Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-05-19

del Norle was not the boundary line between Tex
as and MeIico-that the Republic Of Texas ne
yer extended beyond The Nueces-and conse-
quently our government was under no obliga-
lion, and had no right, 10 protect the lives and
property OF American citizens beyond the last
mentioned river. In support Of this assumption,
The gentleman has referred 10 lie dispute which
he says arose between The Provinces Of Coahua
and Texas and the decisions OF Aimonie ami
some other Mexican General thereon prior 10 The
Texan revolution; and while those provinces con-
stitu,cd a stale oi the Mexican cnuiedcracy. He
has also referred 10 MIR. ilas;ingss History oil
Texas, In which we are also informed that The
same boundary is assigned 10 the Mexican pro-
vince OF Texas. do not deem il necessary TO go
back 10 period anterior 10 the Texan revolution
10 ascertain The limits and boundaries Of the re-
public OF Texas. But il the gentleman has 20
great reverence for antiquity as 10 place more
reliance upon old authorities, which have become
obsolete and inapplicabe, in consequence OF The
changed relations 81 that county, will crafty
his taste in that respect BY directing his attention
70 The various maps, records, histories and au-
thuri,ies Spanish, English and French by
which il is shown that he Flo Ge Nurie was the
boundary line between the French province oil
Louisiana and the Spanish provinces OF Mexico.
The gentleman can satisfy himself on that point,
il ne will take the pains 10 read despatch q
might with propriety say book, from its very
great length, written BY The American Secretary
OF State, John q. Adams, 10 The Spanish Minis
Ter, (Don Onis,) in 1919. He will there find the
authorities all collected and reviewed with a
cearness and ability which dcfes relulalion, and
demonstrates The validity Of The American title
under the treaty of 1903 10 the country in dis
pute, together with the expression OF his opinion
b. the venerable gentleman from Massachusetts,
MIR. Adams tina, our title 10 The Del Noie was
as clear as 10 tie island 81 New Orleans This
was the opinion of Mr.. Adams in 1919 Ii was
the opinion Of hlessis. Monroe and PinkGey in
1895. !, was The opinion OF Jefferson and Mddi-
sun--oi all oar Presidents, aud all admin>ifa-
lioEs, from The day OF the purchase OF Louisiana,
in l,03, 10 the fatal treaty OF REIMBURSEMENT 10
Spain in 1919. give The gentleman the opin-
ions Of these men in opposition 10 The opinion OF
Almonle and his brother Mexican General, and
then leave The question OF boundary prior 10 the
Texan revolution. viii lie tell us, and his con-
sliiuents that those distinguished statesmen, in
Guiding his friend from Massachusetts, MIR.
Adams, as we'll as Mr.. Polk and the American
Congress, were engaged in an uDholy, an upright
cous and damnablc cause, in claiming title 10 the
Rio del Norlel
But, sir, ! have already said that DO notdeem
il necessary 10 rely upon .hese Old authorities Tor
The lu and complete justification OF our govern
menl in dce1iiag possession OF the country on
The left bank Of The Rio del Norie There is bet
Ter and higher evidence than this. The republic
oil Texas held the county by more glorious IL
lie than can be traced through the old maps and
mu,ly records OF Spanish and French courts. She
held The country by the same tile thai our fore
fathers olihe revolution acquired our territory and
| achieved The independence OF this republic. She
held il by virtue OF her declaration OF indepen-
dence, setting forth the inalienabe rights OF man,
by men who had hearts 10 leel and minds 10 COM
prehend The blessings OF freedom; By principles
successfully maintained BY the irresistible power
OF her arms, ard coasecraled by the precious
blood OF Ii gl1riocs heroes. These are her mo-
nuinenJ> ii tide Ia Inc tmpre which she has so.
UNFAIRLY annexed 10 our Union, and which we
have pghied our faith to protect and defend
/ against invasion or SnemDermsL'. We have
received lhe republic OF Texas with her entire
territory into this Union, as an independent and
sovereign State and hava no tight 10 alternate or
surrender any portion % it, This obligation The
gentlemen OF the opposition admit, 50 far as re-
spects the country TO the norlheas, of the Nueces
bul deny both The obligation and right To go be.
yond that river. | should have elt myself under
peculiar obligations TO lhem il they would have
! condescented 10 inform US upon what grounds
I they assume The Ne1Ces 10 have been the boun-
ddty hoe Of the republic OF Texas, and draw a
distinction between our rights TO The country on
The opposite sides OF that stream. | know nothing
in the history ct that republic from lis birth 10 its
translation, that will authorize auy such assump-
/ ton.
