Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1846-06-11


parent government, and sci up "A govern
lnent herself; in word, the Texas whicl
was bounded by the river Nueces. ]
is true that the Texan Congress in 1896
passed an act declaring that their repub
lie was bounded westerly by the Ri
Grande.
!, Rut what title had she TO the territor,
lying ives, of her original limits She
could have none but tina, oi conquest
And did she ever carry her conquest ur
to the Rio Grande Nothing like il
every attempt she mnde proved Il signal
iaIiure. The population upon the Rio
Grande never rebelled against Mexico,
were never conquered by Tcxas, or sub
mitied TO Texan law OF autharity. Texas
made several attempts TO plant her stand
ard upon the banks Of that river, but in
every attempt her forces were either
captured Or driven back. With what
proprieiy, then, can we maintain that
the wilderness or dessr, country be-
tween the Nncces aud Rio Grande ever
belonged 10 Texas A large strip of
county on the left or eastern bank Of
the Rio Grapde has ever been in pos
Sc ession OF Mexico, aud we have ac-
knowledged that possession both before
aud after annexation. AT the last ses-
sion OF Congress, an act was passed al
lowing a drawhacb upon foreign mer-
chapdise imported into this country, aud
exported To Canada and MeSico and
among the places mentioned IN Mexico
was Santa Fe. And during this sessiop
Mr.. Secretary Walker, in his report on
the finances, says: "The act of March
Sd, l845, allowing drawback on foreign
imports, imported from certain Of our
ports TO Canada, and also Ia Santa Fe
and Chihuahua, 10 Mexico, has gone to
some extent into effect, and is heg inning
TO produce the most happy results. "
Here, sir, we have the most positive
recognition on the part Of our Govern
mcnt that Santa Fe belongs to Mexico
and is included within her lawful territory.
But every one knows taat Santa Fe u on
the east side Of the Rio Grande. How
then, can il be pretended, for n single
moment, tina, the whole country, or that
any par, of the country bordering up that
river, belongs to Texas, and hence is a
part Of the United Slales? There is no
authority at all for that plea not one
particle Of proof that the Rio Grande is
our true boundary, cxccp the net Of the
Texan Congress, and that we have con
tossed TO be invalid by admitting Santa
Fe, a town on the east side Of that river,
10 be part of the Mexican territory =
At that place we have consul there
we have been paying duties on mercaan-
diZe /; and when the expedition to Santa
Fe was captured, our Government inter.
ceded with the Mexican Government
for the release of our ciiizens admit
ting in the correspondence itself that San
IA Fe rightfully belonged 10 the Mexican
Republic.
Though our Goyernme had by pub
lie acts acknowledged the country, bor-
dering upon the Rio Grande on the east,
to be par, of the Republic OF Mexico,
the treaty got up by Presidep, Tyler ard
his Secretary Of State, attempted clan
dcs,inely 10 obtain all the territory cost
Of tha. river. The language Of tae treaiy
was general. it provided tha, the Re-
public Of Texas, with all lis territory,
should be ceded TO The United States -
But, ,sr, though this language was geuetal,
and seemed TO imply that the country
ceded was nothing more than Texas pro-"
per, the country bounded westerly by the
Nueces, yet when the President was
pressed by The Senate To furnish map
and description Of the country TO be an
nexed, 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 country cast Of that riyer.
But Mr. Calhoun, the Secretary OF State,
though he had affixed his name TO that
stealihy treaty, and was the mas,er-splrr
in the whole transactiop, feeling con-
scious, as it would seem, that the &C, Of,
the Texan Congress had no validity, in,
his note to Mr.. Green, our charge at
Mexico, enloined il upon him to assure
The Mexican Government that the boun-l
8aries were not fixed, and that this Coy.
ernment wopld exercise liberal policy
in relation TO ,ba, subject. Ills. words
are these You are epjoiped, also,
by The President, 10 assure the MextcapI
that it is 0is 5es,re 10 seIile
all questions between the two countries
which may grow out Of The treaty, or any
other cause, on the Wosl lberal and sat
isisctory terms, including iJat OF bonn-
dsry ; and with that view the mlnlsterl
who has been recently appointed will be
shortly sent with adequate powers" lnI
the same note he directs Mr. Green to-
assure ibe Mexlcan Government "ihalI
the Government of the United S,a,es has
;akep every precauilop ~ make the terms
of the treaty az linle Objectionable to.
Mexico as possible and, among Others.
has lcf the boundary Of Texas without
so that the boundary might
be an open question, TO be. fairly and
fully discussed, and settled according to-
the fights of each, and the mutual inter
est aud security of the two copn,ries "
Now, sir, does not this amnun' to a full
confession, on the pall OF AIR Calhoun,
that the Rio Grande Sas not the boun
dary Of Texas II he relied gpon The
net Of the TcSqp Congress, Why permit
the line be drawn in question, aud pr"