Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1846-07-23

March 3d 1sd5. allowing drawback on foreign
imports exported from certain of our ports to Can
ada and also to Santa Fe and Chihuahua, IN Mex
leo, has gone to some extent into erect ana is pe-
ginning to pro duce the most happy results"
Here sir. we have the most positive recognl-
ton on the part of our Government, that Santa Fe
belongs to Mexico and is included within her law
full territory. But every one knows that Santa Q
is on the east side of the Rio Grandc. How tnen
cun it be pretended, for single moment, thot lne
whole country, or that any pat OF the county oor-
dering upon that river, belongs to Texas, and hence
is part of the United States? There is no author
ity at all for that plea; not one partcle OIL PIoo
that the Rio Grando is our true boundary, except
Tie act of the Texan Congress, and that we nave
confessed TO be invalid by admitting Santa Fe,
town on the east side Of that river to be part OF
Mexican territory. At that place we have con-
sui there we have been paying duties on merchun-
disc; and when the expedition TO santa re was
captured, our Government nterceded WIN the Mex
lcan Government for release OF our cltlzens ad-
hitting in the correspondence itself that Santa Fe
rghtfully belonged to the Mexican Republic.
Though our Government had by public acts ac-
knowedged the country, bordering upon the RIO
Grande on the cast, to be part Of the Republic OF
Mexico the treaty got up by President Tyler and
his Secretary of State, attempted clandestnely TO
obtain all the territory east of that river The Ian
guage Of the treaty general. 1t prov-
ded that the Republic Of Texas, with all its terrific
ry, should be ceded to the United States. But, sir,
though this language general, and seemed to
imply that the country coded was nothing more
than Texas proper the country bounded west
ery by the Nueces, yet when the President was
pressed by the Senate to finish a map and descrip
ton Of the country 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, claim
ing all the country east of that River. But Mr..
Calhoun, the Secretary Of State, though he mad
affixed his name to that stealthy treaty, and was
tue master-sprit in the whole transaction, feeling
conscious, as it would seem, that the act of the
Texan Congress had no validity, in his note to Mr..
Greene our Charge at Mexico, enjoned it upon
MN TO assure the Mexican Government that the
boundaries were not fixed, and that his Government
would exercise liberal policy in relation TO that
subject. His words these You are cnioined,
also by the President TO assure the Mexican Cow
eminent that 1t is his desire TO settle all questions
between the two countries which may grow out of
inc treaty, or any other cause on the most liberal
and satisfactory terms, including boundary; and
with that view the minister who has been recently
appointed will be shortly sent with adequate pow
ers" In the same note he directs Mr.. Green to as
sure the Mexican Government that the United
states has taken every prcauton TO make the terms
OF the treaty as little Objectionable as possible =;
and among others, has left the boundary Of I'erdS
without specification, so that the boundary might
be an open question, to be fairly and fully discuss
ed, and settled according TO the rights Of each, and
the mutual interests and security Of the two coun-
tries"
Now, sir, does not tbs amount to full confess
SIGN, on the part Of Mr. Calhoun, that the Rio
Grande was not the boundary of Texas? If he re-
lied upon the act Of the Texan Congress- why per.
NIT the line to be drawn in question, and propose
to submit to negotiation? The fact is, that the act
of the Texan Congress is perfect nuty. No
, man knows better than Mr.. Calhoun that bound
airy is question to be settled by two nations, and
any declaration by one is entirely void. Settling
territorial limits is 10 be regarded in the light of
contract, and necessarily implies two parties as
= any other contract whatever Hence 1t Is the
very perfection of absurdity to rely upon the dec
laraton of Texas deciding this question. Ii Is.
therefore,; a-matter of profound astonishment that
rhe President, in his late message should so pre-
sumo upon the ignorance of Congress, as to pre-
sent'that er parte act of Texas having any bear
ing upon the question. But the treaty was reject
ed by the Senate. And no objection was urged
with more force than the one considering
that it attempted to carry the western boundary OF
Texas to the Rio Grande, far beyond the true linn
its Of Texas.
The distinguished Senator from Missouri, Mr.
Benton, when speaking against the treaty, said -
"Tho one half Of the department OF New Mex
ico with its capital becomes the property of the
United States an angle of Chihuahua also becomes
ours; a part Of the department of Coahulia, no
populated on the left bank, which we take, but com
manded from the right by Mexican authorities; the
same of Tamaulipas which covers both sides OIL
t4e river from It's mouth Tor some Hunureu miles up
and all the left bank of which is in the power and
possession of Mexico These, IN addition to OLD
Texas these parts Of four States; these towns
and villages these people and territory; these
foCks and herds; this slice Of the Republic o.
Mexico, two thousand miles long ard some hun.
dred broad, all this our President has cut off from
It's mother empire, 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 upon Merico. 1t is the seizure of two thou
sand miles of her territory without word of ex
PLANTATION with her, and by virtue of treaty witt
Texas, to which she is no party"
"Having shown the effects OF the treaty on thu
Rio Grande frontier, take up the treaty itself, ant
under all Its aspects, and in It's whole extent, ant
assume four positions in relation to it, viz
|. That the ratification of the treuty would be
OF itself, war between the u. States and Mexico
g That it would be an unjust war.
B. That 1t would be a war unconstitutional
made.
A. That it would be war upon freak an
groudleSS preten."
The treaty falling the subject at the next sess
ison brought forward in form to obviate, il
some degree, this objection of the Senator of Mis-
souri,. The joint resolution of annexation provide
that the territory property included aoithin, an
rightJulLy belonging 10, the Republic Of Texas, ina
be erected into State, &C." But the first condi
lion imposed upon Texas in the resolution this
" oulu oldle 10 pc !OGIneu SUBJECT 10 adjustment D
this Government Of all questions of boundary Tho
may mise ,oiih other Governments"
Here, sir, we have full recognition of the IN
settled state Of the western boundary of Texas
The language is selected with caution" the terri
tory properly included within, and rightfully be
longng-to Texas" and is followed with provis
ion that all questions Of boundary which may aris
with other Governments, shall be settled by the |
States and that other Government. These prov'
ions can have no signifcancy on the supposito
that the boundary mentioned by the TexGn Cor
gress is valid. Not only the resolutions of anne,
alton implied that the boundary of Texas did NJ
extend to the Rio Grande but Mr. c. ]. Ingerso
the Chairman of the Cnn1lniitee ON Eoreinn z nl,