The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-08-21
co M UNIC Alto N s.
RIGHTFUL BOUNDARY
JUSTICE TO THE PRESIDENT.

For the Union.
RIGHTFUL BOUNDARY
JUSTICE TO THE PRESIDENT.
As the great question of annexation is ON the eve
of contamination, it is with pain and regret that
have witnessed the course OF the Nauonai inteli'
gencer in relation to the occupation by our troops
Of that territory. The editor has labored hard to
create the impression that If our troops should pro-
coed west Of the Nueces, they would be invading
the territory of Mexico. This is an acknowledg-
ment that all of the territory east Of the Nueces did
not belong to Mexico, but to the republic oil Texas
This is indeed, an important admission for one who
has labored so long in advocating the claims Of Mex
leo; but would respectfully ask the editor, now
does he come 10 this wise conclusion' Has con-
yentional line ever been established between Mexi-
co and Texasi None Whatever, because Mexico
has pertinaciousy refused to acknowledge the nde-
pendence of Texas and upon this ground alone de-
MES our right TO annex her TO our glorious Union.
IT. then, according to the argument OF the lntelli-
gencer) our troops would not be invading the terri
tory of Mexico, by occupying that portion east oil
the Nueces, there would he no invasion by occupying
that portion west of the Nueces to the Rio del Norte
This was the original boundary according to the
treaty by which we acquired Louisiana, and which
would have been acknowledged by Don Onis, If Mr..
Adams had even suggested it, in the treaty OF 1919,
by which we acquired Florida, as Mr.. Ervmgs let
ter to General Jackson so fully established He
stated positively and emphatically IN that letter. that
Spain had giren cypress auhorifyto her minister Don
Onis) 10 surrender far the Colorado, or euen 10 the
Rio del .Norte," to the government of the United
States.
The question of annexation, according to the
logic of the "National Inielligencer,n must turn
upon the rightful boundary of Texas, which It
gravey decides to be the Nueces and contends that
If our troops should march west of that river, II
would be an invasion of Mexican territory, which
would be vrtuaya declaration ofwar on the part OF
our government and thus, by this inference, il would
create the impression that the President had violated
his oath of Office, because the power to declare war
belongs exclusively to Congress; and then, should
England interfere Justify her in anything she might
think proper to do in giving aid to the Mexican
government should war ensue.
England and France have acknowledged the in
dependence of Texas; therefore, according ito Vat
tel, and other writers upon the laws OF nations,
they have no right to interfere with any compact
into which she may enter SO long as she does
not infringe upon the rights Of other nations. But
if the editor of the "lnteligencer" can make it
appear that the Nueces is the rightful boundary
Of Texas, and that the occupation by our troops
west of that river is equivalent to declaration Of
war, he would justify the interference of Great
Britain. This seems to me to be the drift OF his
argument. In discussing this question, he acknow-
lodged our right and our duty to give aid to Texas
after she had accepted the terms Of annexation, for
which he deserves the thanks Of the American peo-
pie; but in attempting to create new difficulties, by
contending that if our troops occupied that portion
Of Texas west of the Nueces, it an invasion Of
Mexican territory, (Which is virtually declaration
Of war; am panied to say that he is not actuated
by apure American heart, nor has he studied the
geography Of that country. In speaking of Texas
proper and her true and legitimate boundary, we,
nation, must be guided by the treaty of Louis
lana, by which we acquired that territory, and not
by any claim which Mexico may set up at this i'm
portant moment.
Frederick Leclerc, member Of the Society of Ma
tural History of France, impressed with the import
ance of Texas in a commercial point of view, visit
ed that country after she had declared her independ
ence, and says: "The revolution which has made,
before our eyes, an independent republic out of the
Mexican province of Texas, is, at the same time,
one Of the singular events of contemporary his
tory, and one of the occurrences which will exer-
else the greatest influence upon the political and So
cia future Of North America. The gigantic prog
ress of that new State; the extraordinary increase
of its population; the impulse which it imparts to
the mind and to physical interests in the bosom of
the United States, along the Gulf of Mexico and in
all the northern provinces of the Mexican republic
between the Atlantic ocean and the sea OF Caifor-
mia; the importance which its immense powers of
production give it in the commercial world, such,
at this moment are the motives which ought to
draw the attention Of Europe upon Texas" This
is the language Of learned and scientific in re-
ation to the value of Texas, in a commercial point
of view and he calls the "ditenfon Of Europe" to
her natural resources. Would the editor of the Ma
onal Inteliigencer be willing that the commercial
advantages so beautifully described by Professor
Leclerc should be enjoyed by Europe, at the ex-
pense of the United Statesi II he would, then /
am not in the least surprised at his contending for
the Nueces as the rghtfu boundary of Texas prop
err; because west of that river is tho most important
to the United States, both in military and COM
mercal point of view. In fact, Nature to have
r.oI he II NArta al h<,,n
between two nations whose language, manners, and
customs directly at variance with each other.
The natural boundaries of Texas the Sabneto the
cost; the Red river to the north; to the west chain
of mountains, whose eastern slope gives birth to the
tributaries Of the upper waters the Brazos to those
ofthe Colorado and to the Colorado ITSELF then the
direction from northwest to southeast, TO complete
the western frontier, the Rio Grande del Norte as
far the sea; finally, the south, the Gulf of Mex
leo between the mouth of the Sabine and that Of
the Rio Grande. Such are the great natural lines
which mark the boundary Of Texas on the map
In looking infinitely ii, il will be discovered that
Texas is one ofthe best watered countries in the
world. In going from west TO east there not
less than nine considerable rivers, which are the
Rio Nueces, the San Antonio, the Guadalupe, the
Colorado the Brasos the San Jacinto, the Rio Trim
idad the Naches, and the Sabine; the greater num-
Der Of which have their mouths in the Gulf Of
Mexico The others empty not far from the sea
into the principal river, which empties its waters
therein directly.
II, in giving this condensed geographical de-
scription of Texas, that the editor of the Intelligent
Ger may understand the true interests of his coun-
try, shall convince him Of his error, (if it may be
so termed,) it is to be hoped that he will retrace
his steps, nj this important crisis and stand by her
In contending that if our troops should occupy the
country west Of the Nueces it would be invasion
of the Mexican territory, it is innuendo that tho
President had violated the constitution, which he
had sworn to protect and defend. This is unman-
" and ungenerous; for | am proud as an Ameri-
can, and one who entered into the discussion of this
great question at its commencement, TO bear witness
10 his fidelity his country in relation to this great
national question.
ALGERNON SYDNEY.
For the Union