Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1846-06-25

when the expedition TO Santa Fe was captured, our
Government inierceded with the Mexican Govern
ment for the release of our citizens admitting in
the correspondence itself that Santa Fe rghlully
belonged to the Mexican Republic.
Though our Government had by public acts ac-
knowledged the country, bordering upon the Rio
Grande on the east to be part of the Republic Of
Mexico, the treaty got up by President Tyler and
his Secretary of State, attempted clandesnely to
obtain all the territory east of that river. The Ian
guage Of the treaty was general. 1t provided that
the republic Of Texas, with all lis territory should
be coded TO the United States. But, sir, though
this language was general, and seemed 10 imply
that the country ceded was nothing more than Tex
as proper, the country bounded westerly by the
Nueces, yet when the President pressed by the
Senate to furnish map and description Of
try to be annexed, he laid before them map Of the
country to the Rio Grande, with the clause of the
act Of the Texan Congress- claiming all the coun-
try east Of that river But Mr. Calhoun, the Seere-
tary Of State, though he had affixed his name TO
that stealhy treaty. and the maser-spirit in the
whole transaction, feeling conscious, as il would
seem, that the act Of the Texan Congress had no
validity in his note to Mr. Greene. our Charge at
Mexico, enjoined il upon hint assure the MeNi-
can Government that the boundaries were not fixed
and that this Government would exercise a liberal
policy in relation to that subject His words are
these: "You are eljoined, also, by the President
assure the Mexican Government that 1t is his desire
TO settle all questions between the two countries
which may grow out Of the treaty or any other
cause, OH the most liberal and satisfactory tpns,
including that Of boundary; and with that view the
minister who has been recently appointed will be
shortly sent with adequate powers" In the same
note he directs Mr. Green TO assure the Mexican
Government that the Government Of the United
States has taken every precauton to make the terms
OF the treaty as little Objectionable to Mexico as
posslble and, among others, has left the boundary
Of Ieras without specification, So that the bounda-
~ might be an open question: TO be fairly and full
y discussed, and settled according to the rights of
each, and the mutual interest and security Of the
two countries"
Now, sir, does not this amount to foil confess
sion, on the part of Mr. Calhoun, that the Rio
Grande was not the boundary of Texas II he re-
lied upon the act Of the Texan Congress, why per-
NIT the line to be drawn in question, and propose
to submit it 10 negotiation The fact is, that act
Of the Texan Congress is perfect nuty No
man knows better than Mr. Calhoun that bounda.
ry is question TO be settled by two nations, and
any declaration by one is entirely void Settling
territorial limits is to be regarded in the light of
contract, and as necessarily implies two parties
any other contract whatever. Hence it is the very
perfection of absurdty TO rely upon the declaration
OF Texas as deciding this question. II is. therefore,
a matter Of profound astonishment that the Presi-
dent, in his late message, should so presume upon
the ignorance Of Congress, as to present that CT
pGrte act Of Texas having any bearing upon this
question. But the treaty was rejected by the SEN
ate. And no objection was urged with more force
than the one considering, that it attempted
to carry the western boundary of Texas 10 the Rio
Grande far beyond the true limits Of Texas.
The distinguished Senator from Missouri, Mr.
Benton, when speaking against the treaty. said
'The one half Of the department of New Mexico,
with its capital, becomes the property Of the United
States; angle of chihuahua also becomes ours
part OF the department Of Coahua, not populated
on the left bank, which we take, but commanded
from the right by Mexican authorities; the same Of
Tamaulipas, which covers both sides Of the river
from its mouth for some hundred miles up, and all
the left bank Of which is in the power and posses
sion Of Mexico. These, in addition to old Texas;
these parts Of four States these towns and yillag
es these people and territory; these hocks and
herds this slice of the Republic of Mexico, two
thousand miles long and some hundred broad all
this our President has cut off from its mother en-
pre and presents to US, and declares it ours, till
the Senate rejects it !"
"The treaty. in all that relates TO the boundary
Of the Rio Grande, is an act OF unparalleled out.
rage on Merico 1t is the seizure Of two thousand
miles Of her territory without word Of explanation
with her, and by virtue of treaty with Texas, TO
which she is no party"
Rio Grande frontier, | take up the treaty self
and under all its aspects, and in its whole extent,
and assume four positions in relation 10 it, viz
/. That the ratification OF the treaty would be-
Of itself. war between the United States and
Mexico
9 That it would be an unjust war
g. That it would be a war meOnstitutiOHaly
made.
A. That it would be war upon freak and
grOundieSs prete1t."
The treaty falling, the subject at the next session
was brought forward in a form to obyiate in some
degree this objection of the Senatorof Missouri
The Joint resolution Of annexation provides that
"he territory properly included ieithin, and right
fully belonging TO, the Republic OF Texas, may be
erected into State, &C." But the first condition
"Sad State to be formed, subject to the adjustment
by this Government Of all questions of boundary
that may arise NTH other GorerHments."
Here, sir, we have full recognition Of the I'M
settled state ofthe western boundary of Texas
The language is selected with cauiion-"the ter
ritory properly included within and righttuLy be-
longing to ItraS," aud this is followed with pro-
vision that all questions of boundary whieh may
arise NTH other gOurnments shall be settled by the
United States aud that other government. These
provisions can have no signifcancy on the SUPPOSE
ton that the boundary mentioned by the Texan
Congress is valid Not only the resolutions of an.
nexaiion implied that The boundary of Texas did
not extend to the Rio Grande, but Mr. C. ]. In.
gersoll, the chairman ofthe Com on Foreign fairs
who brought the subject before the House, and
opened the debate, gave us the fullest assurance
that il did not approach within hundred miles of
that river. His declaration is this: "fhe terrific
rial limits (of Texas) marked in this eonhgura-
of hia hu lnniub kanA