The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-09-19

boundary between mem, nc couu not nnu IL, ana 30
imagined one, (the Nueces TO which neither Of the
parties would agree. But the "Intelligencern does
not state what is the facD that Tamaulpas and Chi
huabua, and the other provinces contiguous to Tex
as, were 1885 and 1885, at the time ofthe Texan
revolution, much in the same condition. with respect
to the usurping Mexican government of Santa Ana,
as that in which Tobasco stands to-day. On the
Texan frontiers of those provinces, on the lower
waters of the Del Norte, there was hardly any gov
ernment, and only here and there feeble and stray
Cling settlement With the Texans, far more than
the Mexicans, these settlements were in sympa-
thy These portions of territory had once been
Texas. In our negotiations with Spain, we had
claimed them part of Texas, up to the Del
Norte. Mexico had never gainsayed that claim
to any practical purpose, by any efectual legisa-
ton. The boundaries had never been authora-
lively settled The political condition Of the whole
region, during the sway of Santa Ana, was subsan-
tally anarchcal. Hostile Indians were roaming
over large portions of it, In practice, it was no.
mans land. War came between Mexico and Tex
as; and planting herself on old geographical divs-
ions and newly declared though inherent human
rights, Texns avowed her claim up to the Del Nore.
and went to war, with her claim in one hand and
her sword in the other. In the battle Of San ia
cinto, she swept the last Mexican invader from her
soil, as claimed, up to the Del Norte; and forced
from the captive Santa Ana--who was then the
Mexican government, if Mexico had government
the solemn pledge that he would acknowledge her
jurisdiction, she claimed IT, the
dition Of his release. He was released True to his
false nature, he broke his word. But, fortunately
for Texas and for the destiny of those fair regions
he was weak and cowardly as well as false, and he
neper reconquered the territory, Texas kept it, and
while continuing to claim and to keep it, made good
her Independence before the world and came into
our Union. Now, had all this been the fact as to
the territory lying on our side Of the Sabine--had
there been no treaty of 1919, to fix boundary
between us and Texas--had Louisiana been as
Coahuila, and Alabama as Tamaulipas, with
limits ill-defned-with population sparse, ill-gov-
emed, unorganzed, revolutionary, anarchical dis
affected to us, and in sympathy with Texas;--then
had Texas, claiming the old Spanish geography,
and extending her jurisdiction on our side of the
Sabine, declared herself, to the whole extent Of
her claim, an independent State--beaten our forces
in decisive batte-put an end to the war
forced from our government promise to ac-
knowledge her independence, and then finally got
her independence acknowledged by all the rest of
the word-then, the cases put by the lntelligencer
would have been in some degree parallel; and then,
too, its illustration might have deserved (what it
does not now deserve) the pains which we have Ia
ken 10 annihilate it.
We cannot take the trouble to follow the lntel-
gencer much further. We have quoted the leading
points of its article in its own Words and our read
ers can judge for themselves of the weight to which
such views are entitled. But the Intelligencer has
taken one other position, t. which we ask mo-
ment's attention. Under the authority of the Joint
resolutions of annexation, accepted by the Texans,
this administration, coming into power on the annex
alton question, has recognised the duty of defending
Texas, as anntred. The resolutions slipulatc that
Texos shall concede to our general government,
among other attributes of sovereignty, the usual
sovereign right TO settle her boundary by nego-
tiation and treaty. This power would have
followed of course, as we suppose, from the
act of annexation, if it had not been expressed.
But it is set down in words. Now mark the Intel
lgencer's laughable inference from it. Again we
quote its own words from its article Of Saturday
This resolution then, the Presidents sole rule
what he done beyond other laws Now every body
knows that not merely did this resolution not give the En
power TO take within his Jurisdiction the disputed
country beyond the Nueces but that directly and distinct
eGnsenps,Cd the VERY s%ntEs1y since provides for
that settle the title TO this very teritory for there is
other question Of boundary in dispute between Mexico
and Texas The only question OF boundary is whether the
latter stops about the Nueccs neither she goes quite
the Rio bravo So clear the under the joint reso
ton that il uncomfortable how the Executive should have
decided II has DONE unless resort of two sup
POSITIONS either that the annexatonss determined by
Of wanton offence to leave Mexico escape and
to force her into else that the apoweru interest
Of the land and scrip the people with grants
granted beforeurges the administration seize
territory for Texas in order that there be enough
grants TO be made good elsewhere than within its own
have said that the joint resolution Jesids to the
President all right Of looking upon the disputed territory
part of Texas We need 60 no further"
Admirably argued The annexation resolutions
provide that the United States may fix the bounda-
ry by treaty negotiations THEREFORE, the gov
eminent Of the United States is forbidden to prevent
an enemy from taking armed and hostile possession
prior 10 all negotiation, of the whole territory about
which there is any pretence Of call to negotiated
Truly, it is pity that the patriotic wisdom of the In
telgencer does not guide the helm of state. Under
such guidance, our foreign relations would be beau
tifully simple. Whenever question Of boundary
should arise between us and another power-weak
or strong-Mexico or England-the true course OF
such foreign state would be quite clear. Let her at
once break off all diplomatic relations with u.s. just
as soon the session of Congress ends. Let her
send home Mr.. Shannon, or any other minister,
with the least possible ceremony delay. Then
let her take armed possession Of the whole territory
in dispute, just as soon as possible. She will have
a fair chance. Our government must never think
of sending General Taylor, or anybody else, to
stop her. Let her fortify herself well in the
ports and passes of her new possession, and
then, looking over the ridge of her entertainments
bristling with cannon, let her call out to the Presi-
dent, "Negotiate!" "Negotiate" "Now we are all