The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-05-26

Texas POUNDS her claims, first on treaty with
President Santa Ana, and secondly on the act of the
Texan Congress in 1886. We will examine them
| in order;
General Santa Ana was taken prisoner ON m,
field Of San Jacnto April twenty second, 1896, and
the next day after entered into an with
General husk, then Secretary Of War for Texas by
which 1t was stipulated, first, that General Santa
Ana, his officers and soldiers were To be considered
prisoners OF war, with the eourteses and protection
usua among civilized nations; secondly that in his
capacity OF eommander-in-chief Of the Mexican
forces, he was TO order the main body Of his army,
under General Fllisola, TO retire beyond the Rio
Srande, and yield up, as they retired, the Alamo
and San Antonio to the Texans. These conditions
were fulfilled. The next however, on which turns
the hrst and major proportion OF the Texan claim
were not General Santa Ana on his part agreed to
acknowledge the Independence Of Texas, with the
Rio Grands for the western boundary Of the young
republic; and the cabinet of Texas in turn guaran-
tied TO General Santa Ana and his suite immediate
liberty and transportation TO Vera Cruz. He had
actually embarked for home on the Texan schooner
lnvincible, when the people, in defiance Of good
faith and the wishes Of President Burnett, com
PEELED him by force TO return to the shore. To the
overthrow Of his then rank and influence in Mexico
General Santa Ana detained many months af-
forwards in Texas. When the Texas Congress
met the succeeding WINTER that body still refused to
berate him, yet passed Law claiming the terrific.
~ which had been demanded the price Of his LID.
erty in April, and by that right defined the Rio
Grande as the boundary ofTexas.
"Win Messrs. Rusk and Houston deny these
aetS-or will they, ia their places in the Senate OF
The United States, pretend that Texas has any other
tile,"
In reply to this, we affirm that the treaty here
referred to is, under the law Of nations, in all
spects valid and binding at this day, an that it is
entirely conclusive az inst the territorial claims of
Mexico east OF the Del Norte. The treaty bears
date May lith, 1886. The part of it now in que,-
ton reads as follows:
ARTICLES Of agreement and solemn compact made
and adopted by David G.. Burnett President Of the
republic Of Texas and the undersigned, members Of
the cabinet thereof, the one part and Don Anto-
MO Lopez de Santa Ana, President Of the republic
Of Mexico, and Don VIncente Fiisola, general Of
divisions, Don Jose Urea, Don Joaquin Ramires y
Sesma, and Don Antonio Gaona, generals Of brgades
Of the armies OF Mexico.
18th That the President, Santa Ana, in his Off.
cial capacity as chief of the Mexican nation and
the generals Den Vlncente Fsola, Don Jose Urea
Don Joaquin Ramres Sesma, and Don Antonio
Gaona, as chiefs Of armies, do solemny acknowl-
edge, sanction, and rafy, the full entire, and per-
feet independence OF the republic OF Texas, with
such boundaries are hereafter set forth and agreed
upon for the same"
The boundaries thus referred TO in the 4th article
are in the 5,h article, fixed on the line OF the Del
Norte from lis mouth TO is source and thence to rHrth
latitude AGO In other articles the return OF anita
Ana to Mexico the release Of the prisoners Of war,
and the permission of the army of General Fisola
to return home, are stipulated for Now it is true,
first, that Santa Ana and his generals made this
treaty freely and without compulsion. II is true,
In the second place that Santa Ana and his generals
were duly authorized to make the treaty; and it is
true, in the third place, that Mexico subsequently
confirmed the treaty by receiving and retaining the
important benefits and advantages which it confer.
red upon her. II these things so, there is an
end of the boundary question. That they are So
we will now prove.
First, the treaty was made freely To this point
we quote the language of Santa Ana himself
LIST. In his letter of the 4th of July, 1896, Santa
Ana says:
"When I offered To treat with this government
[ was convinced that it was useless for Mexico to
continue the war have acquired exact informa-
ton respecting the country, which did not possess
four months ago. have too much zeal for the in
terests Of my country to wish for anything which
is not compatible with them. Being always ready
TO sacrifice myself for its glory and advantage, l
never would have hesitated to subject myself to tor
promise, If Mexico could thereby obtain the slight
est benefit. am firmly convinced that it is proper
TO terminate this question by political negotiation"
Besides this, we quote the language of General
Filisola after his return to Mexico. On the 10Th OF
June, 1886, he writes as follows to the Mexican
government:
"His excelency, (Santa Ana,) in my humble
opinion, in the treaties that he agreed upon, and
that had the honor to send your excellency &C ed
with ENTIRE LIBERTY, and had nothing more in view
than the interest of his country"
This is entirely conclusive. Fllisola took part in
the treaty. He was and is Mexican general of the
very highest consideration. He knew the facts and
he speaks fully and directly to the point in question
The treaty, then, was made freely.
We say, in the next place, that it was made by
due authority. The government Of Mexico was
then military despotism, and Santa Ana the
despot under the name of President. When he
fought the battle Of San Jacin,o no man in Mexico
disputed his authority. He the government
The Mexican authorities at home were, during his
nero provisional organization. This is
proved by the very language of a despatch, issued
by that provisional government, to General Filisola
on the 18th Of May, 1885, few days after the battle
of San Jacinto
"Secretarys Office Of Var and Marine, Central Sec
lion, First Bureau.
"ExcELLENr SR: With the most profound sor-
row, his excellency, the President pro tenn, has
learned by the official letter of your exceency of
18th last month, the defeat suffered on the 2lst
Of the same month by the division commanded in
person by the President general-in-chief of the
army, and the very lamentabe misfortune that his
exceency should be made prisoner, with other
chiefs and oficers.''
Thus, on the 18th of May, Santa Ana is distinct
y recognised by the provisional government as be-
ng the President Of the republic and general-n-chie
,fthe army AID this, though his disaster had area-
ly become known. The treaty which he signed
bears date of the previous day. He is here recog-
,ised in his official character, and any one who
knows at all the official authority which Santa
A M nj thin time wielded M Pceaident knnwa