Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1846-06-10

rightfug sofmed or not, II was Sutflclent
for our purpose that it was the existing gov
ernment de. facto. So it was with Texas
She became Independent de faeto in 1885,
and we recognized her independence i'm
mediately afterwards; and so did England,
France, and most of the great powers Of the
globe. All other nations formed treaties
with her as government de facto, without
inquiring who had been right and who in
the wrong in her revolutionary struggle.
We purchased Louisiana from Napoleon,
usurper at the head of military dispo-
tism. Does the gentleman deny the validi-
ty ofthe acts OF the British government
during the times of Oliver Cromwell, be-
cause it was a mere government de tacto,
established in blood, in violation of the
British constitution? Many of the most
important treaties affecting the destinies of
Europe were made with the British govern.
ment during that period Who ever thought
of denying their validity because they had
been made by a government de tacto, (which
had been reared on the ruins of the British
Monarchy? The doctrine of the gentle
man from Massachusetts is novel one--it
finds no sanction in the books, and no ex-
amples in history. The universal doctrine
is that the acts of the government de .tacto,
are binding upon the nation as against 9th
er nations, from the consequences of which
it cannot release itself by subsequent rev.
olution. 1t is immaterial, therefore, wheth-
er Mexico has or has not, since repudlated
Santa Ana's treaty with Texas. 1t was
executed at the time by competent authori-
ty. She availed herself Of all its benefits.
By virtue of it, she saved the remnant of
her army from total annihilation. Under
, it she was enabled to remove in peace and
q security all her soldiers, cisizensy and prop
erty, beyond the Rio del Norte. The ques-
! ton is, had she moral or legal right to re-
a pudiate it, after she had enjoyed all its ad-
t vantages? But the right of Texas to the
e country west of the Nueces does not rest
I on this treaty and the preceding acts alone.
r She has had legal possession of, and exer-
f cised jurisdiction over, it from that day to
9 this. When the people of Texas assem-
;. bled in 1886 to form the constitution of the
republic, the inhabitants, residing between
s the Nueces and the Rio del Norte had their
# representative there. James Powers, q
v citizen and resident of that part of Texas,
}. was delegate in that convention. Colonel
o Kenny, formerly citizen ofmy own State
n has for many years resided west of the
v Nueces, and represented that county in the
j, Texas Congress. He was member OF the
o Convention which formed the constitution
+? of the State of Texas, preparatory to hel
9 admission into the Union, and is now 9
j. member of the Senate of that State. Be
q sides all these facts Texas has had countie,
n organized, and courts established there fo
10 years, and has successfully maintained he
- jurisdiction, not only against the Cumanch
? Indians, but against all the narauding par
|. ties that Mexico has been able to send a
/. cross the Rio del Norte.
a There is still another item of informa
n ton which | can give the gentlemen, tc
o show that Mexico has, at recent date
9 recognized the Rio del Norte as the boun
= dairy. The members of the last Congress
Q will recollect that much was said in debate
Q on the treaty and resolutions for the anex
n alton of Texas, about an armistice which
!. had been entered into between Texas ant
It Mexico, for the cessation Of hostilities.-
l. The proposition was proposed and accepted
S and in the proclamation of the President O
d Mexico announcing its existence, the Mex
j. ican troops were directed to retire from
s Texas to the west bank of the Rio de
Norte, and did so in pursuance of that ar
: mistice. Here we find clear and une
j. quivocal recognition of the Rio del Mort
r as the boundary by Mexico as late as 1s43
It What stronger evidence could we hav
: Of the establishment of boundary lin
than this train of facts, reaching back a
far as 1886, and all tending to two point
n first, that Texas has always. claimed tn
country west of the Nueces, and exercise
jurisdiction over all sections of it occupie
It by her people; and, secondly, that Mexic
}, has, on all occasions, recognized the Ri
/ del Norte as the boundary?
y Mr.. ADAMS. wish to ask the gentle
d man from Illinois, if the last Congress di
d not pass law regulating commerce an
r trade to the foreign province of Santa Fe
% Mr.. DOUGLASS. | believe there was a.
1t act passed regulating trade between lnde
y pendence, Missouri. and Santa Fe. | d
" not now recollect its exact provisions
= Nor is it important, inasmuch as that wa
re before Texas was annexed to this Union
N Of course Santa Fe was foreign to us
IN that time, whether it belonged to Texas q
q, Mexico. But as the venerable gentlema
IT, from Massachusetts has called nv after
ton to an act of Congress, which he sur
ne poses bears upon the point at issue. will
reciprocate the compliment by asking hi
er attention to one for which he voted at tn
tn present session. Will that gentleman ii
ts form us why he voted at the present sessio
RI Of Congress for a bill establishing collie,
ne ton district in Texas, and in it included ii
he country between the Nueces and the d
ms Norte, and in the bill itself provided for ii
ILL., establishment Of port of delivery west
as the Nueces, and the appointment of a 81,
ne veyor Of the port to reside there, and to s
OF perintend the execution of the Unit,
L61 Sfafac rauan,Ia 10 ,xyc ox,ar 4 H.