The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-04-20

DErAnrmEsr OF STARE

much Of the province OF Texas as Is hereinafter
described, or for such part thereof as they can
be induced to cede to us, If the same be conforms
Bile 10 either Of the locations with which you here
nth furnished The President aware OF The d'tl-
culties which may be interPosed to the accomplish
ment Of the object in view but he confidently DO
lieves that the views OF the matter whleI IL WIN DC
In your power to submit, and he pecuniary consid-
GRAFTON which you will he authorized to propose,
will cradle YOU TO effect IT, lie induced, by deep
conviction OF the real necessity of the proposed ac-
QUESTION, not only guard Tor our Western IRON
tier and the protection Of New Orleans, but also TO
secure forever the inhabitants Of tie valley OF the
Mississippi the undsputed and undsturbed posses
son Of the ~ that river together with the
belief th.t the present moment par cuIary layora
BILE for the purpose, to request your early and unre
hitting attention TO the subject.
The Territory Of which cession Is desired by the
United States is all that part Of the province Of Tex
which lies east of line teginnng al the Gulf Of
Mexico in the centre OF the desert Grand prairie,
which lies west OF the Rio Nueces, aud Is represented
to be nearly two hundred miles in width and TO ex
tend north TO the mountains. The proposed line fol-
lowing the course Of The centre Of that desert pa
RE norih, 10 the mountains, dividing the waters Of
the Rio Grande del Nor from those that run east
ward 10 the Gulf, aud until it strikes present
boundary at the AID degree Of north latitude 1t is
known that the line above described includes the
Spanish settlements of La Bahia and San Antonio
de Bexsr comprising all the Mexican inhabitants of
the province and this may furnish objection to
extensive cesson. IL, from this circumstance, the
objection should be made, and you find the Mexicsn
Government disposed to cede any portion Of the terri
tory In question: you authorized 10 agree TO any Of
the following lines, regarding those farlhest west as
preferable. The second proposed line commences on
the western bank Of the Rio de la Baca where II dis
charges itself into Matagorda bay, and continuing up
that river on the western bank thereof to the head VI
its most westerly branch thence due north until the
line shall strike the Rio Colorado; and thence up
the Colorado river on the western bank thereof, 10
the head OF It's principal stream thence by the most
direct that will intersect our line at the 42d
degree of north latitude, and include the headwaters
OF the Arkansas and Red rivers.
The third proposal may be line to commence at
the mouth of the Rio Colorado, where that river
empties itself into Nlatagor bay, and the west
bank thereof, 10 continue up that river to the head
Of its principal steam; anu thence by line drawn
from the head OF its principal sream so as to inter-
sect present boundary line at the AID degree Of
north latitude, including also the head-waters last
mentioned.
The last proposition may be line to commence on
the Gulf OF M xco, at The mouth Of the Rio Bras
de Dos, and the westerly bank Of that river,
to pursue the of that river up to the head Of
its most westerly branch by The west bank thereof
and from the he ld Of that branch Of the river by such
a will enable US TO iDtersect our present
line at the point already indicated
In the event of adopting either Of the propositions
which establish The NOUN Of the La Bsca river or
y, IL
must lie stipulated for extension Of that line due
south from the mouth of the river TO the Gulf Of
Mexico
The preceding boundaries are as definite as with
the materials in the Department | have been able to
make them. Ii is nevertheless probable that they
may be greatly improved by more accurate know
ledge OF the localities OF the country. Ii submitted
TO your discretion 10 make such alterations as shall
appear to you to be clearly beneficial 10 the United
States
Th. boundary at present assumed by Mexico is
deemed objectionable, as well the ground of its
alleged uncertainty as for reasons Of a different cha
racter II is represented to us that, Of the two
streams which emp into the Sabine bay through the
same channel, the farhest west is the most con-
siderable, and may with reason be claimed to be the
one referred to in the treaty The distance between
them, although only four miles where they enter
the bay, at some places Apr aches to one hundred -
That there Is much ignorance of the localities of
province, and consequently confusion and error in
the maps OF 1t which extant, is certain. Whe-
Their the representations which have been made upon
the subject 10 tins Government be founded IN truth
or are the suggestions Of interested individuals to
subserve particular views, remains to be seen; but
THIS Is not The only nor the strongest objection. The
Sabine Is very lnconsiderabe stream and only
yigabie by small craft The bay is shallow and ne-
Their II nor the river become the seat Of
sufficient commerce TO authorize the establishment OF
a custom house other public agency in its vicinity.
without such establishment II is impossible TO pre-
vent that frontier from becoming the seat OF
tcnsiye system Of smuggling, alike injurious to the
true interests Of boh countries. The lands east OF
the Sabine are, for the most part and to a great ex
tent, SO poor and efectually cut off from CONNER
cal facilities, that they never can receive or
sustain a dense or even respectable population
Ii Is mainly 10 that that the Objectionable cha
rscter OF its present inhabitants is to be attributed
The Frontier, therefore, as long as il remains such
must continue TO be what IT has heretofore been,
receptacle for smuggiers and outlaws. In addition
TO the disadvantage which result TO the United
states from their dependence such a population
for the protection, IN the first instance OF their Dor
der the present state Of things is well calculated 10
create incessant difficulties and brois with the c-
zens OF the dJacent parts Of Mexico, who, owing
TO the superiority Of their SOIL and the greater com
mercial advantages that belong to that side Of the
river, II naturally be more and OF more
respectable character There may not be cause for
much apprehension from this source at the present
day, or Tor short time TO come but in so grave
matter as the arrangement and establishment Of a
boundary between independent nations, 1t becomes
Us to look INTO fuurIy. Thus viewing the matter it
lar IRON VISIONARY 10 in the present condition Of
things the germ OF future discouten,s which may
z ow into National complaints and heart burnings,
and PerPetuslly foster and nname spirit Of zeal.
ousy, TO which our neighbors are already too much
| inclined
We are not left altogether TO conjecture and spec
uistion as TO the results which to be expected
IRON conuguitJ settlements under such unfayo
raole circums,anc s. The experience OF the past az
f,rds the means Of safe estimate Of the future. A
splrit OF enterprise, and not unfrequently Of
encroachment has been exhibited by our ci-
tIzebs who inhabrt that frontier, which has been
productive Of much uneasines. to the Mex.
lean Government, and not without soliciluds
to THIS Most Of the grants have been made
IN Texas are already IN the hands OF Americans and
Europeans. Notwithstanding the cautious policy
esinced by the Mexican Government in the de-igna
II OF an extensive border territory within which no
grants should he made settlements permitted the
improvements of the Americans on the rcxss sd,
commence IRON what Is regarded as the boundary
ine, and scattered over the prohibited TERRITORY
Not "niS has The Inerdct been thus d.r z, rded by
'ne adventurous spirits who have been attracted thi-
iber by the unsettled state Of the Mexican Govern.
l. but thai lrn L.