Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-06-03
SANTA FEE.

ASK n0fhtng fhU ~ SUOMI" 9"
ing that is irrong."-JAcKsoN.
This was an admirable maxim of the Hero of \.
Orleans--one which deserves to be written in let
ters of gold upon the doors Of the Presidential
mansion and off Legislative Halls as the guide
and limit of our action, in our intercourse with
Foreign Powers. And If there he occasions IN
which 1t is peculiarly incumbent upon the L nited
States to be governed by the first and better half OF
this wise and Just maxim, II is when we are
brought into collision with neighboring Power,
whose weakness and impotence are the perpetual
theme Of derision, and ought 10 constitute pow
erfu claim to our sympathy and forbearance. Ii
is under the influence of this maxim, the latter
branch of which only seems to be thought of by
some minds which appear to be totally oblivious OF
Its connection with the first, that Mr.. Benton re-
Gently had the moral courage to admit the right of
Great Britain to portion of Oregon, and to deny
our claim to ''the whole" of that territory, even
IN the teeth of the Presidential declaration that
that title is ''cear and unquestiOnable." In like
manner, we venture to dissent from the decree of
Cesar, which extends the Texan boundary to the
waters of the Del Norte.
If the Rio Grande be the Western boundary of
Texas, il follows that, among other portions of
Mexico TO which, by virtue of the annexation Of
Texas the United States will fall heir, is the Po-
puous city of Santa Fe, the capital of one of the
Northern departments of Mexico, and place of
no nconsiderable trade. This city is situated upon
the eastern side of the Rio Grande, and is
quently Just as certainly within the limits OF the
State of Texas as is the strip Of land between the
Neuces and the Rio Grande, Of which our army
has recently taken possession, by order of Presi
dent Polk. Why then, has not Santa Fe been
claimed, and its Mexican Governor sent home?-
Why has Mr. Polk been eager To seize upon a
sparsey settled territory, while the large number
OF Terans in Santa Fe and its vicinity have been
and still are subjected to Mexican misrulel Ii was,
indeed, but the other day that we saw it formally
announced that Don Jose Armijo, IA name familiar
10 the readers Kendas interesting volumes had
been re-apPointed by the central Mexican govern
ment, Governor OF the department Of New Mex |
ico of which Santa Fe is the capital. Is it pos
sible that Mr.. Polk deems it so very important to
occupy position opposite Matamoras, while he
permits the Mexican Government to send Gov
ernor TO Santa Fe, city, which, if the Rio Grande
be our western boundary, is within the limits Of
Texas and is consequently entitled to the protec-
lion Of our own laws be administered by our own
ofTicersl 1t is obvious either that Mr.. Polk has !
transcribed his power by directing the Army Of |
Occupation to hold position opposite Matamo. |
Tas or that he has failed TO perform his duty by |
permitting Santa Fe to be held by the Mexican
authorities; because If the one point belongs to
as. so does the other. Upon one horn Of this di.
lcmma, therefore, he is suspended, by the showing
of his own friends; and upon them VIC devolve the
task Of extricating him from the unenviable posi-
ton.
But Mr.. Polk tacitly confesses that Santa Fe
does not belong to US, as Congress had DONE in
express terms, long since. We refer the reader
"a m article in another column, from the ST. Louis
Republican, in reference to the measures about to
be- adopted by the Executive for the protection of
valuable trade in that quarter, and which, by
Inference, concede that Santa Fo, although on the
east bank of the Rio Grande, belongs to Mexico.
Aud late as March, lS45 our own Congress
passed an act the title Of which is San act allow
ing drawbacks upon foreign merchandise export.
cd in original packages to chihuahua and Santa
Re. IN Me1ico," &c; an act which Mr. Wal.
kcr, the Secretary Of the Treasury, in his last An
nual Report informs Congress "has gone into eff.
feet under regulations prescribed by this Depart.
ment' How, IN the face Of this legislative sc
acknowledgement Of the right Of Mexico to this part
Of her territory east Of the Rio Grande. can /, be
euyey pretended that that river il the true boun.
Diary between Texas aud Mexico We pause for
nroply.
We repeat here, what we have before said. that
we are IN favor Of an energetic prosecution Of the
war, wthOu, reference TO its origin or to its ne.
osssiiy, and now that il has commenced, we think
our Government ought a siHs qua non Of its
termination 10 require Of Mexico ample indem.
niy for all the past outrages Of which she has been
guilty towards us, and security against their ~.
turo repetition. We have unquestionably long
litof grievances to settle with her, and we might,
without any violation Of Gen. Jackson's maxim,
years ago, have Justly and rigblfully declared war
against her. and compelled reparation for the in.
Iures aud insults which we have patiently and
mcokly borne, from a reluctance TO make war up.
on weak neighbor. But Congress, THE WAR.
N'NINo rowEH, has thought proper 10 exercise to.
wards her generous forbesrance; and therefore,
81 b. not IN defence Of Mexico, but Of the Consti.
luton that We solemuly protest against the UsUR-
PATTON 90 THAT POWER nv rHE PRESIDENT; a
power exercised not for the purpose Of procuring
redress for those wrongs, bat solely with the de-