Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1846-12-31

iurnlSn u just cause OF war. But this statement of
the President, bold and frank, plain and intelligi-
BILE it is, is unfortunately wanting in Justice and
truth. The facts in the case do not in any degree
sustain the President, but they are totally rrecon-
cilabo with his position, as shall attempt to show.
Mexico passed our boundary urarmy, by the =
unlusiiable orders Of the President, passed the
boundary Of Mexico. Mexico commenced hostili-
ties! J he President himself was the AGGRESSION
lie ordered the army into Mexico; he commenc.
cd hostiites not only without law, but in direct
violation of the first principles of our organic law
Exercising the war making power, and thereby
trenchlng upon the prerogatve of Congress and
that, too, while they were in session. and could
have been consulted at any moment.
ms IS a just statement of the case. ] will, how
ever, give the President the full benefit of all the
arguments he employs, and all the statements no
makes IN support of his position
This is the main point. Mr.. Hudson admits that
we arc entitled to all that "rightfuIly belonged" to
Texas-that is, all she had conquered from Mexico
and held in possession when annexed. The ques-
ton is one ofJact simply how much of the territory
beyond tie Ncuces did Texas hold? lie then
goes on to show that TIE President has falsely
claimed The ,ohole territory, of thousands of square
miles, under Of the actual possession, by Tex
as of Corpus Christi and few other points imme-
dately on the west bank of the Neuces Texas
held a village or two on the Neuces Polk claims
from 100 to $50 miles ofterrory to the Rio Grande
Texas held few places up and on the Neucesa
comparatively short river; Polk claims 1000 miles
up the Rio Grande! Polk talks of custom. house
at Corpus Christi, on the Neuces; Mexico had one
at Santiago on the Rio Grandc, and another 1900
miles up that river and % miles cast of it, at Santa
Fe ,Cich has been recognized IN Mexican territory
BY our Congress and The Secretary Of The Treasury,
since Texas was annexed And finally, Mr.. Hud-
son proves, from our own official documents, that
.uerico had actual possession of the most Of this
territory between the Neuces and the Rio GraLde-
this very territory which Polk calls "Amencan
soil" ard on which he accuses Mexico of she'd
ding American blood" By our own docu-
ments, Mr.. Hudson shows that the Presiden, has
made false claims, and attempted to deceive the
American people:
All the documents connected with this whole
matter show that the boundary of Texas could not
have been the Rio Grande. The Tyler Treaty
seemed to take it for granted, that we should hold
the whole country but Mr.. Calhoun, more ga
cious than the President, was careful to inform
the Mexican Government that the boundary pns
op'n 10 treaty, and would be settled on liberal
grounds. Mr.. Benton, in discussing that treaty,
showed most concluslvely that Texas never owned
within hundred miles of the Rio Grande and so
forcibe was his argument, that when the Joint
resolution was prepared the language was guard
ed THE territory property included trihin, and
rghJully belonging 10, IeraS." And it was
further provided that when created into State,
! the General Government will claim the right of
settling all questions Of boundary that may arise
with other Governments and the President in his
War message of May last, said that he gave Mr..
Slidell full power to settle the questions OF boun-
dary and could not consent to have the question of
boundary separated from that of claims upon
Mexico.
Now, sir, all these provisions about boundary are
perfectly senseess, on the superstition that the RIO
Grande Is the true boundary. five justly own to
that river, the boundary already settled, and
qures and allows negotiation upon that subject.
| Every document submitted by the President him
SELF shows the incorrectness of the oft repeated
declaration that Mexico invaded the United States,
and convcts him of gross misrepresentation.
| The correspondence between MIR. Donelson, our
Charge IN Texas, and our government, submitted
ny Ile rIcsiurpl IN i'is u""u" ,"esV"gr. Dn"a"'her
9 lS45 contains conclusive evidence of the fulfill
ty of our claim to the Rio Grande, and the utter
talsity of The Presidents declasatlon.
Mr. Doneson writing to Mr. Buchanan, from
! Galveston under date of June 2, lS45, says, at
is believed that Mexico is concentrating troops up
on the Rio Grande ,chere IeraS. as yet, has eSta6-
Hshed no posts"
Under date of June %, l645 Mr.. Donelson, says
ces and the Rio Grande, you are aware, has been
in the possession of both parties Texas has held
in peace Corpus Christi. Mexico has held SANTA
go. Both parties have had occasional possession
of Loreto and other higher points. Mexico, has
however threatened a renewal OF war Tor the whole
OF Texas if she accepts the proposal OF annexation
to the Union. If she undertakes such an eXpedi-
ton she of course puts upon the hazard OF war
the whole claim, and gives us the right OF going,
not only 10 the Rio Grande, but wherever else we
may please"
Here, then, Mr.. Chairman, we have The confess
: sion of our own agent sent to Texas TO LOOK allei
our interests, and to learn the facts IN the case,
that Texas had no posts on the Rio Grande; that
Mexico beld Santiago, and that our right to go 10
the Rio Grande would exists only IN case OF sue
cessfn war with Mexico, which would IN iact give
us the same right to 90 any where else IN MEXICO
S The same confession Is made 10 MS no'e u tiie
Secretary under date of July2, 1915: MY position
is. tina, we can hold Corpus Christi and all other
poin,s mn The NueceS ltattacked, the right OF de-
f.. fence will authorize us TO eXpel the MeXlcahS 10
4 the Rio Grande. 1t is better for US 10 await ti'e
attack than to incur Tue risk oil embarrassing t'o
e question OF annexation with Inc consequences Vi
: immediate possession of the t'rrltory to Inc MO
: Grande. You WI nul ull' ""'e '
r point" a., - ~,
: In letter to Geu. Taylor, June 2Sth, Mr. Donel-
a son uses nearly the same language: The occu-
t patton Of the country between the Nueces ana Tue
u Rio Grande, you are aware IS disputed question:
: Texas holds Corpus Christi; Mexico HOLDS SANTA
: 90 near the mouth of the Rio Grande. The
5 threatened invasion of Texas, however, by Mexico
l. is founded upon the assumption that Texas has no
e Territory independent of Mexico. You can safely
5 hold possession of Corpus CHRISTI and all other
= points up the Nueces and if Mexico attempts TO
l. dslodge YOU drive her beyond the Rio Grande.'
Here we have repeated confessions OF an agent on
y the spot who guarded every point" am attempt,
/; ed to make the most of his case, that Texas had
no possession west of Corpus Christi and the other
Vt points up the river Nneces; and that we could
was in possession, only in case of repeIug an at
tack and of pursuing her defeated forces
> But the proof of the falsy Of the resident po-
1t stion does not stop here. Not only the documents
n si,,oI Iii ~ nnnnnl message. but the dOcu-