Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1847-12-18

boundary OF New Mexico in north latitude about
twenty-five degrees, and to obtain cession to
| the United States OF the province OF New Mex
leo and the CALIFORNIA;. and the privilege Of the
right Of way across the isthmus of Tehuantepec.
The boundary Of the Rio Grande and the ces.
sion to the United States OF New Mexico and
Upper California, constituted an ultimatum
which our commissioner was, under no circum.
stances, to yield; that it might be manifest, not
only to Mexico. but to all other nations, that
the United States were not disposed to take ad.
vantage Of a feeble power, by insisting upon
wrestling from her all hei other provinces in.
GLIDING many Of her principal towns and cities,
which we had conquered and held in our military
occupation, but were willing to conclude the
treaty in spirit OF liberality. Our commissioner
was also authorized to stipula,e for the res!ora.
ton 10 Mexico Of all our other conquess.
As the territory to be acquired by the boundary
proposed might I've estimated to be OF greater
value than fair equivalent for our just de.
mands. our commissioner was authorized 10 stip>
Mate for the payment Of such additional pscu.
mary consideration as was deemed reasonable.
The terms OF a treaty proposed by the com.
mssoners on the part OF the Mexican Govern.
ment, were wholly inadmissible. They nego.
,iated as If Mexico were the victorious, and not
tiie Sduqu'oueu poItJ' VI lueJ tluol Hafo hHoWD
their ultimatum could never have been accepted.
1t required the United States to dsmember Texas,
by surrendering to Mexico that part OF the Ter.
ritory Of that State lying between the Nueces
and the Rio Grande included within her limits,
by her laws. when she was an Independent, Re.
public, and when she was annexed to the United
States, and admitted by Congress. as one Of The
States of our Union. 1t contained no PROPOSE
ton for the payment by Mexico. Of the Just
claims of our citizens. 1t required indemnify to
Mexican citizens for mi ries they may have sus
tanned by our troops in the prosecution Of the
war. 1t demanded the right for Mexico to levy
and collect the Mexican duties levied on goods
imported into her ports while in our military oc.
cupation, and the owners Of which had paid to
officers Of the United States the contributions
which had been levied upon them; and it offered
10 cede 10 the United States, as pecuniary con.
sideration, that part Of Upper California lying
north Of latitude 81 degrees Such were the
unreasonable terms proposed by the Mexican
commissioners.
The cession to the United States by Mexico
OF the province Of New Mexico and the Cali.
fornias, proposed by the commissioner OF the
United States, it was believed, would be more in
accordance with the convenience and interests OF
both nations, than any other cession of territory
which it was probable Mexico could be induced
to make. II is manifest to all who have observed
the actual condition OF The Mexican government
for some years past, and at the present, that il
these provinces should be retained by her, she
could no. long continue 10 hold and govern them.
Mexico is too feeble power to govern these
provinces. lying as they do, at distance OF more
Than thousand miles from her capital, and if
attempted to be retained by her. they would con.
stitute, but for short time, even nominaly, a
part OF her dominions. This would be espe.
cially the case with Upper California. The
sagacity Of powerful European nations. has long
since directed their attention to the commercial
importance OF that province, and there can be
little doubt, that the moment the United States
shall renqush their present occupation of it, as
indemnify, an effort would be made by some for.
eign power TO possess it, either by conquest or
purchase. II no foreign government should ac.
qure i. by either Of ,hess modes, an independent
revolutionary government would probably be es
tablished by the inhabitants and such foreigners
as may remain in, or remove to the country, as
soon as it shall be known that the United States
have abandoned it. Such government would
be too feeble long 10 retain its separate indie.
pendent existence, and would finally become
annexed to, or a dependent colony Of, some
more powerful State.
Should any foreign government attempt TO
possess it, or as colony or otherwise 10 incor.
porate it with itself, the principle announced by
President Monroe. in 1923, and reafirmed in my
first annual message, that no foreign power shall
with our consent, be permitted to plant or estab
lish any new colony or dominion on the North
American continent. must be maintained. In
maintaining this principle, and in resisting il:
invasion by any foreign power, we might be
involved in other wars more expensive and more
difficult than that in which we are now engaged
The provinces OF New Mexico and the Calfor
Mas are contiguous 10 the territories Of the Uni
ted States, and il brought under The Governmen
of our laws, their resources, mineral, agricul
tural manufacturing and commercial, would
soon be developed.
Upper California is bounded on the north by
our Oregon possessions, and if held by the Uni
ted States, would soon be settled by an enterpris
ing and intelligent portion Of our population
The Bay Of San Francisco, and other harbors
along the California coast, would afford shelter
for our navy. Our numerous whale ships, anc
other merchant vessels employed on the Pacific
ocean, would, in short period, become marts
of an extensive and profitable commerce with
China, and other countries Of the East.
These advantages, in which the whole com
mercial world would participate, would at once
be secured to the United States by the cessior
Of this territory, while it is certain, that as Ions
as it remains part OF the Mexican domnon
they can be enjoyed neither by Mexico hersel
nor by any other nation.
New Mexico is frontier, and has never beer
of anu considerable ya1ue IN Mexico From III