The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1846-05-19

American Congress, were engaged in nm pnbo,v
an unrighieous, and damnable cause, in claimino
title to the Rio del Nor,e7
butsn, have already said that do not deem
IL necessary to rely upon ahese old authorities FIR
the full and complete justification of 0ur Govern.
ment IN defending possession of the country ON the
left bank Of the Rio del Norte. There q ha,,ar
and higher evidence than this. TIE rennhl;c r.,
Texas held the country by more plorions ,;,le
than can be traced through the old mans and nns.
tty records, of Spanish and French courts She
held the country by the same title that our fore.
fathers OF the revolution acquired our territory and
achieved the Independence Of this republic. She
neiu II oy v't.ss OF her declaration of indepen-
dence, setting forth the iaalienable rioh,s of man
oy men who had hearts to feel aud minds 10 com.
Prehend the blessings of freedom; by PRINCIPLES
successfully maintained by the irresistible power
OF her arms, and consccrated by the precious blood
OF her glorious heroes. These are her monnma,,s
ct little to the empire which she has Voluntarily
annexed to our Uaion, and which We have pliubt-
ed our iath TO protect and defend against invasion
or ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. ehave received the repub
nG VI ieAas, with her entire territory, into this
union. as an independent and sovereign State. and
have no right to ALLEVIATE or surrender anv nor,ion
ot A. th,s obligation, the gentlemen of the on.
position admit, so far as respects the country to
The northeast OF the Nueces, but deny both The
obligation and right to go beyond that river.
Should have felt myself under peculiar oboa,iooo
to them, If they would have condescended To in.
sorm us upon what grounds they assume the Nue..
ces TO have been the boundary line of the republic
vi texas. ana draw distinction between our
right to the country on the opposite sides of that
stream.
Know nothing in the history of that republic
from Its birth to Its translation, that will author
ize any such assumption. In order that I niobt
De certain OF the accuracy Of the facts, to which
am about to refer, have taken the precau,;on
within the last few minutes, to have authenticated
by the testimony of the two most DISTINGUISHED
actors Gone of whom now recognise in nv eye1
OF 'nose thrilling and glorious of the Texan
revolution. Before this high authority I assert
that as early as the Campaign of 1885. there
were soldiers and officers too in the Texan army
who resided IN the country between the Nueces
ana the Del Norte. These same heroic men fr.,n
the west side OF the Nueces, or SO manynf them
as had not been butchered by the Mexican sol.
dlery, were present at the battle of San .Jacinto
on the 2lst of April. 1886. when Santa Anna was
captured, and the Mexican army annihia,ed -
h''hongh lew IN number and from their resden-
ces exposed to more of the barbarities of the Mexi
cans IMAM any other portion of Texas, thew were
faithful to the cause of freedom. and constant
In their devotion to the cause of tho renublic
throughout Its existence. Immediately after the
battle OF San Jacnto, Santa Anna made promo
sition to the commander of the Texan army TO
make treaty of peace, by which Mexico would
recognise the independence of Texas. with the
hIo Del Norte as the boundary. In NAV, 1886.
sucn treaty was made between the government
OF Texas and Santa Anna, in which the indepen-
dence OF the republic of Texas was acknowledged
and the Rio Del Norte recognised as the boueda,
~ In pursuance of this treaty, the remnant of
the Mexican army were ordered by Santa Anna
To retire beyond tho confines of the republic of
Texas, and take their position on the west side
OF the Rio Del Norte, which they did in conform
ity with the treaty of peace.
Mr.J. w. Houston. | wish to ask ofthe gen. |
teman from Illinois, was that treaty ever ratified
by the government of Mexico?
Mr.. Douglass. | will answer the pentleman,s
question with great pleasure. The .reaty was
never ratified on the part of Mexico by any BODY
except Santa Anna. for the very good reason that,
IN the year previous. Santa Anna had usuroed
the government of Mexico, had abolished the CON |
stitutlon and the regularly established govern. |
ment. and taken all the powers of rr-ernmen,
into his own hands. To give stability to the
power which he had usurped by the sword, he
called Congress around him, composed of his
own adersnts and followers, and had himself for
maliy proclaimed dictator of the republic of
Mexico, and. as such, clothed with all the pow
ers OF government, civil and military In this
capacity, he marched his armies into Texas for
the purpose of reducing those people into subec
tion to the despotism which he had established,
and DISCRIMINATING the last vestipe of freedom
which remained in all his dominions. While en-.
gagged in this work of desolation with FIRE and
sword, committing butcheries. and barbarties.
unknown to civilized warfare, he fell into the
hands OF the heroic Houston and his gallant lit
tie army captive to those whom he was siriy-
ing to reduce to captivity. Then it was that
the tyrant became the suppliant-a supplan,
Tor his Lille and Iiberty-at the hands of those he
had designed as his victims. There the dictator
bent the knee in prayer for mercy, Offering to
recognise the independence Of Texas, with the
Rio Del Norte. Subsequently the treaty was
entered into in due form, | have already stated.
and the Mexcans evacuated Texas in pursuance
OF Its provisions, retiring to the west side of the
Rio Del Norts. This treaty was entered into bv
the government of Mexico de facto, Santa Anna
combining in his own person at the time all the
powers of the government, and as such was bind
ing on the Mexican nation.
ITO be concluded.1