Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-05-13


those communications hereafter, at time when nc couo
examine them with greater debcraon tan al present.
Mr. Adams replied to the gentleman IRON .. Caroilna,
(Mr Thompson) He complanee lhat upon several &C.
H;o,s uben gentlemen had risen, apparently tor the
nrrnosc of refunr his arguments they had INDUCED IN
lilies towards himself, in attacks upon him as an
ndyidual He had heretofore listened TO them In 81
lcnce deemng that he had no rgnt 10 Occupy me a'e
The gentleman had stated that Mr.. A. was about to
o,nose This appropriation. Now lie lad not opposed IT,
but had said that he thought more Executive inorma
lions should have been sent TO the House before lhey
acted ON it, lie had also asked the question whether any
answer was made by the Mexican minister TO the conf
rnuncaton made to him by our Secretary ct State; and
if co. what that was, or ii that minister had re-
manned mute: "
A. with desire 10 introduce the question of the abo
lion of slavery in this country that floor Now, he
had said nothing about the abolition Of slavery in the u
States and he wished 10 say nothing about It, The gen.
tprnan had also thought proper TO 80 back and charge
Mr. A. (.llhough he did not mpuc dshonorable motives
to Mr. A. but said that some among his, Mr. w. Thomp.
son j. constituents did, with the sole responsibility of
the treaty by which the boundary between the United
State and Mexico was settled, and oy which Texas was
RECOGNISED as belonging to the latter power In reply
to this charge he would inform the gentleman, that he
negotiated that treaty under the eye and under the in
slrucons Of James Monroe, then President of the u
States and himself STAKEHOLDER Every line of that
treaty was negotiated by Mr. Monroes order, and let
Mr. A. tell the committee, that he the last, the very
last man in that administration who consented 10 the
treaty. nay, more that he the only man in the admit
nisration who for holding on TO Texas. He men.
toned also another fact the present Chief Magistrate OF
the United States being in the city at The nle Mr. A.
was directed take the treaty to him and ask his OPT
Mon about it, and il was approved OF by that gentleman
He hoped the gentleman from South Carolina was an.
swcred on this head, and that when the gentleman s
constituents particular again disposed 10 charge
Mr. A. with having given away that country, they would
bear this fact in mind, that he ,eds the last man OF Mr.
Monroes administration who consented to The treaty,
and that he e only member OF that administration
who was for holding To it.
Mr. Ripley addressed the committee in relation to The
difficulties growing out of the underlined boundary line
settled by the treaty between the United States and Mexi-
CO. The communications he commended to be sltisaco.
ry and the House had nothing TO do with the response
Of the Mexican minister the Secretary of Stale. He
could avoid expressing his surprise at what had fallen
from the gentleman from Massachusetts, (Nlr Adams,
when he remembered who the author OF the eloquent
and learned defence Of General Jacksons taking possess
sion of Pensacola, the principle OF which was identical
with the present e1igency on our Louisiana border.
Mr. Reid had had but very little time to investigate
this subject but it did 10 him that IL was one Of too
great magnitude to justify them TO be influenced by their
passions, or by appeals to their feelings. In his Opt
MON this debate and the communications read that
ing, were of the most extraordinary character. But
they ought to act legislators for their country Was
it not extraordinary that newspaper accounts should be
produced and read in that House sui Of so grave
this the first time such had ever taken
place. in his opinion the newspapers had been the
foundation Of all the difficulty AS 10 Gen. Gaines he
had no confidence in him his own letter convinced
Mr. r. that that officer did not deserve confidence. lie
WINS opposed to the appropriation it, in passing it they
would BIZ sanclioning that letter, giving tuct Rp-
prevail of the Presidents sanction of that letter. though
he would not for moment withhold il, if was called
for by the condition Of our frontier. If this appru
pralion were now passed. in the face Of these comnu-
ncatons and the letter Of Gen Gaines stating it TO be
his intention TO the boundary line, making himself
the sole Judge Of the cause and the Presidents approval
of that letter it would be taken quasi declaration Of
war. He hoped the subject would be postponed, that
these papers might be printed, whereby opportunity
would BE- afforded for gentlemen 10 examine the subject
for themselves. With this view he moved that the
mtlee rise. Lost
Mr. Williams Of Kentucky was in favor of making
an appropriation forthwith and for any
to protect Whole Western frontier. He had desire
to hurry the country into war; but that yrant, San
ia Anna, should only give reason for it, should only
venture 10 put his foot within our border nay should
even dare shake, his s al he for deca p,utng
the mscreant at lie looked upon the Of the
TEXANS identical with that 70. which fathers
fought and bled struggle for freedom against the ty
rannirs and cxactions OF blood-thirsy usurpcr
Mr. Garland Of Louisiana cautioned gentlemen 10
10 TOO far in their zeal for defending the frontier and
danger it still more to take no step, sanction any
principle the effect of which would be 10 lead TO war
with Mexico, and deluge South western frontier with
cations read 10 the House. and by the gentlemen from
Tennessee, (Mr Peyton) from South Carolina, (Mr.
ThompsonO and from Kentucky, (hlr. Williums) that
lie could not listen to without regret and alarm. lie
surprised that statements from newspaper, edited it
wus sad by man who was largely interested in land
spccuatons in Texas and in whose columns he had pre-
viousy statements bctrayng great want OF know
i, dye Of tho situation Of affairs in that country, at
tcnpt 10 impose upon the public, should have been grave
ly read from the Clerks table OF that House. and which
calculated 10 influence and work upon the feelings
Of lis members He believed the foundation Of the
toversy grew Of land spcculanns in that province;
and he had also believe that large proportion
Of the early settlers who went TO that country, cP
posed tn it, MIR. &. then replied 10 the argument Of his
colleague and commended that the idea Of imaginary
line, ina sinary boundary equally new and abb
surd for he conlended that it sufficiently clear and
explicit in the treaty made By Mr. ronsc,t, and that pro-
claimed during the present session Of Congress- Com
ing from that section Of country, and having lived there
for thirteen years. he entered into minute detail of the
localities defined in the boundary, and denied that there
any difficulty in relation to il, al least until lately
The position which General Gaines required 10
cupy had always been understood 10 belong 10 Mexico
Mr.. Mason of Virginia said, they must all he very
sble, as lie had been from its commencement that the
controversy between the different portions of the hexi-
can Republic, certain produce deep
ly affecting foreign relations, and involving Interests,
domestic aud fnregn, of the most absorbing character
The principles involved in the contest, the contiguy Of
the of hostility to border and the charac-
UT VI "tIe
these results. He had therefore been anxious 10
exclude from this Hall discussion which might be very
powerful for mischief but in the present condition Of
that controversy could not be productive Of any national
benefit
While he concurred with the gentleman from Louisi
(Alr GarInn) in dcprccang in debate here the
Of language of denunc;aton against the character
conduct of the Chief Executive of country with which
relations those of amty, peace and friendship,
however he may have been elevated, may exercise
his authority toward those who suhec, it, he could
not hut regret, that that gentleman had himself fallen
into similar crror Under The treaty of limits existing
between The United States and Mexico, the Western
boundary Of the United States is described commence
ing tic Gulf of Mexico at the mouth of the Sabine
river, running the West bank Of that river to The 32d
degree Of lattuGc and thence due North line TO the
Red river; there two branches of the river which
fall into The Sabine lake before it the gnf and il
is unsettled question. which is The houudl1y. The