The Whig standard. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1843-1844, 1844-05-25
THE rhgATY--MR. BENToN's DEVELOP
MENTS

TIE THEATY~MH. BENTONB UEVELOr-
MENTS.
The friends of Tyler's electioneerng "capi-
tall the annexation treaty, are in the habit OF
resorting to ian argument of elimination" as
Colonel Benton aptly calls it. The argument to
which we refer is based upon the allegation that
the Governments of Spain and Mexico were at
war in 1925 and 1929, when first, under Mr..
Adams's administration, and afterwards, under
General Jackson's, proposition was made by the
United Statesto negotiate with Mexico Tor Texas;
and that, consequently, there existed the same
barrier in the faith OF treaties, to annexation then
as now. Colonel Benton demonstrates the utter
fallacy of this pretext He says that such an ar
gument might answer for the stump, If 1T were
founded in fact; but it is not true, that similar
state of things existed then as now. And if the
fact were as n nssar,ed, Col. B. justly remarks,
that the argument could have no weight in the
Senate, wher9 the Important question must be
determined upon its merts--upon principles of
justice and honor and not by proving that SINH
lar steps had been taken by preceding Admins
trations. But Spain and Mexico were not at war
recovery of Texas was entered into Virtual
peace had existed since 1921, when all efforts
for the recovery Of Mexico by Spain ceased.
The war of independence which was waged by
Mexico with the mother country, was commenced
in 1910; and after it had been continued eleven
years. Spain desisted from its further prosecution
from sheer inability to maintain 1.-THE Lieuten-
ant General of Spain formed treaty of peace
with Mexico, one of the articles of which was
the recognition of Mexican independence, and
this peace was never broken in fact, though the
Spanish Government, with the characteristic
pride of that naughty people, refused to ratfy the
first article of the treaty, which acknowledges
the independence of Mexico Spain at the time
had ceased to be Independent itself, and no one
ever dreamed of her even attempting to conquer
powerful nation four thousand miles distant
from her shores. To show how preposterous is
the comparison of the relations existing between
Spain and Mexico then, and those between Mex
leo and Texas at present, Colonel Benton men,
tons the fact that Spain has not acknowledged
the independence of the South American Repub-
lies to this day, although they have been virtually
independent for twenty years How ridiculous
would it appear, to say that war existed be-
tween Spain and Venezuela, or Spain and Peru,
and yet such was precisely the state of things
existing between Spain and Mexico, when, in
1925, our Government proposed negotiation
with the latter for Texas. In both cases the
independence was complete; and though Span
ish pride refused to make the acknowledgment
in form, it was acauiesced in practically.
Even as to the lapse of time, the comparison is
far from holding good. From 1910, when the
war commenced between Mexico and Spain, to
tate for Texas, period of fifteen years had
elapsed. But from 1886 to the present time,
there has interviewed only eight years.
Colonel Benton dwells with great justice upon
another feature of this nefarious scheme of land
robbery. The ancient province Of Texas, which
sion of Louisiana, is altogether different in its
western boundaries from the present Republic
which the treaty cedes to the United States.
The latter is bounded by the Rio Grande, from
its mouth to its source, embracing large portions
of New Mexico, Chihuahua, Cahulia, and Tamau-
Iipas. The district thus claimed, over and be-
yond the limits of Old Texas, is from one to two
or three hundred miles in width and twelve hun
dred in length, and constitutes no nconsderable
portion of the Republic. But what will the reader
think of the hosor and justice of President and
Cabinet, who have concocted this treaty, when
he is told that Texan authority does not, and
never has, extended over this region The Tex
ans have been repused in every attempt to invade
it. And on two signal occasions, their whole
forces have been made prisoners for daring to set
foot upon soil which it is now cooy proposed
to annex to the United States by stroke of the
pen! The country in question, embracing the
whole eastern border Of the Rio Grande, is in
habted by Mexcans, attached to their country,
governed by its laws, which are administered by
governor who livessecurely in the province =