The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-09-12
TEXAS AND MEXICO.
To The Editor Of ths Union

Is the Texas question never to be at rest! When
Texas was fairly in the Union, and represented in
both houses OF Congress- thought there was end
of it. But now it seems the public mind is to be ma
raised with discussions of the boundary, and this only
for the sake ofpung the administration in the wrong,
and reproaching with the inconsistency of its pres
ent position with the revenue laws of the Union,
passed when the country beyond the Nueces was,
de fncio, though not de jure, foreign to us. This
cavil, however specious, Is utterly absurd The
fact that any territory, whether rghtfully our own
or no, is subject to foreign power, for the time
being, must necessarily put such territory in the
category of foreign States IN all things connected
with commerce, and especially with the impost II,
in the progress of foreign war; the eastern shore OF
Virginia should be occupied by the enemy, will any
one contend that European goods coming from
Cherrystone would be received at Norfolk free Of
duty' And should the enemy withdraw or be ex-
PEELED, would any Legislation be necessary to restore
things to their former footngf
Heretofore European goods imported for the mar
ket of Santa Fe have been entitled to drawback Of du-
ties Some revenue officers of late have supposed that,
because we claim Santa Fe part of Texas,
therefore this drawback should no more be allowed.
This decision has been reversed by the Secretary
of the Treasury and the President. Why Because,
in point of fact, Santa Fe is not subject to our laws;
the revenue laws of another power prevail there;
goods taken from St. Louis pay duty at Santa Fe; and
therefore the duties payable the United States
mit,ed As long as the authorities at Santa Fe are
in condition to collect impost there, the reason of
the drawback will remain, and the letter of the law
must prevail. When our rig hts are established
when our flag waves over Santa Fe-when duties
are collected there by revenue officers goods
coming from the west, and none goods going
from the east, then the of the drawback will
| cease, and the drawback will no more be allowed
In either aspect Of the case, it is no more than an
affair of commercial arrangement, not at all affected
by the right or wrong of our claim to the country.
But it is desirable and indispensable to be in the
right; and no man better knows that the Rio Bravo
is the true boundary ofTexas, than that canting pre-
| cisan, Mr., Guizot, who is so anxious to keep our
| consciences undefed. is with him would argue
the question, and l would base my arguments on
documentary evidence in his own hands. | would
refer him to the archives Of France, and question
him thus:
! Do you not know that the name of Louisiana is
a name give in compliment to the king of France, to
a country distinct from Canada and also distinct
from the province of Illinois, on the Upper Missis-
sppi, and it's waters'
| Do you not know that this name was given by
the bold advenurer La Salle in virtue of discovery
made by him on the bay of St. Bernard, where he
landed and endeavored to form settlement?
| Do you not know that, claiming under this dis
covery, the French government, more than one hun
dred years ago, warned off the Spaniards from all
the country Of the Rio Bravo, that which be-
longed to France in right of the claim set up by La
| Salle1
Do you not know that just before the cession Of
Louisiana by France to Spain, the Rio Bravo was
by solemn treaty, established as the boundary be.
tween the French and Spanish provincesi
Are you not aware that the cession following roor
after made this boundary to be thing of no i'm or
lance and Of little notoriety'
| Do you not know that when Spain afterwards re-
troceded Louisiana to France, BY the boundarie
by iohich France had ceded 10 her, these words hat
| reference to the boundary treaty above mentioned?
| nn Won kpbu thafu hen Franco cpded In , bs
United States, by the boundaries By tohich Spnir
had ceded to her, these words had reference to the
same thing1 ...... .. .
Are you not sensible that this repeated reference
to boundary must convince every thinking man that
the boundary had been ascertained and that other.
wise such language ridiculous and absurd
Is not the boundary treaty in your hands, and il
it establishes any boundary but the Rio Bravo, why
do you not show III
We claim under France. Is it honest in France
having the title deeds in her possession to suppress
the evidence of the title conveyed by her to usi Is
it honest in you, Mr. Guizot (pus, upright, philo,
sophical man having this evidence in your hands
to hold il back and TO collide with, and abet oul
enemies in their claim to what is by youi
deedi ..... ... e..
DO you not know that when Napoleon ceded
Louisiana to the United States, he did not take or
himself to sell the inhabitants like sheep in the mar
ket, but stipulated their behalf that, occasion
might permit they should be admitted into the
Union on the same footing with the old Statesp
Was not the faith Of France pledged to these poo
creatures to insist the fuhlment Of this stpula-
tom and can you, France, justify yourself foi
throwing obstacles in the way Of it's fulhlmenr
J DO you not know that, when the government o.
the United States bartered away Texas to Spain fol-
against the proceeding, claimed their rights under IN,
treaty and resolved, at least that IL they could no
get into the Union, they would not pass under IN,
Spanish yoke1
Are you not sensible that, IN declaring herself in.
dependent Of Spain, Texas acted IN perfect conss
tency with this protest. and not at all in prejudice
remuneration of the right to come into the Union