WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1847
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not here but the other day a Minister from Yucatan to negotiate with this Government? Has not California declared her inde- pendence? And had not other States done the same? And yet they were to regard Mexico as an organized Government, and as a nation of intelligent men who were worthy to follow the example of this Government. He protested against such "representations. Under these circumstances, then, Texas was placed. She had provocations as great as the original thirteen States of this republic, when they threw off the colonial vassalage to Great Britain. Nay, look at her provocations, and they would be found to be a stronger cause to drive a people to resistance. But no one would impute.dishonor to the fathers of our own Revolution-to the patriots of '76-nor could shame and dishonor be imputed to the people of Texas for vindicating their rights and achieving their liberties. Our revolutionary fathers have acquired for themselves immor- tal renown-their memories will be revered by all ages-and to the last page of history, they will be recorded as "the primest men that ever lived in the tide of time." And were the Texans wrong in imitating such illustrious men, in the vindication of their rights? He could not for a moment agree with some honorable members of this body, that the present war was a war of the Executive of the United States. He could not agree that it was a war brought on by the President of the United States, and only by him. It was a war which grew out of circumstances, which are now known to the world. It was known before Texas was annexed, that war would result. That wa·s predicted again and again. It was declared by the Mexican Minister to this court, that war would be the instantaneous consequence of annexation. It was· also declared by Mr. Bocanegra, the Mexican Secretary of State for Foreign Relations, to Mr. Thompson, our Minister at Mexico. Annexation by him was declared to be a sufficient cause of war, and that it would follow on the heels of annexation. Well, annexation took place, and Mexico was pledged to declare war, though at that moment, as far as Texas was concerned, she was in a state of war, and they could make nothing else out of it. Mexico then declared war prospectively against the United States, and still the United States said they would annex Texas. It must then be understood, that from the moment annexation took place, these two nations were towards each other as belligerants. Was, then, the President justified in marching the troops to the fron- tier of Texas? I contend that he was. He was justified on every principle that could actuate a nation, and by self-respect, to
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