State journal & flag., 1846-12-18
VOLUME 4.

I1aQ ln5 unlawful seizures OF American pro-
perry, and the violation of personal liberty
OF our citizens, TO say nothing OF the insults
10 our flag which have occurred IN the ports
of Mexico, taken place ON the high seas,
they would themselves long since have con
stiuied state of actual war between The
two countries. In so long suffering Next
co 10 violate her most solemn treaty obliga-
tons, plumber our citizens of their property.
and imprison their persons without afford
ing them any redress, We have failed to per"
form one OF the first and highest duties
which every government owes to its citizens;
and the consequence has been, that many
of them have BEEN reduced from state Of
affiuence to bankruptcy. The proud name
OF American citizen, which ought 10 pro-
tect all who bear it from insult and injury
throughout the world, has afforded no such
protection 10 our citizens in Mexico. We
had ample cause OF war against Mexico
long before the breaking out of hostiities.
But even then we forbore to take redress
into our own hands, until Mexico herself be-
came the aggressor by invading our soil in
hostile array, and shedding the blood of our
citizens.
Such are the grave causes of complaint
on the part oil the United States against
Mexlco--causes which existed long before
The annexation of Texas to the American
Union; and yet, animated by the love Of
peace, and magnanimous moderation, We
did not adopt those measures of redress
which, under such circumstances, are the
justified resort Of injured nations.
The message discusses, at considerable
length, the causes which lead to the indie
pendence of Texas, and recapitulates the
leading historical facts connected herewith.
In this connection it disposes. in the follow.
ing terms, OF the argument that the Niece s
isthe western boundary Of Texas:
Texas, as coded to the United States
by France in 1909, has been always claimed
as extending west OF the Rio Grande or
Rio Bravo. This fact is established by the
authority of our most eminent Statesmen
s at period when the question was as well
if not better understood than it is at the
present. During Mr.. Jeffersoa's admins
tration, Messrs. Monroe and Pinckney, who
had been sent on special mission 10 Mad
rid,chargej, among other things, with the
adjustment OF the boundary between the
two countrys, in a note addressed to the
Spa nish Minister Of Foreign Affairs, under
date of the twenty eight Of January, 1905,
assert that the boundaries Of Louisiana, as
ceded to the United States by France, "are
the river Perdido on the east, and the river
Bravo on the west:" and they add that
i" the facts and princi Piles which justify this
conclusion are SO satisfactory to our gov
eminent as to convince it that the United
States have not better right to the island
Of New Orleans, under the cession referred
TO, than they lave 10 the whole district of
territory, which is above described"
Down to the conclusion of the Florida
treaty, in February, 1919, by which thi
territory was ceded to Spain, the United
States asserted and maintained their ter.
ritonal rights to this extent. In tho month
of June, 1918, during Mr.. Monroe's admin.
istration, information having been received
that number Of foreign Adventures had
landed at Galveston, with the avowed pur.
; pose Of forming settlement iE that vic II
atty, special messenger was despatched by
the government of the United States. with
instructions from the Secretary Of State,
to warn them to desisr, should they be
found there, "or any other place north OF
the Rio Brvo, and within the territory
claimed by the United Slutes." He was
instructed. SHOULD they be found in the
country north of that river, TO make known
80 them, the surprise with which the Pres
ident has seen possession thus taken, with.
out authority from the United States, Of a
place within their territorial limits, and
upon which no lawful settlement can be
made without their SANCTION" He was
instructed to call upon them to "avow un-
der what national authority they profess to
act" and to give them due warning " that
the place is within the United States, who
will suffer no permanent settlement to be
made there, under any authority other than
their own" AS late as the eighth Of July,
as42, the Secretary Of State Of the United
States, in a note addressed to our minister
in Mexico, maintains that, the Florida trea.
ty Of 1919, the territory as far west as the
Rio Grande was confirmed to Spain. ln
that note he states that. "by the treaty Of
The twenty second of February, 1919, be.
tween the United States and Spain, the Sa-
6ine was adopted as the line OF oundary
between the two Powers. Up 10 that period,
nc considerable colonization had been ef-
fected in Texas; but the territory between
the Sabine and the Rio Grande being con.
frmed to Spain by the treaty, applications
were made to that Power for grants of land,
and such grants, or permssions Of settle.
ment, were in fact made by the Spanish au.
thorities in favor Of citizens OF the United
States, proposing to emigrate to Texas in
numerous families, before the declaration
Of the independence of Mexico"
The Texas which was ceded to Spain by
Che Florida treaty of 1919, embraced all the
country now claimed by the State of Texas
between the Nueces and the Rio Grande.
I The republic of Texas always claimed this
river as the western boundary, and in her
sreaty made with Santa Anna in May, 1886
he recognized it as such. By the constiiu.
Aion which Texas adopted in March. 1886,
senatorial and representative districts were
organized extending west Of the Nueees.
The congress Of Texas, on the l9ih Of De.
eember. 1896, passed "An act to define the
boundaries Of the republic Of Texas" in
which they declared theI Rio Grande from
its mouth 10 its source 10 be their boun-
dary. and by the said act they ex ended their