429
PAPERS OF MIRABEAU BUONAPARTE LA?ifAR
done to preserve the private as well as the public neutrality. But this is not applicable to the United States, where every roan may come and go, or stay where he pleases; and this singly, in companies, armed, or without arms. Any law in derogation of this natural right would meet with a strict construction, and any act of the magistrate, without express law, would be an arbitrary assumption of power. The only law on the subject is the act of 1792,.and nothing but the most forced construction can bring it to bear on a -case like that of Texas. That law forbids the setting on foot within our own limits, warlike expedi- tions to invade the territories of nations at peace with us. This was to prevent a kind of land piracy, or robbery on an extensive scale. It originated in the fear of Spain, of expeditions which might be fitted out in Kentucky, to plunder ew Orleans by way of· retaliation for the plunder of American citizens at that place, and ought to be repealed or be considered obsolete, for there are no reciprocal laws of the kind either of Great Britain or Mexico; they leave 11-s to protect ourselves. But the law, I repeat, is inapplicable, for the emigrants do not march from our country to invade a power at peace with us, but to afford thern assi--stance, and in consequence of express invitation. Those who cry out shame, for not putting a stop to the march, or erniig1·ation to Texas, forget that in our country, this can only be done according to law-and where is that lawf-There is no la\v to require passports, refuse clearan-ces, to stop men from passing our frontier, to forbid them arming themselves and marching through our country peaceably, and going where they please. If it be proper that this should be pre- vented, it is necessary that laws be p'assed giving power to magistrates or military, and not leave it to their arbitrary discretion. As to the. result o~ the present Mexican invasion of Texas, it is too hastily set on foot, ever to reach the Sabine. The Texians are much better organized, and their .preparations every way, are much more formidable and matured. The loss of a battle or of ten battles, will not decide the contest, and the invaders will find they labor under the disadvantage of all invading armies entering a country entirely hostile, they can only conquer the portion actually occupied by their troops. The Texians will retire behind the Colorado, and at the dis- tance of every thirty miles the country is crossed by a considerable stream, which will form a rampart against the enemy, while that enemy will have to approach the Colorado through a desert of three hundred miles, where they can have no permanent foothold. The want of a depot on the sea coast, will be fatal to them; while the Texians, by their forti•6cations at Galveston, and their small armed vessels, will prevent any supplies. to the l\fexicans by sea. But above all this, the materials which compose the Texian force, in a moral point of view, are of the first quality. They are not common listed soldiers, but mostly young men of respectable families. The Mexic~n force will be principally the militia of the interior, poorly disciplined, not regularly armed, ·a sort of Cossack cavalry, which American ingenuity will oppose by some mode of defence adapted to the occasion. Mounted riflemen, I think, will be found an overmatch for their ropes and lances. I firmly believe that twenty thousand men, will now be more easily repelled than five thousand in the last campaign. : H. l\i. BRACKENRIDGE.
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