Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1846-06-11

to adopt the definition, ready made to our hands by
the Texan Convention Of 1886, expressly stpula-
ted for the incorporation within the limits of the
new State Of such territory only as was 'sproperly
included within, and rightf0lly belonging to, the
Republic of'reXas"-which was TO be ascertained
by subsequent negotiation with Mexico! What,
in 1916, was deemed TO be thus ''properly inclu-
ded" and ''rightfully belonging" TO Texas, may
farther be inferred from the Report Of the Commit
tee of the House of Representatives. of which CHAs
JARED tNGERsoLL, leader OF the Administration
forces now, was Chairman, and majority of whom
belonged to the same party, which framed and
brought into the House Of Representatives the an
neXation resolution. That commit,ee,-a Locofoco
commt'ee--a Texas committee, used this empha-
tic and memorable language 1.-The stupendous
deserts bcttceen the .Ncuces and the B,uro rirers,
(snll another name for the Rio Grande the ma
tural boundaries between the Anglo-Saxon and the
Maurianlan races. There ends the Valley of the
West THERE MEXICO BEGINS. Hlie
peace IS cherished, that boundary sriu be sacred
Not till the spirit of conquest rages, will the people
! on either side mix with or modest each other.'
| That report received the sanction of Congress- and
defines the point at which "Mexico begins" far
| east of the Rio Grande. With what proprietv
then, has the President directed our flag to be rails
ed upon soil which an American Congress has thus
pronounced TO be within the limits of Mexico
Has he not, by so doing, invaded Mexico? And
Is not the invasion Of one country. by order of
the Executive OF another, an act of war? We
need not argue proposition SO plain and papabe.
L he good sense OF the country, amidst all the
excitement OF arms and the just resentment against
Mexico for previous outrages, (Which we admit
| have been numerous and aggravated enough long
ago to have justified declaration of war against
her) may safely be appealed to, upon statement
felt that they were the assaled party by the act of
the Executive, and that war had been commenced
| upon them by an invasion of their errtory-admit-
| ted to be theirs by Report Of our ConoTess-is
shown by the Protest addressed to Gen. TAYLOR by
the Mexican Governor OF the invaded territory.
with that Protest we must for the present conclude
our remarks, already too much extended upon this
branch Of the question. We shall hereafter exam
Inc 1t In other and not less imposing points of view
. "RREFEcTURE OF THE NORTH OF TAMAuLIpAs.
Although the pending question as to the incorpo-
ration of Texas with the United States be still un
der the consideration of the Supreme Government
OF Mexico, yet the fact that the army under your
ENceilency's command has advanced. passing over
the line which itoccupied at Corpus Christi, makes
my duty, as the first civil authority of the district
OF the North of Tamaulipas, to address myself to
you, as have now the honor to do, through the de-
putaton which will place this in your hands, as FOL
| lows
That the populations dependent on this Prefec-
ture, justly alarmed At their invasion by an army
which, without any previous declaration of war
and without any explicit annunciation of the object
proposed, comes TO occupy territory which has
never belonged to the colony seized upon cannot see
with indifference proceeding 50 contrary to that
conduct which civilized nations practice and to the
ciearest principles Of the law OF nations
That, directed by homer and patriotism. and well
assured that nothing has been officially intima,ed
by the Cabinet of the Union TO the Mexican Go
vernment In regard to an enlargement of the limits
OF Texas as far as the left bank Of the Rio Bravo.
the citizens of this district confident in the notori
Gus justice OF their cause, and i'm the exercise of the
natural rights of selfdefence, PROTEST, THROUGH
their organ, IN the most solemn FORM that neither
nor nor at any time, do they consent, on ,vM erer
consent, to separate themselves from. The .Aerican
RelubHc and mute themselves to the United States
Of The North; and that they are resolved to carry
to the end this firm determination, resisting to the
utmost Of their strength, until the army which Won
lead recedes to its former position since as long as
1t shall remain within the territory of Iamaulipas
the inhabitants. must, whatever professions OF peace
you may employ, regard you rs openly committing
hostllties; and for the melancholy consequences Of
these must be answerable, in view of the whole
world, they only who have become the invaders.
have the honor to say thus to you, in the view
already explained, and to present my respects
God and Liberty! At Santa Ritz, March 23d.
1916. (Sgned,) JENES CARDENAS.
Countersgned.) JUAN JOSE PlNEDA.
To Gen. Don Il. TAYLOR"