Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1847-01-07


united under one common Legislature and one
common State Government. They existed as
separate territories, having distinct and separate
boundaries and each by its known and mutually
recognised boundary: and by the name of fCoahuila
and Texas respectively. The same River Nueces
was a common boundary between them, being the
western line of Texas and the eastern line of Co
ahuila. Texas did not, in fact, nor did she then
claim TO. extend further west than the Nueces /;
and as to the reaching atar up, and comprehend
ing all Of New Mexico east of the Rio Grande, in
GLIDING her capital of Santa Fe, such an extrava-
gance had not then entered into any mans imagi-
nation. Things remained in this state, until Tex
as, in 1885, declared her independence; but Goa
hula remained a State of Mexico. Texas declared
herself independent by name, and did not define
her boundary. She Intellectually endeavored to
prevail with COahuila to take the same step, and
then left her IN undisputed possession, and in the
exercise of her separate jurisdiction and authority
up TO the Nueces No question of boundary had
then arisen between them. What, then, becomes
Of the Presidents position, "Texas, as ceded TO
the U. States by France in 1903, has been always
claimed extending west to the Rio Grande =
In April, 1886, Santa Anna was captured by the
Texan army, and, while prisoner OF war. he en-
tered into and signed certain articles with some
of the principle officers of the Texan army. 1t
the whole arrangement should be submitted re-
spectivey TO the Governments of Texas and Mex
leo; and the latter rejected it. Santa Anna had,
from the time of marching to invade Texas, ceased
to be the President of Mexico and President ad
interim had been appointed, and was invested
with, and was then exercising the powers of that
office. Santa Anna was only General-in-C Chief
and also prisoner of war. One of the articles Of
this arrangement stipulated that, the Mexican
army should retire west of the Rio Grande," and
this is the only provision bearing upon the point of
cession of territory or boundary. 1t neither at
tempts, nor, by any terms which might have been
adopted could it have settled boundary, or ceded
any of the territory of Mexico. Because, first
Santa Anna was but military commander before
he was taken captive, and could not, as such, make
a treaty to bind Mexico. Secondly, If he was
clothed with such power, its total suspension en-
sued Immediately upon his captivity, and reverted
to Mexico. Thirdly, the arrangement Itself pro-
vlded for It's ratification or rejection by Mexico
and Texas. and Mexico rejected it. This is what
President Polk terms q treaty made with Santa
Anna in May, 1885," by Texas, in which g he re-
the Rio Graude as her western bounda-
ry 1t is difficult to decide whether the President
blunders most in his idea Of treaty, or in the
statement of the facts of the case. This compact
between the prisoner Santa Anna and his capt0rs
had no effect to diyest Mexico of the country be-
tween the Nueces and the Rio Grande, or to In
vest Texas with it and yet it is the first beginning
and the only foundation of her claim! Never be-
fore had she set up any claim for any portion Of
the country between the two rivers. In Decem-
Der tolloao'ng indeed, her Congress passed an act
to define the boundaries of the Republic of Texas,
in which the Rio Grande, from its mouth to It's
source, was declared to be her western boundary.
All the while, the whole country on both sides of
that river continued TO be studded by Mexican
towns and cities, to be held and inhabited bv Mex
lean people. to be governed bv Mexican laws and
officers. and 10 know no others; and matters so
remained until they were subverted by the inya-
sion OF the American aJmv 1t is the extreme of
abSurdlty to say that this act of the Texan Con-
rress expanded her boundary to the Rio Grande
Conquest and treaty are the only modes by which
territory be transferred from one nation to an
other. If it could be done by the mode adopted
by Texas, all her territory would now belong to
Mexico, because Mexico has claimed a thousand
times, in every possible form, and still does, the
Whole country known as Texas
These observations are equally applicable to
,ur acts OF Congress, passed since annexation, eS-
ablishing port of delivery at Corpus Christi, and
4 post-roue or two west of the Nueces. This le-
Iislation did not interfere with the Mexican peo-
pie and authorities seated east of the Rio Grande. /
But, if our Congress had passed an act i'll the |
words Of the previous act of Texas, declaring the
Rio Grande TO be the western boundary of Texas,
would neither have strengthened the right of the
United States nor have weakened that of Mexico !
The question of right would have been left just
where it was and as it stood before. Such is an |
,ther of the broken reeds upon which President
Polk leans in this great strait.
But the President is so hard pressed that he "a
her unwittngly, it would seem, quotes his Ian
,uage in reference to Texas, from the dispatch DfI
'ur Secretary of State in 1912 to our Minister in
Mexico
Practically free and independents a.cknowl-
,dged as political sovereignty by the principal
'owers of the world, no hostile foot resting toithn
'er IerdsI territory for sir Sev&m gears, and
Mexico herself reraiuing for all i,lat period from
my farther attempt to re-estabbsh her own author
ty over that territory" &c.
This is testimony adduceS. 5y the President him.
ell and '4lthough it may prove that Texas was
Independent, it establishes concusively that, in
he Judgment of the then Administration, Texas
ld not extend to the Rio Grande, or include all
he Mexican towns and people east of it; from
Santiago along its whole course to the cities OF
Santa Fe, Taos and upward.
But the President, in this Message, protests that
ne could not assume
the responsibility of yielding up the territory west
1f the Nueces TO Mexico, or refusing To protect
md defend this territory and its nhabltanis nclu
ling Corpus Christi as well as the remainder Of |
Texas, against the threatened inyasiun."