The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1845-08-16

country are now IN such 4 condition, that there
can be little stability-perhaps no peace--in our
relations. The warcry has now become so pop
ular, that those who raised the Storm cannot d-
rect lis ptiless fury.
In the article above referred to, ("Wdr IN the
Eeccutire,'') it has furnished another prolific
theme for the Mexican governmental press
Some, perhaps much, injury may result from it.
Mexico may be stimulated to hostiiues or. if
war be already waged, it may provoke Mexico
to greater excuses, and prevent earlier return
TO pacific relations. Let the National Intelliqen-
Ger change its course, and stand up for the rights
and honor of our own country and it may assist
IN quoting the storm, alternating its fury. In
the spirit of peace and good WILL we would saw.
Pause. before it be too late. 1t is unlounded and
nntrue that the government of the United States
intend TO make war commit aggressions on
Mexico. The National Intelligencer does not do
half justice to our government, when it SAYS that
" they mean 10 transcend ,cith our forces lis
(Ier0sO actual limits. 10 pass bcuond lis
population and possession into region Of Only
Mexican inhabiinnts-a region aciihin ,rLich
Teas has not settlement, and tcllich embraces
at least fortyfue thousand Mexican souls. oper
Which I'erds has nerer exercised an instnnt's
jwisdictiOn-js making nothing bm a polunfa-
ry and Qfensire 'car, unjustifed by ana pre-
tence Of that necessity aChich could alone ,car-
rant the temporary employment Of the public
arms by The President"
Is it possible that the editors of the National
ln'elgencer are so utterly ignorant of the topog-
raphy and hydrography of that country, as to en-
press the opinion contained in the article referred
to? But, if such be the case, we shall take the
liberty of showing what We're 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 an inquiry into our claim to
Texas. 1t was not his purpose to enter at Iarue
into this subject. He presumed the spectacle
would not be presented of questioning, in this
branch OF the government, our title TO Texas. which
had been constantly maintained by the Executive
for more than fifteen years past under three seve
raj administrations. He was at the same time
ready ana prepared to make out our title, if any
one in the House were fearless enough TO contro
vert it. He would, for the present. briefly state
that the man who is most familiar with the trans
actions OF this government-who largely partici.
pated In the formation of our constitutions and all
that has been done under it-who. besides tho
eminent services that he has rendered his country.
principally contributed TO the acquisition of Lonis
ana-who must be supposed, from his various op
portunites, best to know its limits-decIared 6c
teen years ago, that title to the Rio del Nor,e
was as well founded as it was to the island of New
Orleans.
Here Mr.. Clay read an extract from memoir
presented in 1905. by Mr. Monroe and Mr.. Pinck
ney, to Mr. Cevallos, proving that the boundary
of Louisiana extended eastward TO the Perdidn
and westward to the Rio del Norte, in which thew
say, q" the facts and principles which justify this
conclusion are so satisfactory TO their government
as to convince it that the United States have not
better right to the island of New Orleans. under
the cesson referred to, than they have to The
whole district of territory thus described "1
The title TO the PerddO on the one side and
to the Rio del Norte on the other rested on the
same prnciple-the priority of discovery and of
occupation by France. Spain had first discover
ed and made an establishment at Pensacola
france at Dauphln island, in the bay of Mobile
The intermediate space was unoccupied; and the
principle observed among European nations havirU
contiguous settlements being, that the unoccupied
space between them should be equally divided
was applied to it and the Perddo thus became
the boundary. SO, west of the Mississippi, "A
Sale, acting under France, in 1862 or 1858. first
discovered that river. In 1885, he made an es
Enlistment on the baygof St. Bernard, west of the
Colorado, erDpying into it, The nearest Spanish
settlement was Panuco and the Rio del Norte.
about the midway line, became the common bound
airy.
All the accounts concur in representing Texas
to be extremely valuable. Its superficial extent
Is three or four times greater than that of Florida
The climate is delicious; the soil fertile; the mar
gin OF the rivers Astounding in liveoak; and the
country admitting of easy settlement 1t pos
sesses, moreover, If he was not misinformed. one
OF the finest ports in the Gulfof Mexico. The
productions Of which it is capable, are suited TO
our wants. The unfortunate captive of St. HeIe
ma wished for ships, commerce. and colonies
We have them all, if we do not wantonIv throw
them away. The colonies of other countries are
separated from them by vast seas, requirnc great
expense to protect them, and are held subject TO
constant risk of their being torn from their grasp
Our colonies, on the contrary, are united to. and
form part of, our continent and the same Mis-
sissppi from whose rich deposite the best of them
Louisiana has been formed, will transport ON
her bosom the brave, the patriotic men, from her
tributary streams, to defend and preserve the next
most vauable-the province of Texas"
Kate Cleveland" is touching up her count
in b..