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14
THE WAR IN TEXAS.
country, and leave a great number of their
brethren to the exclusive control and unapproved
government of foreigners. \Texas
never did exercise the authority of an independent
sovereignty. Neither did the colonists
ever, exclusively, possess the attributes of a
community, clothed with any political power
whatever. When they settled in the country,
they took up their abode among the native
inhabitants, promised obedience to their laws,
and were ever kgally subject to all the regulations
of their government. They never
possessed a slhadow of legal title to a foot of
the soil, further than what a part of them
acquired by the munificence and liberality of
that same people and government, and what
they obtained by purchase from them. What
authority then can they claim, to dictate to
the Mexican nation the formula of its political
institutions-or demand the relinquishment of
its right to possess and govern the country in
which they have thus been permitted to settle
themselves ? It was an acknowledged axiom
with the founders of this Republic, that whenever
any form of government fails to secure to
its citizens generally the possession of their
inalienable privileges, in the "I pursuit of happiness,"
they promised obedience to
the laws and regulations which should in
future be enacted by the legal authorities;
and they were kindly treated, and in a few
instances advanced to stations of honor, trust,
and profit. But although the native inhabitants
in the provittce out-numbered them, as more
than three or four to one, we will assume that
they refused their sanction to the government,
under the federal organization of this Union.
The natives were almost unanimous in giving
their assent; all, except these foreigners, approved
or finally **acquiesced" in the proposed
change.
Now, let us suppose, that in this state of
things, these Germans had declared for the
old confederation, taken tip arms to resist the
authority of the general Congress, called upon
their brethren in Europe to aid them in their
rebellion, and finally declared the independence
of Lancaster, Berks, and as many other contiguous
counties as they might eventually be
able to conquer: nay, suppose they had expressed
the inten!ion in their " Declaration,"
to make themselves masters of the whole
State of Pennsylvania, a part of Virginia and
of Ohio, and nearly all the Territory of Michigan,
while they were still dependent upon the
Germans in Europe for men, money, and other
means to accomplish their object ! ! What, I
ask, would the people of the United States
have said and done? What would their brethren,
" their own countrymen" in Europe,
consider their duty in such a case ? What
judgment, indeed, would the nations of the
civilized world have pronounced upon their
daring " usurpation" of power-their ambitious,
yet impotent efforts--their total disregard
of jttstice, or their ignorance of the furdamental
principles of human government? I need
not say what the impartial verdict would have
been.
Tell me not, that the comparison here fails
in the application to our subject. It is strictly
correct in every essential particular. If
there is sany variance in the similitude, the
Germans of Pennsylvania would have been
more justifiable than the Texas colonists in
raising the standard of revolt, had they objected
to the change in the form of government upon
the principle above stated. Many of the
former settled in the country long before the
native ilihabitants threw off thie shackles of
foreign domination, and helped to fight the
battles of national liberty. But the latter (with
the exception of a very few) introduced
themselves after the independence of the
nation had been secured, by the establishment
of a new government. Those who are acquainted
with the history of Texas colonization,
well know that I have fairly stated facts and
circumstances; and it will be found, in the
end, that my inferences are just and my conclusions
undeniable.
I have stated that " a vast combination was
entered into, (though not formally organized,")
having in view the re-establishment of
slavery in the Texas country, but, in order to
illustrate it more clearly, I will ask the reader's
attention to some more facts and observations
connected with the subject.