Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1844-06-07
MR.. BENTON'S. SPEECH ON THE
d TEXAS TREATY.

| ne Globe has published a portion OF Mr.
Bentons speech delivered in executive ses-
sion Of the Senate. Mr. Benton submitted
the following resolutions, and proceeded TO
enforce them.
Resolvcd, That the ratification of the
treaty for the annexation of Texas to the
United States would be an adoption of the
Texian war with Mexico by the U. States,
and would devolve its conduct and conclu-
sion upon the said United States.
RtSOiDcd, That the treaty-making pow
er does not extend to the power of making
war; aud that the President and Senate have
no right TO make war, either by declaration
or adoption.
ResolU d, That the country dismember-
ed from lhe United States by the treaty of
1919 with Spain, compromising Texas and
large territory between the Red River and
Arkansas, and being geographically appur-
tenant to the United States, and essential
to their political, commercial and social sys-
TEN, ought to be reunited to the American
Union as soon as it can be done with the
consent Of majority of the people Of the
United States and. of Texas, and when Mex
leo shall either consent TO the same, or ac-
knowledge the independence of Texas, or
cease to prosecute the war against her (the
armistce having expired) on a scale com
mensurate to the conquest Of the country"
Mr. Benton proceeds to elaborate examn-
alton of the boundaries of Texas as now
constituted, and the province of Texas, as
it existed in 1919, when it was claimed as
part of the Louisiana purchase. He estab-
fishes corclusively that the country propos-
ed by the Treaty to be admitted into the
Union is perhaps five times as large as the
Texas which was in view when the Treaty
of 1919 was made. The pretence, then, as
Mr. Benton contends, that this Tyler treaty
proposes no more than a remuneration Of
ItnaS," is Z. fraud in words. 1t is no re-
annexation" for it is not pretended even by
those who use that word, that the province
Of Texas in 1919 extended farther than the
boundaries included between the Sabine and
the Rio del Norte, and the Gulf of Mexico
and the Red River-whilst the boundaries
of what is called the Republic of Texas, so
defined in this treaty, includes the whole ex-
tent of the r 10 del Norte, some two thou
sand miles long and some hundreds broad -
and embraces one half Of the department Of
New Mexico with its Capitol.
The treaty proposes 10 seize two thou
sand miles of the territory of nation with
whom we are at peace.
Mr. Benton shows by the map Of " The
Republic Of Teas" which Mr. Tyler sub
mitted to the Senate, that it claims boun-
Diary Beginning at the mouth of the Rio
Grande, thence up the principal stream of
said river to its source thence due north to
the Add degree of north latitude thence a.
long the boundary line, as defined in the
treaty between the United States and Spain,
to the beginning" MI Benton goes on to
say
| First: There is the department, formerly
the province of New Mexico, lying on both
sides of the river from its head spring to
near the Paso del Norte-that is to say, half
way down, the river This department is
studded with towns and viages-is popula-
ted--well cultivated--and covered with
hocks and herds. On its left bank, (for
only speak of the part which we propose to
re-annex,) is, first, the frontier village Taos,
5000 souls, and where the custom-house is
| kept at which the Missouri caravans enter
their goods Then comes Sauta Fe, the
capitol, 1000 souls-then Albuquerque, 5000
souls-then some scores of other towns and
villages-all more or less populated and sur
rounded by hocks and fields. Then come
the departments of Chihauhau, Coahuila,
and Tamauhpas, without settlements on the
/ left bank of the river, but occupying the
right bank, and commanding the left All
this being parts of four Mexican depart
ments-now under Mexican governors and
governments-is permanently re-annexed4o
this Union, if this treaty is ratified, and is
actually re-anneXed from the moment of the
signature of the treaty, according to the
/ Presidents last message. to remain so until
the acquisition is rejected by rejecting the
treaty.
The President, in his special message Of
! Wednesday last informs us that we have ac-
qured title to the coded territories by his
signature to the treaty, wanting only the ac-
ton Of the Senate 10 perfect it; and that, in
the mean time, he will protect it from inva-
sion, and for that purpose has detached all
the disposabe portions of the army and ma
Wy to the scene Of action. This is caper
/ about equal to the mad freaks with which
| the unfortunate emperor Paul, Of Russia,
was accustomed to astonish Europe about
40 years ago. By this declaration the 30
thousand Mexicans in the left half of the val
ley of the Rio del Norte are our citizens
and standing in the language of the Presi-
dents message, in hostile attitude towards
US, and subject to be repealed as invaders
Taos, the seat of the cnstom-house, where
our caravans enter their goods, is ours San
ia Fe, the capital of New Mexico, is ours :
Governor Armijo is our Governor, and sub
ect TO be tried for treason if he does not
submit to US 90 Mexican towns and villa
ges are ours, and their peaceful inhabitants,
cutivating their fields and tending their