ÆäÀÌÁö À̹ÌÁö
PDF
ePub

VIOLATIONS OF NEUTRALITY.

7

which will not be equally open to all other nations. The colonies will, in that event, become independent states, free from any obligation to, or connexion with us, which it may not then be their interest to form on the basis of a fair reciprocity."

The property of American citizens, resident in the Spanish. colonies, was often impressed, and merchandise protected by the American flag was confiscated under a pretended violation of blockades of extensive coasts; which, considering the small force employed to sustain them, were merely declaratory, and had not the slightest foundation in any acknowledged principle of international law on which to rest their pretensions. So outrageous were some of these spoliations in their character, that the same President in a subsequent message designated them as "piratical practices," and asserted it was "incumbent on the United States to claim of each, with equal rigour, the faithful observance of the well-known law of nations."

In the case of all these injuries, much allowance was generously made by the United States government, in consideration of the distracted condition of the several countries during a period of civil war, and the difficulties attending an enforcement of any laws, either civil or international. Mexico, our immediate neighbour, like the other Spanish-American countries, had applied the appropriating code to the property of American resident citizens, and had been guilty of sundry violations of the American flag. Redress of grievances was not immediately demanded for these repeated violations of our neutrality, in the hope that, after Mexico had established her independence, a more just policy would prevail, at least towards the United States, which had been the first power to recognise her nationality.

And when, contrary to all reasonable expectation, the impressment of the property of our citizens, and spoliations on our commerce, were continued, the United States, evincing more than the courtesy which is due to nations, still exhibited a magnanimous forbearance towards a sister republic, just coming into existence,

and was unwilling to demand redress with that promptitude which the magnitude of the injuries would have justified.

This magnanimous forbearance was mistaken for weakness, and Mexico therefore continued her unjust and aggressive policy. In 1828 a treaty of commerce and boundaries was negotiated between the two republics, but the ratification of that instrument was delayed by the government of Mexico upon the most trifling pretexts. In 1829, President Jackson, in his annual message, complained that the Mexican government still failed to ratify this treaty negotiated and concluded in its own capital and under its own eye." This delay was the more vexatious, on account of the uncertainty of the boundary line, and the consequent acts of certain claimants under Mexican grants of territory, which had been under the jurisdiction of the United States. The same year, Mexico assumed an overbearing tone towards the United States, and requested the recall of our resident minister, Mr. Poinsett.

On the 5th of April, 1831, a treaty of amity, commerce, and navigation was concluded between the two republics, and ratified some time after. A convention was also agreed upon between the two powers, for the appointment of commissioners to make a demarcation of boundaries between the two countries, but Mexico did not observe the stipulations. She even permitted the time fixed, by the treaty of limits with the United States, for the meeting of the commissioners to define the boundaries, to expire without appointing any commissioners whatever, — all the derangements incidental to an undefined boundary, in the mean time, jeoparding the protection and quiet of citizens resident upon the border.

After the conclusion of the treaty of amity, commerce, and navigation, in 1831, it was hoped that Mexico would observe a just and friendly policy towards the United States; but, instead of redressing, or even acknowledging the former injuries which she had committed, in violation of the solemn obligations of the late treaty, she was guilty of new outrages, not only upon indi

[blocks in formation]

vidual citizens of the United States, but upon her flag, and upon the persons of her consuls and other agents and officers of the 1 government, as we will more particularly show hereafter.

In the mean time new causes arose, which widened the breach between the two governments. Texas, a department of Mexico, settled to a considerable extent by emigrants from the United States, being absolved from its allegiance to Mexico by the entire overthrow of the constitution, and the tyranny of the Central government, refused to acknowledge any longer the Mexican rule, and raised the standard of revolt. In her heroic struggle for independence, she continually received subsidies of men, money, and munitions of war, from the people of the United States, which gave great offence to the Mexican government.

