consideration was, whether the good faith of the Government of America, as not to
country would now allow a renewal and an increase suppose that they would not act up to that declaraof
the slave trade? Such would be the result of this tion; and he thought fresh circumstances ought to
policy on the part of America, aud from a pamphlet arise before an address should be sent to the Crown
he had received this day, it appeared that the non- on the political branch of the question. (Hear,
slavery states of America had themselves been rous- hear.)
ed to a sense of their own danger if that policy were Now, with regard to that part of the question which
successful. It was well known that there had long related to the trade in slaves, the honorable gentleman
been a struggle between the slave states and non- opposite had remarked that no correspondence had
slave states in Congress, and parties were equally been laid before the House with regard to the probalanced;
but if Texas should eventually be annexed gress or (iminution of the slave trade, supposed to
to the Federal Uniot, 18 votes in Congress at Wash- exist in Texas, while other places were given. The
ington would he added to those in favor of that most fact was so; and the explanation he had to offer was,
degrading feature in the civilized world-slavery that his Majesty's G6vernment had no agent in the
On all these grounds, he most cordially supported 'province of T'exas, and they had only lately received
the motion of the honorable member from South- information from the British Minister at Mexico,
ampton. (Hear, hear.) bearing on the illicit trade in slaves supposed to be
Lord Palmerston observed, that if it at the begin- carried on in Texas. It would be a greater evil,
ning of the observations he should have to make to much to be deplored, if the course of the civil war
the house, he said that he did not feel himself at were to lead to an extension or re-establishment of
liberty to agree to the proposal of the honorable slavery. That was a matter deserving the attention
member for Southampton, he trusted that neither of the house; and if the house supposed that his
the honorable member nor the house would imagine Majesty's Government were either indifferent or
that it was a proof that he did not feel the import- uno illilg to bestow the most vigilant care to prevent
ance of its object, or that his Majesty's Government such an evil. he should be willing to agree in thinking
were not as much animated as was the honorable, with the honorable member from Southamptont it
member, with the desire to put an end to thle evils fitting to admonish the Government in the manner
to which the address he had moved so mainly related. he proposed; but he [Lord Palhnerstcnl assured the
(Hear, hear.) He [Lord Palmerston] trusted that house the Government required no suclh stimulus to
he sliould be able to prove to the hotuse that the perform their duty, and he thoughlt that what they
address moved for was at present, in some respects, l.were now doing might be accepted as a proof that
unnecessary, and in other respects premature. The they were anxious and active in endeavoring to 'put
observations of the two honorable gentlemen who down the slave trade in every part of the world, and
had preceded him, divided themselves into two to prevent its springing up in quarters where it did
different branches-the one relating to the political not already exist; but he did not think there was
part of thle question, and the other relating to the any conlsiderable danger of such an evil being the
trade in slaves. result of the Mexican civil war, for it was evident
With regard to the political question, undoubtedly that either Texas must be conquered and yield to
the pcssibility that the province of Texas might be the Mexican authority or that it, by succeeding in
added to the United States, was a subject which ought its struggle would become an independent state; or
seriously to engage the attention of tle House an(i of thirdly, add itself to the United States of America.
the country, but he did not think tlhat tle events which Now, if the Mexican authority were re-established,
had occurred affordled any ground for supposing that no more encouragement to the slave trade would be
there was anv such probability of its occurring to given in Texas than other Mexican states. Again,
call upon this house to address the Crown with re- if the Mexican authority was thrown off, and the
ference to that matter. The state of Texas at independence of Texas declared, it would then be
present was this-a revolt had taken place there; open to this country to interfere and put down any
the Mexican army had been despatched for the trade in slaVes that might be carried on.-Lastly, if
purpose of putting it down. The first operations Texas should, in the progress of events, become a
had been greatly successful, but a part of the army member of the United States of America, thought
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The War in Texas; A Review of Facts and Circumstances, showing that this contest is a Crusade Against Mexico, set on foot by Slaveholders, Land Speculators, &c. In Order to Re-Establish, Extend, and Perpetuate the System of Slavery and the Slave Trade. (Book)
Opinion piece describing the history and reasons for the Texas Revolution, including the position that it was intended to support slavery in Texas.
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Lundy, Benjamin, 1789-1839. The War in Texas; A Review of Facts and Circumstances, showing that this contest is a Crusade Against Mexico, set on foot by Slaveholders, Land Speculators, &c. In Order to Re-Establish, Extend, and Perpetuate the System of Slavery and the Slave Trade., book, 1837; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth2414/m1/40/: accessed April 28, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Special Collections.