In order that night be certain of the accu-
racy OF the facts, 10 which am abnG, TO refer |
have taken the prccauion, within the last few
| minutes, To have them authenticated BY the tes-
mony oi The two most distinguished ACTORS one
Of whom ! now recognize in my eye) of those
thrilling and glorious scenes OF the Texan Re-
volulon. Before this high authority assert,
that as early as the campaign OF 1885, there
were soldiers and officers 100 in the Texan army,
who resided in the country between the Nueces
and the Del Nole. These same heroic men
from The west side OF The Nneces, or 50 many OF
them as had not been butchered by The Mexican
so!dierv, were present al The battle Of San Jacn-
! 10, on Lie 2ls Of April, lS3i, when Santa a Nh
| was captured, and lie Mexican army annhia.
ici. Although few in number, and from their
residences, exposed 10 more of The baIharrs Of
The McSicans than any Other portion OF Texas,
they were faithful 10 the cause Of freedom, and
constant in their devotion 70 the cause OF The Re-
| public throughout its existence. Immediately
after the battle oil San Jacinio, Santa Ana made
proposition 10 the commander oil the Texan
army 10 make treaty ofpeace, by which Mexi-
co would recognize the independence ot Texas,
with The Rio del Nore as the boundary. In
May, 1886, such treaty was made between the
Government Of Texas and Santa Ana, in which
The independence of the Republic OF Texas was
acknowledged, and he Rio del Note recognized
as the boundary. In pursuance OF This treaty,
the remnant Of The Mexican army were ordered
by Santa Ana 10 retire beyond the confines Of
The Republic Of Texas, and take heir position on
| The west side of the RIO del Norc which they
did in conformity with the Treaty Of peace.
Mr.. J. w. Houston. | wish 10 ask OF The gen.
lIeman from Illinois, was that treaty ever ratified
BY The Government OF Mexico?
Mr.. Douglass. will answer the gentleman
question with great pleasure. Tha, Treaty was
never ratified on The part OF Mexico by any body,
EXCEPT Santa Ana, for The very good reason
that, in the year previous, Santa Ana had usurped
The Government OF Mexico, had abolished the
Constitution and The regularly established Go
vernment, and taken all the powers OF Govern
ment into his own hands. To give stability 10 the
power which he hal usurped by the sword, he
called Congress around him, composed Of his
own adhercnts and followers, and had himself for
malIv proclaimed dictator Of the Republic OF
| Mexico and, as such clothed with Ill the powers
of Government civil and military. In this ca
pacity, he marched his armies INFO Texas Tor The
4 purpose Of reducing those people into subIec'ion
10 the despoism which he had established, and e1-
terminating The last yestige Of freedom which re-
this work OF desolalion with fire and sword,
committing bulcheries and barbarlies unknown
10 civilized warfare, he fell into the hands Of the
heroic Houston and his gallant little army-a
captive TO those whom he was striving to reduce
TO captivity. Then il was, that the ,yrant became
The supplant-a suppliant for his lie and liberty
at The hands Of those he had designed as his
victims There the dictator bent the knee in
PRAYER Tor mercy, offering 10 recognise the indie
\ pendence OF Texas with The Rio cel Norle. Sub.
/ secucn,ly The Treaty was entered into in due
form, as have already stated, and the Mexicans
! evacuated Texas in pursuance of lis provisions,
I retiring 10 the West side OF the Rio del Norie.
| This Treaty was entered into BY the Government,
/ Of Mexico dc tacto, Santa Ana combining in his
own person at The time all the powers Of the Co.
veTDment, and as such was binding on the MeXi
can nation.
Mr. John Quincy Adams Idesire to inquire
of The gentleman from Illinois if Santa Ana was
moi a prisoner Of war al the time, and in dnress,
when he executed that Treaty.
Mr. Douglass, in reply. Santa Anna was a
prisoner OF war at The time, and so was The entire
government Of Mexico, he being the government