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

been always claimed as extending west to the Rio
Grande, or Rio Bravo" His proposition, then,
is, that as Texas by annexation, became State
of the Union, and her western boundary was the
Rio Grande, the United States extended to that
line, and it was his duty to "see that her laws
were faithfully executed" up to it.
| Let us rapidly examine these various points
BY the resolution annexing Texas, Congress did
not recognise the Rio Grande, or any other line,
as the western boundary of Texas. There has
been at no time controversy or doubt upon the
true position of any other than the pesterl boun-
dairy of Texas and, in reference to this line, the
resolution OF annexation expressly included only
=" the territory properly included Within and right
fully belonging to the Republic of Texas eau
tiously providing, in addition, that said State (of
Texas) was "to be formed subject to the ADJUST
ment by this Government of all questions of boun-
dary that may arise with other Governments
Here is d distinct recognition that this western
boundary was unsettled and condition imposed
which, in terms, was acceded to by Texas, that
its adjustment with Mexico should be made by the
Government of the United States. VIII any one
maintain that the President, of himself can adjust
and determine the unsettled boundaries of the
United Statesl That can be done only by the
treaty-making power, the President, and the Sen
ate acting by two-thirds and this true and consti-
tutlonal mode OF settling the question is provided
for by the articles of annexation. To the extent
of the dispute in relation to the true locality of the
western boundary line of Texas, it was the duty
of the President of the United States to await the
action of the treaty making power with Mexico.
But such constitutional delay did not suit his pur-
poses He was resolved to have what he then
thought would be an easy, speedy and triumphant
brush with Mexico, and, as his occupation of Tex
as to the utmost verge of her settlements west of
fho for tho fbo
first fire from her, he was resolved to make the
war himself, although Congress was then in ses-
sion. He therefore ordered the army to march in
hostile array 10 the Rio Grande. If this position
OF his, that the western boundary of the United
States extended along that river from its mouth to
its source, and it was his duty to maintain the u-
rlSdiction and 20 execute the laws of the United
States up to it, not an after-thought, why did
he not Immediately upon annexation march our
army upon Santiago; break up the Mexican Gus
tom-houSe there, and drive her officers, laws and
authority from the soil of the United States!-
Why should he delay this work for months. if he
was SO urgently impeled by his oath and duty
Santa Fe, too, the capital of New MeIico, was
some miles within the United States, according to
his present position. 1t was the seat of foreign
conflicting Government, which was then maintain
ing an adverse rule over about as many Mexican
towns, cities and people east Of the Rio GraHde
as there were IN the entire country between that
river and the Sabine which acknowledged the ju-
rsdiction of TeraS. If the lower part of that
stream was the boundary of the United States on
the annexation of Teaas, according to his own po-
sltion the river was a continuation Of the same
boundary line to its source. Ifhe was bound as
President to assert the jurisdiction of the United
States, and eaecute their laws at Santiago, was
he not under stronger obligation to eGpei for
that capital and all its dependencies under our
laws and authorityl Yet this he never attempted
or dreamed of, until Congress recognized the un-
constitutional war which he had commenced. In
such difficulties does a departure from principle
involve men.
Teras, as ceded to the United States by
France, in 1903, has been always claimed as er-
tending West TO the Rio Grandc or Rio Bravo"
saws the Message. Now, France never ceded
Ie1Gs TO the United States at all she ceded L0U- .
aSaafG which, the United States cOntended, inclu- (
ded all the country between the Mississippi River
and the Rocky Mountains, from the sources Of
that river to the Rio Grande. The statement that |
France ceded to the United States TEXAS 60 nom
gne, can have no other effect than to produce a
false impression upon the public mind. Spain al |
ways controverted the position that Louisiana eX-
tended to the Rio Grande But that is neither the |
IlOi question IN ltllS
only thrown III TO distract and to lead the mind
from the true points. Louisiana and Texas once |
had common recognised boundary, and that was
the River Nueces. The query, however, is as to
the boundary of Texas. Spain owned and was
possessed of Louisiana, which she ceded to France
by the treaty of October, 1900. Before this ces-
sion she was undisputed sovereign of Louisiana,
of Texas, New Mexico, and all the other provinces
OF Mexico She held and possessed them all by
certain and definite boundary, and the Western
line OF Iexas, in which she made settlements more
than century ago, was the River Nueces. Her
ancient, first and only capital OF New Mexico con-
tinued to be Santa Fe, which it could not have
been had the province of Louisiana extended to
the Rio Grande. After she ceded Louisiana to
France, during the whole period of its possession
by that power, and after It's transfer by her to the
L. States, Santa Fe continued to be the undisputed
capital OF New Mexico, where its government was
fully and unnerruptedly administered. The right
Of the United States to Texas was ceded to Spain
by the treaty of 1919; and from that time until
Mexico revolted she held and governed Texas by
he Nueces as its Western boundary and Tama,-
pas, another province, as running across the ltio
Grande to the Nueces for its Eastern boup dary. |
In 1924, Mexico having achieved herindepe'd ence,
Federal Republic, constituted of sew |
eral States, upon the model of our UniCp and Con- |
stitu;ion. undeg this system New Me sico was |
one of the States, COahuila was another, and Tex /
rs a third. The two latter did not unite and form
1ne State OF the Republic, aa he Message states.