The Guard

Mexican recognition of Texas Independence.

We have said that the Mexican government has virtually abandoned the ground it has taken against the annexation of Texas. The recent news from Mexico shows that now she has waived her objection to the independence of Texas, per se; and that she only objects to her union with the United States. How ridiculous she has made herself, through the interposition of false and pretending friends! how glaring are these inconsistencies, and how evident must they be to an impartial and enlightened world!

The position heretofore taken by Mexico, her advisers and abettors, was, that the honor of the nation, the integrity of her soil, and her national character, would be violated, and the effect of the dismemberment of the Mexican States would be most injurious to her national character. She has mysteriously lost sight of the pretended principles, and manifested an undissembled revenge and a deep-rooted animosity to the United States, emphatically playing the part of the dog in the manger. By the course she has pursued, she exposes herself to the imputation of lending herself to pamper the jealous and contracted views of foreign rivals to the increasing greatness of the American people, who present the sublime spectacle of the success of republican institutions. A reference to her early diplomatic intercourse and the former high tone of her pretensions, as put forth by her ministers, will make the inconsistencies the more apparent. We quote from the protest and pamphlet of the celebrated Sen. M. E. Gorostiza, late envoy extraordinary from Mexico, and give his own words purporting to be an abstract from his instructions, wherein he says he is bound to "support & defend the integrity of the Mexican territory, whatever might be the arm to be employed against it."

This formidable declaration was made in 1836, and met with a very signal and well merited rebuke early in 1837, in the able report of Mr. Senator Buchanan, in which he says:

"In regard to the functionary, (Sen. Gorostiza,) the committee concur fully with Mr. Forsyth, that he was under the influence of prejudice, which distorted and discolored every object which he saw in the country. On the fifteenth of October, 1836, he terminated his mission by demanding his passports. And for what reason? Because the President refused to recall the order which he had issued to the general commanding in the vicinity of Texas."

After the firm and decided character of this report, we heard no more of Sen. Gorostiza; and it is to be hoped that the course suggested in that report will still be carried into execution in all its details. At another time, the Mexican Secretary of Foreign Relations attempted to negotiate, and demanded restitution and compensation for the loss of Texas: and so far deceived our then minister in Mexico, that a clause was inserted in the 6th act of the convention of 30th January, 1843, in the following words: "A convention shall be entered into to settle all claims not finally decided by the late convention; also all claims of the government of Mexico against the United States." These claims were for Texas. Mexico sought to make them a set-off against the claims which were awarded against her; which said article Mexico has violated. She has never fulfilled her treaty stipulation. She now retains the convention as confirmed by the Senate of the United States, and not exchanged. This, among many others, stands as a monument of her broken faith and pledges to the United States.

But to avoid this subtle piece of Mexican diplomacy, and their attempt to make the United States responsible in dollars and cents for Texas, Secretary Upshur distinctly says, in his letter of the 25th day of July, 1843, "I am not aware of any well founded claim which the government of Mexico can urge against that of the United States. The claims of one government upon another are not proper discounts of that other against the creditor government."

It is evident, from the above manifestations, that Mexico has been seeking to involve the United States in a quarrel about Texas, and has failed in her object. But what is the present state of things? Has not Mexico, by her recent measure, abandoned her former ground, and signed off all right, title, and interest to Texas? Has she not thereby released the United States from all responsibility? Has she not acted under British influence, by British diplomacy, under the sanction and by the agency of a high British functionary—no doubt with the knowledge of his government—having, in fact, authorised all that has been done, by giving the protection of his flag on board of a national vessel, the Eurydice?

Let us ask an impartial world, in the name of common sense, how can Mexico now, or any of her disinterested friends or allies, hold the United States responsible for any thing that may hereafter occur? Mexico has virtually sanctioned the resolutions of the last Congress. Texas is now free, and independent of Mexico. The "last link is broken;" and this, too, by and with the apparent consent and direct agency of the representative of England.