The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1846-12-15

y
been an ndepsndent stale with an organized
government, defying the power oil Mexico TO
overthrow or Tecon9uer her for more than ten
wears before Mexico commenced the present
war against the United States. Texas had
given such evidence to the world Of her abil-
Fifty TO niaptain her separate existence a. an
indie pendent nation; that she had been form
ally recognized as such not only by the Uni
ted States, but by several Of the principal
powers Of Europe; these powers had entered
into treaties 81 amity, commerce and navis-
ton with her; they had received and excepted
her ministers and other diaplomarist agents
on their part TO the government Of Texas
IL Mexico, Notwithstanding all this, and
her utter inability to subdue or conquer Tex
us, still siubbornly refused TO recognize her
rs an independent nation, she was none the
less so on that account. Mexico herself had
been recognized as an independent nation by
the United States, aud by other powers,
many years before Spain, Of mhich, before
her revolution, she had been a coiuny, would
agree 10 recognize her as such, and yet Mex
leo was at that time, in the estimation Of the
civilized world and in fact, none the less an
independent power because SpaiL had con-
linued until The present period TO assert that
Mexico was one Of her present colonies, in
rebellion against her, this would not have
made hel so, or changed the fact OF her indie
pendent existence.
Texas, at the period Of her annexation 10
the United States, bore the same relation TO
Mexico that Mexico had borne TO 5 pain for
many years before Spain acknowledged her
Independence, with this important difference
that before the annexation of Texas TO the
United States was consumnaied, Mexico
herself By a formal act Of her government,
had acknowledged the independence Of Tex
as as nation. Ii is true, that in the act Of
recognition she prescribed condition, which
she had no power or authority To impose. tina,
Texas should not annex herself TO any other
Power; but this could not detract any degree
from the recognition which Mexico then made
Of her actual independence.
Upon this plain staiemen nj Of facts, it is alb
surd for Mexico TO allego as pretext for
commencing hostiities against the United
States, that Texas is still a part of her terri
tory.
But there arc those who conceding all this
10 he true. assume The ground that the true
western boundary Of Texas is rho Nueces,
instead of the Rio Grande; and that, there
fore, in marching our army to the cast bank
Of the latter river, we passed the Texan line,
and invaded the territory OF Mexico. A SIM
pie statement Of facts, known to exist will re
frte conclusively such an assumption.
Texas, as ceded TO the United States by
France in 1903, has been always claimed a,
extending west Of the Rio Grande, or Rio
Bravo. This fact is established by the au-
th0rity Of our most eminent statesmen at d
period when the question was as well if moi
better understood than il is at presenr.-Du-
ring Mr.. Jefferson's administration. Messrs
Monroe and Pinckncy, who had been sent
on Il special mission to Madrid, charged, a
mong other things, with the adjustment OF y
boundary between the two countries, in 4
note addressed to the Spanish Minister oil
Foreign affairs. under the date OF the TWEEN
ry eighth Of January, 1905. assert that the
boundaries of Louisiana, as coded To the U
States by France, are the river Perido Oh
the east, and the river Bravo on the west;
and they add, that the facts and principle.
which Justify this conclusion are satisfactory
to our government as TO convince il that the
United States have not q better right 10 the
island Of New Orleans under the session re-
forced 10, than they have 10 the whole dis
trict of territory which Is above described
| Down 10 the conclusion Of the Florida
treaty, in February, 1919, by " hich this ter
ritory was ceded to Spain. the United State:
asserted and maintained their territorial
rights to this extent. In the month Of June
1918, during Mr.. Monroe's administration
information having been received that mum
Der Of foreign adventures had landed a
Galveston, with the avowcd purpose of form
in hat VIZ tuIfy
messenger was despatched by the gov ernmen
of the United States, with instructions from
the Secretary Of State TO warn them TO de-
sist, should they be found there 'or any othei
place north of the Rio Bravo. and within the
territory claimed by the United States lie
was instructed. should they be fcnnd in the
country north Of that river, TO make known
TO them the surprise with which the PresIden
has seen possession thus taken, without au
fhority from the United States, OF place
within their territorial limits, and upon which
no lawful settlement can be made without
their sanction
| He was instructed TO call upon them TO a
VOW under what national authority they pro-
fcss to act and 10 give them due warning
that the place is within the United States
who will suffer no settlement to he made
there, under an authority uther than thr
own As late as the 9Th July, 1872, The
Secretary OF State of the United States. in ;
note addressed TO our Minister in Mexico
maintains that by the Florida treaty o. 1919
the territory as far west as the Rio Grandc
WAS confirmed to Spain. In that note he
states that by the treaty of the 22d Of Febru
AIRY, 1919. between the United States ant
Spain. the Sabine was adopted as the line Of
boundary between the two Powers.
Upro that period, lille colonization bad
bee enacted in Texas but the territory be-
tween the Sabine and the Rio Grande being
confirmed 10 Spain by the treaty. applications
were made TO thai power for grants Of land
aud such grants, or permissions of settlement
were in fact made by tile Spanish authorize,
in favor Of citizens Of the United States pro,
posing 10 cmigrate TO TEXAS in numerou.
families, before the declaration Of indcpcn-
dence by Mexico.
The Texas which was coded TO Spain by
the Florida treaty Of 1919 embraced all the
country now claimed by the State OF Texa.
between the Nueces and the Rio Grande
The republic of Texas always claimed this