It was perfectly natural that the citizens of the United States would feel a strong sympathy with a people struggling for liberty, and endeared to them by kindred ties; and that they would give them such aid as was in their power. The Mexican people, however, failed to discriminate, as they should have done, between the people and the government of the United States, the latter of which determined to preserve that exact neutrality which was due to the two contending powers. If individual citizens did violate the neutrality of the United States, by supplying Texas with arms, ammunition, and troops, it is no reflection upon the government, which took all due means to prevent it, as will appear from the following circular from the Department of State, addressed to the United States District Attorneys, resident in the principal cities of the Union :

"WASHINGTON, Nov. 4, 1835.

"SIR: It has become necessary for me to call your attention to the probable event of a contest between the different portions of the Mexican empire in the vicinity of the United States. Some of our citizens may, from their connexion with the settlers there,

and from their enterprise and love of change, be induced to forget their duty to their own government, and its obligations to foreign powers; but it is the fixed determination of the Executive faithfully to discharge, so far as its power extends, all the obligations of the government, and more especially that which requires that we shall abstain, under every temptation, from intermeddling with the domestic disputes of other nations.

"You are, therefore, earnestly enjoined, should the contest begin, to be attentive to all movements of a hostile character which may be contemplated or attempted within your district, and to prosecute, without discrimination, all violations of those laws of the United States, which have been enacted for the purpose of preserving peace, and of fulfilling the obligations of treaties with foreign powers.

"I am, sir, your obedient servant,

JOHN FORSYTH."

Notwithstanding the efforts of the government of the United States, to prevent her citizens from taking part in the contest between Mexico and Texas, many joined the standard of the latter, and furnished supplies of arms and ammunition. In addition to this, a portion of the United States troops, under General Gaines, advanced into the territory of Texas as far as Nacogdoches, which gave great offence to the other contending power. The President of the United States had stationed these troops upon the frontier, deeming it proper, while observing a strict neutrality himself, to require both the contending parties to respect his neutrality; and to prevent the employment of the Indians in the contest, which might cause incursions into the territories of the United States. The following extract from a letter of General Gaines, presents the reasons which, in his opinion, justified his advance into the Texan territory :

"The 33d article of the treaty with Mexico requires both the contracting parties to prevent by force, all hostilities and incur

TROOPS UNDER GENERAL GAINES.

11

sions on the part of the Indian nations living within their respective boundaries, so that the United States of America will not suffer Indians to attack the citizens of the Mexican States,' &c.

"The provisions of this article, I am particularly instructed to cause to be enforced; and I have, pursuant to instructions, taken measures to make known to the various Indian tribes inhabiting that portion of the United States bordering upon the Mexican territory, on the waters of the Red and Arkansas rivers, the determination of the government to prevent any hostile incursions into Texas, and have directed that the chiefs be called upon to inculcate upon their people the necessity of carefully abstaining from any violation of the above-mentioned engagements.

"I have learned, from several of our citizens entitled to credit, that one Manuel Flores, a Mexican Spaniard, but for several years past a citizen of Spanish Town in this state, near the Sabine Ridge, has been lately commissioned by persons professing to act by the authority of the Mexican government, for the purpose of enticing the Indians in the western prairies on our side of the boundary line to join them in the war of extermination now waging in Texas; and that with this view, the agent, Manuel Flores, accompanied by a stranger, has lately passed up the valley of the Red river, and has already produced considerable excitement among the Caddo Indians. And I have very recently learned, from several intelligent persons in Texas, and others who have lately been there, that many of our Indians have gone over to the Texas side of the line.

"These facts and circumstances present to me this most important question, whether I am to sit still and suffer these movements to be so far matured as to place the white settlements on both sides of the line wholly within the power of the savages, or whether I ought not instantly to prepare the means for protecting the frontier settlements; and if necessary, compelling the Indians to return to their own homes and hunting-grounds?

« ÀÌÀü°è¼Ó »