Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1846-06-20

the first place, he attempted subsanae our title 10 the
whole country east of the Rio Gande by referring the early
boundaries of Texas But he had demonstrated that
TO his saacon he confessed that these old bounda-
res, and consequently his argument founded upon them
nothing to his purpose The question: he said not how
the P0rnce OF Texas bounded but how the RepubHc
Of Texas bounded In this way he yielded all arguments
drawn from the boundaries prior to 1886 and them show
that he had settled principle upon the subject he returned
to the question Of the early boundary and referred to the
gument OF my venerable colleague (Mr ADAMs) when he
Secretary of State This vaclang course, this employ
and rejecting almost argument succession has
left but little which requires any reply. There are however,
few points which demand passing notice The gentle
told us that there soldiers in the revoluona.
ny army OF Texas who from the country of the
Nueces aud from this he argued that all that country fell
within the Republic of Texas But does not every one see
the utter alacy of this reasoning presume there might
have been soldiers in the Texan army from the country
west OF the Nueces but to every west of that there
were, presume, ten from the country Of the Sabine
And if this fact proves that the country between the Nueces
and the Rio Grande included in Texas, the argument
would prove that large section of the United States
rightfuly included in that Republic But sir the question
is not from what country section of country the soldiers
came, but what country did they extend their
And say without fear of contradiction that they
able to extend their conquess to the Rio Gande They have
at different periods made attempts at conqueng the country,
but have always been repulsed or captured
The gentleman has said that one member of the Texan
Congress had resided west of the Nuece and hence he in
ferred that all that country to the Rio Grande belonged
Texas But admitting the fact to be he has stated the
conclusion does follow The distance from the Nueces
to the Rio Grande is hundred and sixty miles, and
il it should be admitted that few residing in the mme-
date valley of the Nueces should call themselves Texans and
consent to be governed by Texan laws, this does Justify
the inference that the Texans possess the whole country up
the Rio Grande II is also true that residing of the
Rio Grande represented in the Mexican Congress- and
that fact is as good for them the other is for
Again. the gentleman has told that this whole country
included in of the Congressional districts in Texas
Ihp halIa Itcfrt, h,if
manifest that whatever may be the language of their law it
include territory but what is rghtfuy theirs Again.
the gentleman says that this country included within
of collection Districts and subject to laws
This statement borrowed from the message Of the President
requires great qualification 1t is that collection dis
ct has been established at Corpus Christi, which happens
to be the west side of the Nueces at its mouth But that
system extended to the Rio Grande,
true And though the message designed give that
impression, the documents submitted with the message
pressy contradict it, General Taylor in his despatch dated
Corpus Christi, February &c. 1916, informs the President
that he had taken every opportunity of giving the impression
to the Mexcans that the Mricaas Epig this side (of
the Rio Grande) will not be disturbed in any way by
troops that they will be protected in all their rights and
usages and that every thing which the army may will
be purchased from them at fair prices also stated that until
the matter should be finally adjusted between the Govern
ments the harbor of Basos Santiago would be open the
free of the Mexicans heretofore. The views
impressed upon the Merican custom house officer
Brasos Santiago by Captain Hardee who commanded the
Here Mr. Chairman, have the authority of Gen. Taylor
for the fact that Mexcans possession the bank OF
the Rio Grande that Mricans icng there that they
had the navigation of the habor of BraSos Santiago, and
had custom house and cStOmh0uSe officer there How,
them could the message declare with propety TRUTH
that laws extended the whole country
between the Nueces and the Rio Crande Gen Taylor fur
ther informs that in approaching Point Isabel he found
ame and that arriving there he learned that the port
captain, who committed the act had made his escape and
that with the exception Of three noensve Mexcans
the rest had left the place for Maamoros This evidence is
clear and conclusive that the Mexcans
the country the east bank OF the Rio Grane In fine the
Executive has long been possession of this The
cetary of War; Mr. Marcy, in his order General Taylor
dated July 8, s45 says ''Ths Department informed
that Mexico has military establishments the side
OF the Rio Grande which are, and for time have been
III the actual occupancy OF her troops"
We have then the most conclusive evidence that Mexico
was possession the left bank Of the Rio Gandc, having
citizens living there, custonhouses and military posts there
What then, becomes Of the declaration Of the gentleman from
Illinois, the declaration in the message from which he Dor
rowed It, that possession and that laws
extended the whole country between the Nueces and the
Rio Grande But the gentleman from Illinois has another
argument which he places great reliance that
tain time armsce concluded between the Mexcans
and Texans and provision that the Mexican forces
should be Withdrawn the right bank Of the Rio Grande
Now, would gladly ask that gentleman whether he has
confidence IN argument Of this sort Does every
know that nothing is in such than to
that the armies both sides shall be withdrawn from
the action But who ever thought before that such
agreement for the time being would settle the future boun-
Diary Of the two The Mexican might with more
propety rely upon the fact that General Taylor took his
position upon the Nueces to prove that that river and
the Rio Grande, the true boundary.
There is, in my apprehension capital defect in all the
argument adduced to the Texan boundary west TO the
Rio Grande. There may be- and probably are few persons
living Immediately upon the bank of the Nueces who
have acted with the Texans They have been cut off from
the valley of the Rio Grande by the wilderness and deserts
which lie between those two rivers and may have regarded
themselves belonging Texas. But this, if il he admit
ted to the fullest extent does not prove that Texas has
extended her laws hundred and fifty miles further the
Rio Gande and people Of another speaking another
language, and owing allegiance to another Government
Texas has title herself except what she obtained by
cvoulion-that is, by conquest and possession Did she
carry her to the Rio Grande She has made
several attempts and has always been deeatedn each
her forces have been driven back captured Does she hold
The country west OF the Nueces except perhaps small
portion in the immediate vicinity Of the river There is
particle Of evidence that she does. Mexico being the org
nal owner, every principle Of law, would still continue to
own all except what actually revoted conquered by
Texas And Texas conquered the country the
Rio Grande, and it is now, the approach Of
General Tayors army, inhabited by the subjects Of Mexico
who owed allegiance TO that Government and who
faithful TO their country TO burn their dwellings the
approach OF the American army, and the river to their
countrymen, | contend that there is not a prce Of
proof that the whole country of the Rio rande belonged
to Texas or belongs to the United States.
The President himself has furnished evidence that the
Mexicans in possession in the valley Of the Rio Grande
and the most that possibly be said is that the territory
in dispute In all such cases, possession is good title
against imperfect We had, therefore, by pnci-
pie Of law right to dposscss her by arms pending the
oversy and especially she willing to receive special
minister to expressly upon this subject Of boundary
The advance of therefore,