Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1845-09-13
WHAT IS TEXAS

lion energy il The Louisiana volunteers are about
ID be dismissed from Gen. TAyLoR's camp; y ihe
!. Army Of Observation is directed 10 leave I'M
molested the Mexican posts and settlements wiih'n
The debatable land beyond the Nueces II theI
forces Of ARrsTA are manifesting the intention not
10 cross the Rio Bravo, by terrifying their position
II arnicable salutes have been, exchanged with
pleasure between the Saratoga and the Castle OF
Vera Cruz and If there be indications that Mexi-
90 would now meet any decent opening for re-
newa Of negotiations to settle with us our terrific
rial difficulties for fair equivalents, we may surely
trust that the Executive organ, dismissng its late
donineering tone and convinced that the Press is
not to be sienced public questions either by OFF,
cial intimidation or its ready instrument unofficial
calumny, will now consent TO sit calmly down ana
discuss with us what must be discussed in order 70
be setted-thoss rights of Texas as to limits, upon
which it has pleased the Administration, we think
inconsideraely and illegally, TO act as if they were
already not merely good in themselves, but settled
1t is time that the government paper should per-
ceive that its course Of argument-weak OF every
thing but personalities--must be only the weaker
for them and that an artillery Of fact, Of clear con-
stutional principles Of undeniable national law, II
at all well pointed and well served is not to be an
swered with missiles that merely offend the nos
trils and hurt nobody. 1t is time that that paper
should feel that in borrowing the strength of Execu
tive support and authority it is its duty to maintain
something of the dignity with which royal preten-
sions have need to encompass themselves.
Taking it for granted that if it has not yet learnt
it must speedily be taught oil this we invite it to
resume and to treat becomingly some of the sub
ects which have of late been in debate between u.s.
We have not the slightest objection that it should
put forth to the discussion the whole force of its
corps Of eminent official writer's: we only recon-
mend that, to facilitate the arrival at safe and
respectable conclusion, such as the public intel.
gence demands, the distinguished writers" should
keep their tempers, quite as people the most undis-
tinguished bound to do.
We have said long ago that we considered the
political relations already created between the Uni
ted States and Texas such as in a sudden emer-
gency of need for aid. justified the Executive in
sending the army beyond the legal boundaries of
the United States. to protect the State which we
have begun to incorporate with us. We thought
and still think that they who have enacted Annexa-
ton without legalizng its indispensable had
imposed upon the Executive the bad necessity Of
proceeding without law. For that necessity we
and all the world know that he himself is partly
responsible for there has been abundant time to
obtain Of Congress the legal powers wanted, and he
has not asked and does not mean TO ask for them.
Still, no matter by whose fault the obligation to
defend Texas exists and can be complied with only
by the Presidents resorting to the legal fiction that
Teras is Uifhi2,fhe United States. We consider
that fiction excusabe than it would be to vo-
late the very high obligation which we have as
sumed and which Texas has now accepted by the |
mutual acts thus far adopted.
Here, as all must have seen, stopped and
were bound to stop. We could grant the Presi-
dent the power to assume that Texas was already
bona fde the United States; we could not give
him leave go further and say that whatever Texas
and he chose to consider hers he would invade and
occupy, as also part of the United States. Our
obligation was strictly limited, and at the same
time entirely defensive.
If the pre-existing laws were to be waived it was
only in virtue Of the joint resolution of annexation
This resolution, then, was the Presidents sole rule
Of what might be done beyond other laws. Now,
every body knows that not merely did this resolu-
lion not give the Executive power to take within
MS jurisdiction the disputed country beyond the
Nueces, but that it directly and distinctly conem-
plated the very contrary since it provides for open
ing negotiation with Mexico to settle boundaries
that is, to settle the title to this very territory for
there is no other question Of boundary in dispute
between Mexico and Texas. The only question Of
boundary is, whether the latter stops about the
Nueces, or whether she goes quite to the Rio
Bravo. So clear is the case under the joint reso-
luton, that il is uncomfortable how the Executive
should have decided as it has done, unless we re-
sort TO one Of two suppositions either that the
nexationsts are determined by a course Of wanton
offence to leave Mexico no escape and to force her
into war; or else hat the all-powerul interest Of
the land and scrip speculators-of the people with
grants from Texas Of land much of which has been
repeatedly granted before-urges the Administration
on seize more territory for Texas, in order that
there may be enough for grants to be made GOOD
elsewhere than within its own proper limit.
We have said that the joint resolution fcrbids TO
lhe President all right of looking upon the disputed
territory as part Of Texas. We need 90 no fur
her. But we will 90 on to show that, in so de- |
idng, Congress only conformed to a state of facts
he most clear that could well be.
What is Texas? A State, with population |
or splrlued m Ito uovernment mn IN