ake
effect immediately and pending the war, such treaty is a declaration of
war against the other party. The causes of the war between the two
belligerents do not alter the fact. Supposing that the third party, the
interfering Power, should have concluded the treaty of alliance with
that belligerent who was clearly engaged in a most just war, the treaty
would not be the less a declaration of war against the other
belligerent.

If Great Britain and France were at war, and the United States were to
enter into such a treaty with either, can there be the slightest doubt
that this would be actual war against the other party? that it would be
considered as such, and that it must have been intended for that
purpose? If at this moment, either France or England were to make such a
treaty with Mexico, thereby binding themselves to defend and protect it
with all their forces against any other Power whatever, would not the
United States instantaneously view such a treaty as a declaration of
war, and act accordingly?

But the annexation of Texas, by the United States, was even more than a
treaty of offensive and defensive alliance. It embraced all the
conditions and all the duties growing out of the alliance; and it
imposed them forever. From the moment when Texas had been annexed, the
United States became bound to protect and defend her, so far as her
legitimate boundaries extended, against any invasion, or attack, on the
part of Mexico: and they have uniformly acted accordingly.

There is no impartial publicist that will not acknowledge the
indubitable truth of these positions: it appears to me impossible, that
they should be seriously denied by a single person.

It appears that Mexico was at that time disposed to acknowledge the
independence of Texas, but on the express condition, that it should not
be annexed to the United States; and it has been suggested, that this
was done under the influence of some European Powers. Whether this last
assertion be true or not, is not known to me. But the condition was
remarkable and offensive.

Under an apprehension that Texas might be tempted to accept the terms
proposed, the Government of the United States may have deemed it
expedient to defeat the plan, by offering that annexation, which had
been formerly declined, when the Government of Texas was anxious for it.

It may be admitted that, whether independent or annexed to the United
States, Texas must be a slave-holding state, so lo