True Democrat. (Paulding, Miss.) 1845-18??, 1845-09-03
From the Washington Union.
RELATIONS WITH MEXICO.

JOINT resolutions, Congress has given It's assent
to the annexation, on certain terms and condi-
tons. Those terms and conditions have been
assented to by Texas The compact is thus
complete. What, then, remains to be done
AS regards the act of annexation, nothing.
Texas is now to form-or at this day, we
may say, has formed-her constitution, which
will be submitted to Congress and, if approx
ed, she will be admitted as one of the States of
the Union. This proceeding, however, OBJ
viously is wholly distinct from the original act
of annexation. Texas, by such measure, be-
comes vested with certain rights, and parts with
others which she now possesses. But her ad-
mission into the Union as State can neither
enlarge nor impair any rights of property 1t
merely changes the character Of the relations
between the parties
1t will also become necessary for Congress,
by distinct Legislation, TO create districts, ports
ofentry, and TO extend the revenue system TO
their newly acquired territory. Such legisla-
ton presupposes, and does not confer, rights OF
sovereignty. The metes and bounds OF the
various collection districts throughout the old
thirteen States were fixed by act of Congress-
and may at any time be changed at the pleasure
! oithat body. No one, however ever dreamed
! that this statute created the Union. The
| constitution had completed that the right of
sovereignty, the capacity to enact the law, was
already consummate Hence results what
some have supposed to involve an incongruity
that while one branch OF the government con-
siders Texas as virtually ours, and dispatches
troops to occupy it, another department holds
that it is not operated upon by our revenue
laws Obviously, there is no shadow of incon-
gruity in these views. They are both right,
and there is no collision between them. Until
the territory and sovereignty are ours there can
be no extension of our laws over that territory,
and no exercise OF this sovereignty. We must
take possession. We must occupy, we must
hold, as preliminary to Legislation. What then,
have we acquired by the annexation OF Texas
We have acquired all that belonged TO Texas.
We have acquired the territory, with the same
boundaries and rights which she before had
Where those rights are perfected by open and
quiet possession, they are clear and beyond
controversy. Where they rest merely in claim,
which claim is controverted, they devolve upon
US precisely in the same way, and TO exactly the
same extent. The CaSe is familiar Uue.--
When we acquired Louisiana, by cession from
France, neither the eastern, western, nor north
orn boundary was distinctly settled. To the
eastward of the Mississippi we claimed to the
Perdido-comprehending large extent otter.
ritory then POSSESSED, and which continued to
be occupied by Spain To the southwest we
claimed to the Rio Bravo; and this claim con-
tinucd until settled by the treaty OF 1919 To
the north the limits have been partially adjusted
by arrangement with England; while, to the
westward of the Rocky Mountains, this very
question Of boundary remains open with Eng.
land.
In each and every OF these cases, it was sup.
posed that the right OF the Executive to take
possession was unreasonable. Oregon has
been occupied, aud is now in the progress of |
rapid settlement, while the title is yet in contro.
versy The most analogous case, however, in |
our history, is that ofthe disputed territory lying
between the Iborvlle and the Pordido. The
American government claimed this territory,
as a constituent part of Louisiana, to which it
derived title under the treaty OF cession from
France Of April 80, 1903, The assertion Of
right on the part oflhe United States was never
promulgated to the public until 1910. Spain
remained 10 the undisturbed occupancy Of the
territory. Her monarch exercised his ordinary
powers over this laws and ordinances gov
erned it his courts administered justice through
out this troops garrsoned it, No possession
was surrendered by Spain 10 France, or by
France 10 the United States On The 9th Oc-
iober, 1910, however, President Madison issued
has proclamation. Reciling the grounds Of
claim, It asserts that "a crisis has at length ar
rived, whereby failure Of The United States to
take possession may lead TO events ultimately
the views Of both nations whilst.
in the mean time, the tranquility and security Of
our adjoining territories are endangered, and
new facilities giyen,io violators Of our revenue
md commercial laws" &c Under these cir
the President 'deemed il right and
that possession should be taken Of the
erriiory in the name and behalf Of the United
states" Governor Claiborne WIS directed to
axe possession, and 10 exercise over Il the au-
horiiy Of governor; the inhabitants were iuvit-
d and enjoined 70 pay due respect 10 him in
hat character, and 10 be obedieni 10 the laws.
In the instructions given 70 that officer, he
vas directed 10 cause copies Of the Presidents
lroclamaiion 10 Be distributed throughout The
srriiory, IN The English, French. and Spanish
anguages; 10 arrange with the different CON-
1andcrs Of troops 10 the viciniy, 70 assume pos
sssion, 10 organize the militia, prescribe the
ounds Of parishes, and establish courts In
ass Of opposition, The commander Of the Uniind
iaies troops was 10 furnish the necessary aid
Should, however, any particular place, howe ,
eT snail. remain IN possession Of q Spsnish ,
jrce, you vii uoi proceed 10 employ force :
gains T. bot make immediate Tepon thereof :
this department" :
OR ri-ht 10 Ire whole Of Ter-t n rvrslv a. :