Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1846-12-17
From the Albany Argus.
Has Mexico amy Territory on
Rights,


"Becausc we have repclled the lncurslon
Of The Mexicans upon our own territory, on
have thrown back with u powerful recon- III
slaughter Of our sotlery, we are accused, b.
such prints as the Tribune, OF rapacliy,
thirst for territorial acquisition, and wroni
aud injustice towards Mexico"
| 1, Is SO, Messrs. Editors of the Argus ?
| DO you say, on your honor as Christian gen
lilrmcn, that the east bank of the RIO Grand'
opposite MatamoTos, was '0m 0Wh' pnor Il
Gen. Tay lor's occupation OF 1t, aDd mat lli'
MexIcaus made "mcurSions" upon it WI
you tell Us distinctly that you MAINTAIN thi
as historical truth II? Whether you do or d,
not, we ask you to lay before your readers
the following evidence 10 support OF our vie"
Of the question. volunteered by witnesses o
your own parry, VIZ.
Hon. Charles J. HgersoH of Pa.-,hen ant
now Chairman of the House Committee o
Foreign a fairs by the choice OF your and hi'
parly-in a speech in favor OF Annexation
at The very last Session of Congress, in whlcl
he officially assured the Country that ne
War would result from that measure, said
"1he territorial limits are making IN the
con6gura,lon of this continent by an Almigh'
ly hand. The Platte. the Arkansas, the Red
and the Mississippi Rivers
these are naturally our waters with Their
estuarles IN the bay of Mexico. The stu.
pendous deserts beilDeen The .Nueces and The
Bravo Rivers are the natural boundaries be.
tween the Ango.Saxon aud The Maurlan'an
Races. R! There ends The vallty 2fMe WesI'.
There .Merico begins.
We ought TO stop there becadse iniermina
bic conflicts MUST ENsUE, either on our 60
ing South or their coming North OF that 81
gontc boundary. While peace is cherished
that boundary will be kept sacred. Not I'LL
The spirit Of conquest RACES will the people on
either side molest or NIX with each other."-
Congressional Globe, p. s6.
What say you to this testimony, Messleurs
of the Argus? Do you challenge the com
potency of the witness, or the pertnency Of
the testimony? Was not Gen. Taylor, after
remaining for months unmolested on hts
side of the natural boundary between the
Valley of the West and Mexico. ordered to
cross this natural boundary at the head OF
his army, and take post in what Mr.. lnger
sol last year declared to be Mexico? ? And
was he not notified on his march that this ad
vance would be regarded as an net Of War?
Had not San Isabel been always TIL then
Mexican post, with Mexican custom house?
and was It not hastily abandoned and fired
on Gen. Taylor's approach? Was not Gen
II. repeatedly demonstrated with on this in
va sion and cnirca,ed to return to the Nneces
which of course he as n soldier acting under
express orders was not at liberty to do p
And did not one Of our officers write home
from his camp opposite Ma,amoros, just after
he had taken that position, letter to the
Spirit of the Times, OF which The following is
an extract
SCAMP opposite Ma,amoros, April 10, 1916.
Our situation here is an extraordinary one.
Right in the snemy's country. actually occupy
ing their corn and cotton fields. The people Of
lhe soil eIping their homes, and we, with
small handful Of men, marching with coors
flying and drums beating, right under The
very guns of one Of their principal cities, dis
playing the star.spanged banner, as Tin de
fance. under their very nose, and they with
m army twice our size, nt least, sit quietly
down, and make not the least resistance, moi
The first effort TO drive the invaders off,
There is no parallel to it,"
This was several days before Ampnda
notified General Taylor that he must retire
10 the Nucces, or war must ensne. What
says the Argus to this testlmony? Were
The Mexicans who abandoned their home
md fled across the river on our army's ap
proach, trespassers on our soil or are they
10 be regarded as refuge traitors? Answer
Finally will the Argus ohlge us by copy
ing the extract we have hitherto quoted from
Senator r. H. Benion's speech of May 9th,
1914, on the Tyler Annexation Treaty show
ing that all the east bank of the Rio Grande
from portions of four different departments
NJ Mexico, and never belonged to Texas at
all-ihat its towns OF Taos, Santa Fe, Abu
lucrqne, Laredo, &c, &c, are all Mexican,
and never were anything else
The Argus will readily find the extract
perJaiim in Whig Almanac for 1916, page
~, closing with the following resolution
Resolved, Tha, The incorporation of The
'eH bank of The Rio Del .Norie into the .4meri
can Union, By virtue of a treaty Wuh Ieras,
compvhending, as the said Incorporation
couid do, a part of The .Meriean departments
IF .NeW .Nerico, chihuahua, Coahuila, and
Iamauiipos, Would be AN ACT OF DIRECT
AGGRESSION ON MExIco for all the conse
luences of which the United States would
stand responsible"
How does The Argus meet this solemn as.
'crvaton of one of the ablest and most eml.
nent Senators OF its own party-one who is
,est informed upon and naturally most in.
,lined to extend the territorial limits Of Tex
Is?
But the Tribune accuses our Govern
nent of "rapacily, and thirst for territorial
,cqulsi,ion." Yes, Sirs, we do and on
more evidence than that you refer to. What
means the mastering ofa Western army for
N attack on Santa Fe /? The individuals
nay have no higher ends than plunder, but
he Government must mean conquest. What
Iarm have the Santa Feans done us that we
hould let loose our Western hunters upon
hem? And what is the meaning Of this
assage from The Nashville Unon,' well
nown as Mr.. Polk's confidential organ in
is own Tennessee
"We understand. from a reliable source,
hat II is the intention of The Goosrnmen 10
end a force 10 California sufficient 10 take
'ossession Of that country and 10 hold on 10 IL
is supposed that the mounted men from
Arkansas, Missouri, and probably Tennessee
viii be directed to California. We sincere
Y hope that this information may be true,
nd, from the source through which i, il de
ived, we are satisfied that it is reliable. Vel
tgard California no,o as ours, and with tia,
csult all will be satisfied"