Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1846-12-24
VERMONT PHOENIX.
BrattlcborO, Thursday Dec. "a, 1916.


The Mcssage---Are its Statements true
Ere this the Presidents Message found is way into nearly
every aud hamlet in the land and has been read by the
millions who anxiousy looking forward TO this official
position Of the views and future plans The upon
the all exciting topics which, months past have deeply
agaed tho public mind from Of the Union the
other. We suddenly and Unexpectedly involved in War
with sister Republic, al time when the progress Of ovi1a
Just appreciation Of the mild procepis Of tho chris
an religion, have demonstrated the bsury wicked
ness Of War and horrors settle
Of national disputes and when ambitious rulers and
been compelled reluctantly yield the advance Of
public sentiment and oon6nc themselves within the limits pro
sobed by morality and just regard for individual rights An
apology for which, fifty yeara ago. twenty would
have been deemed satisfactory by the Of mankind would
be considered trivial aud absurd The President to
have been Of all this hence his tedious and abored
meni in defence Of his course and the minute enumeration Of
each and every Of complaint which exists the present
time has existed, against the Republic Of Mexico.
There many statements in the Message susceptible Of ref
uaon, but shall confne ourselves particularly to the
foundation upon which the President builds his who argument
In defence Of hts courso that War by tho OF
Moroo" n he has made IL eo5ty appear by impartial
statement Of facts that Mexico the aggrcssof the G In
sanoethat army the time when blood hr shed
upon dmsean soil he asserts, and properly stationed
there for tho protection Of American oEenssn tho charges
Of the opposition lar the Of the War
cefncd fall 10 the ground But IT, the oucr hand be
shown that the premises which he bases bis argument
false that important fact, many perverted
the purpose in and in others entirely omitted then be-
question Of grave importance the people whether the
ipe drii Of the Preden, preclude all inquiry,
the charge rcason and Of giving aid and eomfon the
enemy to silence the voice Of reason and justice
Of such deep interest to the whole country.
On the lih day Of May last the President Informed Congress
that War existed between the United States and MeHoo
withdrawing the premature boast in his Message ia December
preroua that the Of Texas bad been bOodess
achievement" by the Constitution Of the United the
President his power declare War any way provide
the necessary means for its proseeuonthese being
pfesy delegated by that instrument to the Houses Of Con
But Congress had agency originating present
War; and the question ARISES who did II -
Does exist by the act Of Mexico the President Of the
United States responsible for III In discussing this, will be
necessary examine briefly the question Of boundary between
Tens and Mexico.
The President in his Message asserts that the Rio Grande
from is o 10 ia 'ourcs the western boundary Of Teas
lie adducoa proofs this position that "or,s
eeded 70 the United State, by France 1903 sways
claimed extending Of the Grande or Rio Bravo that
TEXAS ALWAYS easd that river oundafy and
that in her treaty made with Santa Anna May, 1886 re-
eognred tas such"
BY the ARTICLES Of snscraon Congress expressly len the
question Of boundary 10 be settled by negotiation claiming
the territory properly included within and ryhifally belong
ing the Republic Of Teas and providing State of
Tca') bc formed subject the adjustment BY this
Government Of all questions OF boundary that with
other Thus sppcars that Congress admitting
that had the powerl neither established the Rio Crsndc The
boundary line, any recognized such. No one
presume, will contend for the President has
power settle boundary lines instance much less
this county and foreign Government This perogiiye
longs the treaty making poweribe President senate
| ting by Iwo-,hirds
But the FIRST paint claimed by President viz
thu, Tens coded to the United by Franoe in 1909
hos been always claimed extending Of the Rio Gnde
Rio Bravo"
In place Texas such ceded to the init,
ed by France all Louisiana ecded By France
In 1906 witch the u States insisted ncuded all the country be-
tween the Mississippi and the Rocky Mountains from the
-. ~. ~
the Pre.en, limits Of Tens and argument can be drawn
from the claim up by the Untod under this treaty
with France in vof Of tho Rio Grande boundary
Of Texas Il Is Of consequence the question under
consideration whether the territory Of Louisiana bounded
by the Naeees the Rio Grande. The question
boundary Of Tfzas.
In 1900 spaiA eeded Louisiana France. Upto this time ho
had held uudpued possession Of Louisiana Texas and al the
provinces Of Mexico from the FIRST discovery the country by
the Europeans Each province limited by definite and
distinct boundAthat Of Texas west being the river
Nuooes The capital Of New MEXICO than half Of which
lies this side Of the Rio GrAndc which, according 10 the
Message has been recently conquered by army though nelu
dcd within the limits Of the State Of Teas, time
and continues be- Santa Re which have been the
bad Louisiana he asserts extended the Rio Crande
In le1, treaty entered nio between France the
Unted States by which Louisiana ccded to the latter and
continued in their until 1879 when that part
embracing the State Of Teas eeded to Spain Du
ring the whole time the territory possession Of the
United States Santa Re continued be the capital New Mex
co and STGHtsh towns and settlements scattered along
eastern bank OF the Rio Gande from
the whole country that river and the
Spanish officers governed the territory people paid tax
es TO the Spanish Governments In short the United States e.
eroed control whatever the territory Us inhabitants
From 1919 to 1924 Texas held and Governed by
In 1924 Meico became independent and adopted Republican
form Of Government composed OF independent States.
among which TeIas New Mexico and Coahuila &c-
Texas bounded the West by Nucoos and Goa
and Tamaupas extended the Rio Grndo and were
bounded by the
tho President embraces large pa Of New Mexico Chhus.
hua Coahuia and Tamaupas each Of which had separate
capital Of ts own. limited by definite boundaries and was
IN every respect an Independent State.
Such condition Mexico when in 1886 Texas de-
clared her Independence but without defining boundaries
She made Intellectual attempt TO induce Coahuia unite
with her but that State remained firm in its adherence
CO. and has remaned the present The
daes Texas all ehang-d by her declaration of indie.
pcndonce.
She made several unsuccessful efforts to CONQUER the
county between and Rio Grando each time her
army defeated and forced to retire Of the Nueccs Up
to the time when she admitted into the Union she
had been able maintain oothod between those
What then becomes Of the claim by the President Of
United States whole county East Of the Rio Crande
The evidence that the President brings forward sup
port his assertion that Texas bounded by the Rio Grande
from its mouth its source" is that "rexas always claimed
river as her western boundary"
II to claim territory establishing
right then nothing be said Such being the
as would undoubtedly extend to the Rio G1nde If the
lshmus Of Darieu!
If this reasoning sound Oregon up to 81" iO was ours
beyond cayl certainly put forth claims il in
guage sufficiently explicit, But by this novel doctrine
tons, would frequently possess good titles the
territory II Texas would extend the Rio Grande Mex
the other hand woudby the reasoning be entitled