The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-08-13
RELATIONS TO MEXICO.

Il ia with some surprise, mingled with some little
;,dooo,ion that we have perused the article in the
aNalional Intelligencer' Of Saturday last under the
head Of I" War by the Executive" We had supposed
f,om recent articles published in that Journal that
H. editors had intended to accord manfully with
,s Executive Department in the course which It had
pursued, and the true spirit of Americans uni'e IN
firm and decided manner to put an end to all urout-
standing difficulties with Mexico. Several other
,bio papers have taken this course. They have ac-
o,iesced in the well-defned expression of the opin
ion of four-6fths of the American people. The
course of the National Intelligence is the more
;mportant, becaure, if the Mexican people can be
once fairly informed of the true state of public
onipion in this country-if they can cease to be
undeceived by their arful rulers, who are endeavor
inc to stigmatze the United States with every base
and degraded motive, calling them land pirates,
robbers, &C., they would then acquesce in just and
nroper settlement of all the claims which our citizens
have upon Mexico for spolations upon their persons
and property. To those who acquainted with the
relations existing between Mexico and the United
States il is well known that the inveterate and ma
lpnant feelings which now exist in Mexico againstthe
North Americans Gas we are called have partly their
origin in the articles published in the National In
tellgencer 1t is said to be journal well received
and even popular, in Mexico. Its articles are said
10 be copied into the Mexican papers, and are
circulated by the Mexican government with
great industry, for the purpose of exciting the
most embittered feeling against us. The political
affairs of that country are now in such condition,
that there can be little neutrality-suspicious. peace
in our relations. The war-cry has now become so
popular that those who raised the storm cannot di-
rect its pitiess fury
In the article above referred to, ("Wdr by the Ear
teuiipe W it has furnished another prolific theme for
the Mexican governmental press. Some, perhaps
much, injury may result from it. Mexico may be
stimulated to hostilities; or, if war be already
waged, it may provoke Mexico to greater excuses,
and prevent earlier return to pacific relations. Let
the National lnelligencer change its course and stand
up for the rights and honor Of our country; and
il may assist in quoting the storm, aleviating its
fury. In the spirit of peace and goodwill, we would
saw Pause before it be late. II is unfounded and
untrue that the government of the United States in
tend to make war or commit expressions on Mex
ico The National Intelligencer does not do half
Justice to our government, when it says that "they
mean 10 transcend Wih Our forces its Ieras actual
limits To pass beyond its population and possession into
region of only uerican inhabitanisa region iUithn
,chch Tras has not settlement and phich embraces at
least toriyfre thousand .Merican souls, ,chich
Teras has neper exercised instans jrisdictionis
making nothing b,a voluntary and offensive ,cG, ua-
justified BY any preienee Of that necessity ,chich could
alone Warant the temporary employment Of the public
arms by The President"
Is it possible that the editors of the National In.
telgencer utterly ignorant of the topography
and photography of that country as to express the
opinion contained in the article referred tor But, if
such be the case, shall take the liberty Of show
ing what were the opinions of Henry Clay on this
subject and to show to the American people the
true state of things.
We quote from the speech of Mr.. Clay on the
Spanish treaty, delivered in the House of Repre-
sentatives April 3, 1920:
This involved inquiry into our claim to Texas II
not his purpose enter at large into this subject lie
presumed the spectacle would not be presented Of ques
toning in this branch of the government our title to Tex
as which had been constantly by the
for more than fifteen past under three several admin
sations. He was, at the same time ready and prepared
enough to controve H. lie would for the present briefly
state that the man who is most familiar with the ransac-
tons of this largely participated in the
formation oil constitution, and all that has been done
under who, besides the eminent services that he has
rendered his country principally contributed to the acqui
son of Louisiana must be supposed from his yari
opportunities best to know its mitsdeclared fifteen
years ago, that title to the Rio del Nore well
founded as ii to the island of New Orleans.
Here Mr. Clay read an extract from memoir presented
in 1905 by Mr. Monroe and Mr. Pinckney to Mr. Cevsllos
proving that the boundary Of Louisiana extended
to the Peddo and westward to the Rio del Norte in which
they say, he facts and principles which justify this
cluson satisfactory their government to
vince that the United better right the
island of New Orleans under the cession referred to-
than they have to the whole district Of territory thus de-
'he ,teto the Perdido on the one side and to the Rio
del Norte the other rested the principethe
priority Of discovery and OF occupation BY France Spain
had first discovered and made establishment at Pensa
COLA France at Dauphn island in the bay OF Mobile.
The intermediate space was unoccupied; and the prn-
guous Settlements Being. that the 1noccupied space
to it, and the Perdido thus became the common bound.
dor France in 1882 or 1888 rst discovered that river
In 1855, he made establishment on the bay Of 81.
Spanish settlement Panuco and the Rio del
Norte about the midway line became the bound
A the accounts concur in representing Texas to be ex
Iemey valuable Its superficial extent is three four
times greater than of Florida The climate s decious
the soil erte the margin Of the rivers Astounding in live
oak; and the country admitting Of easy settlement pos
sesses, moreover If he not misinfomed of the
which II is capable, suited The unlortu
nate captive Of St Helena wished for ships commerce. and
colonies We have them all, IL we do not wantony
throw them away. The colonies Of other countries
separated from them by requiring great expense
protect them and held subject to constant risk
being torn from their grasp Our colonies the contrary
to and form part Of our continent and the same
mississippi, from whose rich depose the best OF them
louisiana has been formed will transport on her bosom
the brave the patriotic from her tributary streams
defend and the next most valuabhe province Of
Texas