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

spect, by directing his attention to the va
rious maps, records, histories, and authorl-
ties--Spanish, English, and French-by
which il is shown that the Rio del Norte
was the boundary line between the French
province Of Louisiana and the Spanish pro-
Vinces of Mexico. The gentleman can sat.
isfy himself on that point, If he will take
the pains to read despatch q might with
propriety say book, from its very great
lengthy written by the American Secretary
of State, John @. Adams, to the Spanish
minister, [Don Onis, in 1919. He will
there find the authorities all collected and
reviewed with clearness and ability which
siefies refutation, and demonstrates the va
lidity of the American title under the treaty
Of 1903, to the country in dispute, together
with expressions Of his opinion, by the ven-
cradle gentlemen from Massachusetts, Mr..
Adams, that our title to the Del Norte
was as clear as the island of New Orleans.
This was the opinion Of Adams in 1919.
It was the opinion of Merssrs.B Monroe and
Pinkney in 1905. 1t was the opinion ofl
jefferson and Madison all our Presi-
dents, and all administration, from the day
of the purchase of Texas in 1909, to the
fatal treaty Of REIMBURSEMENT to Spain in
1919. give the gentlemen the opinions
of these men in opposition to the opinion
Of Almonte and his brother Mexican gene
ral, and then leave the question Of bounda-
nv prior to the Texan revolution. Will he
tell us, and his constituents, that those dis
tinguished statesmen, including his friend
from Massachusetts,, [Mr. Adams, as we'll
as Mr.. Polk and the American Congress,
were engaged in an unholy, an unrighteous,
and damnable cause, in claiming title to
the Rio del Norte2 49,.
But, sir, have already said that do not
deem it necessary to rely upon these old
authorizes for the complete justification ol
our government in defending possession OF
the country on the left bank of the Rio del
Norte. There is better and higher evidence
than this. The republic of Texas held the
country by more glorious title than can be
traced through the old maps and musty rec
ords ofSpanish and French courts. She
held the country by the same title that our
forefathers of the revolution acquired our
territory and achieved the independence Of
this republic. She held it by virtue of her
declaration of independence, setting forth
the inalienable rights of man, by men who
had hearts to feel and minds to comprehend
the blessings offreedom; by principles sue
cessfully maintained by the irresistible pow
or Of her arms, and consecrated by the
precious blood of her glorious heroes
These are her monuments Of title to the
empire which she has voluntarily annexed
to our Union, and which we have plighted
our faith to protect and defend against inva.
sion or dismemberment. We have re-
ceived the republic Of Texas, with her en-
tire territory, into this Union, as an inde
pendent and sovereign State, and have NJ
right to ALLEVIATE or surrender any portion
oft. This obligation, the gentlemen oftht
opposition admit, so far as respects the
country to the northeast Of the Nueces, bu
deny both the obligation and right to &c
beyond that river | should have felt my.
self under peculiar obligations to them, il
they would have condescended to inform us
upon what grounds they assume the Nue.
ces to have been the boundary line of the
republic of Texas; and draw distinction
between our right to the country on the ops
posite sides of that stream. | know moth
ing in the history of that republic from its
birth to its translation, that will authorize
any such assumption. In order that might
be certain Of the accuracy of the facts, to
which l am about to refer, have taken the
precaution, within the last few minutes,
to have them authenticated by the testimo-
ny of the two most distinguished actors Zone
Of whom | now recognise in my eye) OF
those thrilling and glorious scenes of the
Texan revolution. Before this high au-
thority | assert that as early as the cam
paign of 1885, there were soldiers .and Of
ficers too in the Texan army, who resided
in the country between the Nueces and the
Del Norte. These same heroic men from
the west side Of the Nueces, or so many o
them as had not been buschered by the
Mexican soldiery, were present at the bat
tie of San Jacinto, on the 21st of April
1886, when Santa Ana was captured, ant
the Mexican army annihilated. Although
few in number, and from their residence.
exposed to more Of the barbarities of the
Mexicans than any other portion of Texas
they were faithful to the cause of freedom
and constant in their devotion to the cause
Of the republic throughout its existence
Immediately after the battle Of San Jacnto
Santa Ana made proposition to the com
nander Of the Texan army, to make
treaty ofpeace, by which Mexico woul
recognise the independence Of Texas, witt
the Rio Del Norte as the boundary. Il
May, 1885, such q treaty was made be
tween the government Of Texas and SAINT
Ana, in which the independence of the re
public Of Texas was acknowledged, and tn
., Rio Del Norte recognised as the boundary
:, In pursuance of this treaty, and the rem
rant of the Mexican army were ordered b
Santa Ana to retire beyond the confines
the republic of Texas, and take their pos
ton on the west side Of the Rio Del Mort
which they did in conformity with the tre
sty Of peace. Y .1' ''.,@'
Mr.. J. w. HoUsToN.--I wish to ask