The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-03-07


cnlv the whole of Texas, but also the largest and
most valuable portion of upper California together
;th the bay and harbor OF San Francisco, the best
m the world r., il deemed, as 1t 1t is clear
lv proved most desrabe.to obtain the remuneration
n Texas, down to period as late as August, 1885,
rs il less important at this Periodl
We find the administration OF Messrs. Adams and
CLAW in 1875 and 1927, and that of Jackson and
Van Buren,, in 1929, and subsequently in 1888 and
1885, making strenuous efforts to procure the rean-
the expense Of millions Of dollars. Let me observe
also the dates of these efforts That OF the first, by
Messrs Adams and Clay, in March, 1928, was
within three years only after the recognition OF the
independence Of Mexico by this country, and prior
70 its full recognition by other powers; and It was
within less than hve years subsequent TO the hna
ratification Of the treaty by which we surrendered
Texas, not to Mexico, but 10 Spain. Now, as Spain
had not then recognised the independence of Mexi-
co and the war was still wagng between those
nations, the only title which Mexico had to Texas,
was by a successful revolution, and Is precisely the
same title, and depending on the same principles,
as that now possessed by Texas The same re-
marks apply TO the subsequent efforts of Messrs.
Adams and Clay in 1877, and Of Jackson and Van
Buren, in 1929, to acquire Texas by purchase from
Mexico. And even at the latest period, no more
time had eapee between the date OF the recognition
of the independence Of Mexico, and the proposed
purchase from her, than the time (now about seven
years. SINCE our recognition of the Independence
Of Texas. Throughout the period Of all these pro-
co and Spain. The brave Porter, our own gallant
commodore, commanded the Mexican navy, aided
by many American officers and crews. In the
earlier part, also, Of the conflict on the land, the
gallant Perry, and the brave Magee, an American
officer, with combined American and Mexican
army. had defeated the royal forces of Spain in
many a glorious conflict. Throughout this whole
period, Mexico was soliciting and obtaining the
aid of our countrymen, on the ocean and on the
land; and it is more than doubtful whether in the
absence Of that assistance, Mexico would yet have
- har iudA udann I'm he T.,i.,
Barradas with Spanish army Of four thousand
men, captured the Mexican city of Tampico which
he held until the 10th September of the same year
Yet, on the 18th August, 1929, whilst the fate of
tration of Jackson and Van Buren,, as we have
seen, proposed the purchase ofTeXas from Mexico
II, then, there be any force IN the objections that
Texas was aided in her conflict by American citi-
or that the Independence Of Texas is still unre-
Cognised by Mexico, or that treaty with Mexico
(as we had with SIain) had been ratified all these
reasons apply with Tar greater force against the
proposed purchase of Texas from Mexico in 1925.
1877, and 1929 when Mexico was yet unre cognlsed
by Spain; when our treaty, suncndering Texas to
Spain, was unrescnded, except by the revolution
in Mexico; and when our cit zens were still aiding
as they always had done, the people OF Mexico ia
their struggle for independence. II true, that in
1887, within few weeks or months succeeding
our recognition of the independence Of Texas, and
before her recognition by any foreign powers il
might have subjected us to unjust imputations; and
therefore might have been deemed inexpedient, at
such time, and under such circumstances, to
reannex Texas by treaty this Union. But now,
when seven years have elapsed since our recogni.
ton of the independence of Texas; and she has
been recognized for many years as an independent
power by the great nations Of Europe; and her
sovereignty fully established, and fully acknow-
lodged, there Can be no objection to such treaty
at this period.
The reasons assigned in 1925, 1927, 1929, 1888
and 1895, for the remuneration of Texas, apply
now with full force. These reasons were, that
the Sabine, as boundary, was too near New Or
leans; that the defence Of that city was rendered
insecure; and that the Arkansas and Red river
and all their tributaries, ought to be in our own
exclusive possession. The present boundary is the
worst which could be devised. 1t is a succession
OF steps and curves, carving out the great valley of
the West into sh lpe that is absolutely hideous.-
II surrenders the Red river, and Arkansas and
to foreign power. 1t brings that power upon the
Gulf, within days sail of the mouth of the
Mississippi, and in the Interior by the curve of the
Sabine, within about one hundred miles of the
dred miles, on the banks Of the Red river in i'm
mediate contact with sixty thousand Indian war
nors Of our own. and with very many thousand
OF the hercest savage tribes in Texas there to be
armed and equipped for the work Of death and
desolatiOn. 1t enables foreign power, with such
aids, to descend the Red river, to the junction Of
the Mississippi. there to cut off all communication
from ab?ve or below, to arrest at that point al!
munitions OF war for the defence of New Orleans,
and fall down suddenly that city, thus isolated
from the rest OF the Union, and subjected to Ger.
tain ruin.
From the mouth Of the Mississippi to the Sabine
there is not a SINGLE harbor where an American
vessel OF War could find shelter; but westward of
the mouth OF the Sabine, in Texas several deep
bays and harbors; and Galveston, one of these has
depth ofwater equal to that al the mouth OF the
MISSISSIPPI. Looking into the interior, along this
extraordinary boundary, we find foreign power
stretching Tor many hundred miles along the Sabine
10 the Red river; thence west several hundred miles
along that river the western boundary of our In.
dian territories; thence north to the Arkansas, and
up that stream to the southern boundary of the ter
rltory OF Oregon, and at point which, according
to the recent most able survey of Lieutenant FREE
mont, Is within twenty miles of the pass OF the
Rocky mountains, which secures the entrance to
Oregon. We thus place foreign power there, to
move eastward o. westward upon the valley of the
north OF 81 Louis, north OF portion of Iowa, and
south OF New Orleans, and along this line for
several thousand miles In our rear
Such sthe boundary at present given to the val
ley. OF the West: such the imminent dangers to
which II ls subjected OF Indian massacre; such the
dismemberment ct the great valley, and of many of
the nobes Streams and tributaries OF the MIssls-
sPpl; such the surrender of so many hundred mics
OF our coast, with so many bays and harbors; such
the hazaId to which NewOrleans is subjected, and
the outlet OF all our commerce to the gulf Such
Is our present boundary; and 1t can be exchanged
iVi ouC give peTleCl security, tnat Will
place our own people and our own settlements in
rear OF the InJi IN tribes, and that will cut them off
from foreign influence; that will restore to us the
uninterrupted navigation OF the Red river and Ar
kansas, and OF all their tributaries; that will place
US at the north, upon point to command the pass
OF Oregon, and, on the south, to secure New Or
leans and render certain the command of the Gulf
OF Mexico Ia pursuing our ancient and rghiful
boundary, before surrendered Texas, along the
Del Norie, we are brought, by western curve of
that great river to apolnt within four hundred miles
ct the Pacific ocean. and where the waters of the
Del Norte almost commngle with those that flow
INTO the Western ocean Up to this point the Del
Norte II IL navlgabe Tor steamboats,; and from that
point to the Pacific is a good route for caravans,
and where, It y believed, the Pacific may be united
with the Del kore and the Gulf by railroad, not
longer than that which now unltes Buffalo and Bos-
ton; and where, even now, without such road
we could command the trade of all the northern
States OF Mexico, and of very large portion of the
western coast of America.
The importance Of Texas is thus described bv
Mr.. Claw in his speech of the Sd of Anril 1901