Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-05-20

NAL protest Of the Project OF the northern driet Of To.
msupas against occupation Of tho county which
eoee herewith Al this IL discovered that the
buildings at Point Isabel In flames then INFORM
ed the bearer OF the that would when
opposite to Ms,,uiors. aud dismissed the deprivation.
In what other part Of Teras. we ask, would the
American army and the American flag have met
with such reception All will concede that IL
could only have been upon Mexican soil and from
n Mexican population that an American CON-
mander would have been thus greeted.
We have thus examined the question OF title as
one OF fact. TO be determined, not by searching
archives and records, but by ascertaning in whose
| possession the country was when our army cross
ed the Neuces and marched TO the Rio Grande,
| in conformity to Executive orders. Can any man
deny that il was in possession of Mexican citizens,
Peaceably pursuing their ordinary avocations
Have we been yet pointed to a single spot over
which the Texas flag hoated or a Texan citizen
resided Never. What, then, becomes of the as.
sumption that Mexico began the war, because,
finding our troops upon the banks of the Rio
Grande, which she claims part of her soil,
she attacked themi Had not those troops first
expelled "thc people of the SOIL" whom they
found in peaceful occupation of it on their arrl-
vail
It's true, thatthe Texan Congress did, in 1886,
pass an act extending the jurisdiction of its laws
TO the mouth of the Rio Grande. But surely It
cannot be gravely argued that an act of the Tex
an Congress, which never was and never could
be enforced. is to settle question of disputed
boundary with adjoining State If so, what
becomes of our title to Oregon The British Par
lament is as omnipotent as a Texan Congress,
and in 1920 that body passed act declaring
that all Oregon English possession, and at
tached it TO Canada Will those that contend that
the Rio Grande is the western boundary of Texas
because the Texan Congress enacted, admit
that the whole Of Oregon belongs TO Great Britain,
because the British Parliament affirmed the fact
to be so But as Carrot Davis, OF Ky. from whose
able speech derive this fact, and upon which
may hereafter draw more largely, SAYS:
Texas herself has admitted ceci. that her law had
such consequences, and 1t would be wholly immaeria
whether she had had made such admission In 1889
Canaes Mexican chief attempted with the aid and
OF Texas estab ish the Republic Rio Grande
constituted OF the States OF TamauPas Coahuis, and Du-
range Its Independence declared and Cansc elected
President He thereupon marched his amy 10 Lnredo,
small Tamauipss the bank the Rio rande
and held possessOn OF It with his army for than
months In April, lsIO, be WAS attacked and defeated
by General Arisa, who commanded strong body OF Cen
tral Mexican troops and Csnaes, with OF his follow
reeaed into Texas In this struggle the Texan fleet
and land forces eo-oPeraed with Conass, and the
object OF that Government and him establish
OF the independence OF the Republic OF Rio Grsnde,
composed o States OF Tamaulpas, Coahuila and Du-
range the army Of Canaes occupying portion OF ramau
lPas between Texas and the Rio Grande. In the
time. he and Government OF Texas had entered
into secret agreement, which the h three articles are
follows:
LIST. The Presiden, OF the Republic Of Rio Grande
General Canales) pledges himself declare the indePen
denee OF the Republic at Rio Grande and 10 declare and
establish the State and Federal Constitution lc24
ss he Shall have established his headquarters within the
limits OF the Tertiary claimed by the SAID Republic.
%. That the Republic OF Rio Gfande SHALL immedi- /
atey the said declaration independence, recognize
the independence OF Texas.
81. The Republic Of Texas pledges herself AID the
FedeTnsts OF Rio Gtande, IN their struggle tor indepen-
oelce, directly her Independence recognised BY the Re-
public Of Rio Granie.
Nearly three years after the Of the Texas Congress
defining her boundary be the Rio Grande she
grayey and formally abandOns by acknowledging that
Tamaulpas and Coahuia constituted psrt OF another
Republic and instead OF claiming any par; Of them be
her territory, pledges herself and actually by her army and
navy aids the attempt mainain the independence OF
that otter county OF which section ha she had before
declared 10 be within her limits laeRrsl part sud
this the identical territory into which General Taylor
has marched has army the execution the orders OF
President Polk That law OF Texas had not at any time
the least erect over any country OF Nhieh Mexico IN
the possession and continued 10 hold, any which
Texas did establish her soicU end laws and at
her arrangement with Csnaes, there i pie
tue claim that annexed her any territory hus
situated The only :te which Texas has 10 territory - |
that OF conquest AL that she lad subdued by the sword
OF which she held the possession and which she
csed jurisdiction the time OF her annexation, and moth
ing more. was rishttHl!y Psrl Of Texas"
We have occupied as much space as We are
able to devote TO this subject to-day, intending TO
resume il at our leisure. The examination we
propose to make. Is necessary TO a right under.
Standing Of the origin Of The war in which we
find ourselves invoved-and which We hope,
being in, shall push to vigorous and trium.
plant conclusion. But, while Mexico has doubt
less given Just of offence wholly apart
from the Texas question, it does not the less Ee.
come the taxpayers and those who are to fight |
the battles OF the country, to enquire into the |
prominent causes Of the existing war, and to as. ,
certain whether it might not have been avoided /
by JudiciOus exercise of the powers confdcd to j
the President, without any sacrifice Of the nation
al righs, or any stain upon the national HONOR.
nay, whether it hes not resulted from an usurpa. !
ton oipower on the part Of the President. Ifths
be so, then will the people condemn the authors of
this unnecessary war, however zeaiously and ar
IDENTITY they may Cooperate in its prosecution
while 1t lasts.
General Taylor.
hta liar tCfar hal s.r II -.