Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1847-06-28
Western Boundary of Tcxa..

when such movement anticipated probable, al
least part he said could be justified and would
be attempted until the spit of conquest overulius
oil other considerations should nsgae the OF aggtcs-
son II Mr.. Polk right, have doubt he was
whcn adopting the language OF Mr. Donncson our Envoy
that Republic. no spoke OF the NeuceS the western
frontier OF Texas" even admit OF the OF
that frontier TO the natural boundary which Mr. ngerso
referred the conclusion undeniabe that ordering
Taylor GO beyond those points, Mr. Polk
his constitutional power by invading and taking possession
OF portion Of the territory OF Mexico, and thereby rendered
himself responsible Tor nl the consequences that have re-
suited from that act For. although be that Mexico
struck the first blow. she struck only giving fair warn
aug that she regarded the movement OF Gen Taylor
Selt an act Of 1ar, the territory invaded belongs to
Mexico undeRiaby was. which she compelled TO re-
ssi by force, the only OF nverng that national
humiliation and disgrace that would necessarily attach
10 tame submission to armed invasion OF her soil
II now however, boldly asserted that the Rio Grandc
and not the Nouces is the frontier OF Texas We
surprzed this assumption on the part Of
the Administration and its defenders because they
otherwise relieve the President and his constitutional adv-
from the serious charge Of having usurped the wana
king power while Congress- which body the const-
iuuon has expressly and exclusively delegated it,
son when the order occupy the valley Of the
Rio GIande prepared and transmitted to Gen. Taylor
This assumption, however is wholly unsustainabc con-
ironied II by the whole current Of facts bearing upon
the question. The Of the Texan Congress- extending
its jurisdiction the Rio Grande much relied upon by
the Administration the foundation OF ttc is desi-
Of the slightest claim consideraon-us as much so
IT, instead OF the Rio GAnde that had claimed to the
Sierra Msdro. Texas never had possession any time
OF the territory the Neuees Except perhaps ono or
isolated sPos) while ;he Valley from the source
the mouth Of the Rio Grande which was populated ut
ALL held, it had been from the settlement, of the
country, by Mexican citizens, recognizing their allegiance
TO the Mexican and ruled by Mexican officers
This fact alone is suci' show that the claim Of Tex
resting Hlono upon law Of her Congress- was inbound
ed and untenable-as much would be a claim set IN
by the Congress OF the United States should At be silly
enough such law, the British provinces upon
borders.
writer in the Nashville Wing, in discussing this ques-
on refers edition Mathew Carey's General Man
the Word" published by him in Philadelphia in the wear
1874, beore there could be any political interest or in
Huence To serve" The 29th map that edition is OF
"MexicO, New Spain, aud he defines the boundaries
OF the 'Proynca dc Texas" commencing at the month
OF the Sabine and extending west the Gulf of Mex
CO. the mouth Of river, which though named must
be, from comparing Il with other maps ie Neuces west
Passo del Cabello" and considerably east d even the
EBAY OF Santiago" and much faTAeT more than two
degreesl OF the Rio Biavo del NOre" The province OF
Tamauipas extended both sides vi the Del Noro Tor
RIO Grsnde from its mouth mp, for many miles and tho
In defining the boundaries Of the departments Of
Mexico 1874 Mr.. Carey had motive OF course to en-
large eurta the limits OF either OF the Mexican depart,
menis.
The editor OF the Nashville Wing cites other historical
facts TO show the correctness OF Mr.. Carey's map Ac-
coring that paper, Cevaos, the Spanish Minister IN
of hs letters Measrs. Monroe and Pinckuey in sos
says:
The province of Texas where the Spsniards have had
settlements from the l7h century bounds by the east with
Louisiana and contains tho extensive country which ic
between The river Medina where ends the government o
Cosquila, To the post aband5Eed," &c. ISee Amer
State Papers, vol IL, page 29s
The Medina lSays Nashville contemporary Is
considerably TO the eastward OF the Neuees. And the
Wing then proceeds to add the following authorities
"In 1884. Gen. Amonte by commission Of the govern
meni OF Mexico, visited Texas and drew up
port ID the country Texas and Coahula time form
cd State aud Gen. Almone informed by the State
Government OF Ccahua and Texas, that instead OF the RI
de los kueccE generally supposed and a. then
appeared the map forming the boundary between Goa
hula and Texas, tins assumption founded ON q geo
graphical The true limit ought II was alleged 10
commence Eat the embOdchure o the Aranslso and
follow its source, continuing thence in direct line
until reached the junction of the Medina and San Anto-
MO rivers from which u ought proceed along the cas-.
bank Vt the Medina towards source aud terminate
the borders Of Chihushun. Kennedys Texas, page
brs Hoey, her work Texas, states It's western
boundary be ihe Nusoes, separating II from Tsmay
Lipas and COahuiIa.
We have table History Of Texas, published in
1886. and written by David b. Edward, who describes
himself GA the uto page "ormery Prncipol of the Ar
Ademy Alexandria La late Precsptor Of Gonzales Sem
mary Texas" It's volume OF 1886 pages. On the l4,h
page he says:
"It tTe1ss) - bounded on the North by Red river
which divides 1t from Arkansas. Ozark Distnct and New
Mexico South by the Cult Of Mexico and the Ri,
de los Nueees ohisk diBdes from The States Of Coahu
10 and Tdmauipason the Fast by the Eastern branch d
the Sabine and the State Of louisiana on the W,s
by the State o COahuila and the territory Of New Mexico
Accompanying the work is a map Of Texas with the
boundaries, az gwen above, lard down. In on one
corner Of the speaking Of the RIO Grnnde he says
~ this river should become the boundary Of
Texas las desired by the nhabants) will add hundred
mes 90 ts and 50 900 square miles 10 M supef
cos; the southern section Of their surface sandy ba,n
prsirio almost destitute OF water; and northern rocky
sterile mountains nearly as destitute Of TIMBER.
We have before 'the form oi proposed Const Tuition
81 Texas drawn up by the Texas Convention in 1892 aud
1888" IL begins thus:
'lu the name Of God, Omnipotcnt Author aud Supreme
Legislator Of the Uniyerso-
We the people of Texas being capable Of figuring A.
state % n the contemplated the second article
81 the decree OF the general Congfcs Of the naton o the
9Th o MsJ, lo2i,-do ordain the following Constitution,
aud d. mutually sgfce with each ohsr 90 form
ino iu and independent state Of the Mexican Contdrl
~, by the name Of the STATE OF TLrAs.~
AT. Of the schedule follows.
TIM Starr ~ TrIAs tHALL ivctupr ATT rur COUNTRY
toEHfRLt EsoWS A. TIM rgovIvcF TrSAs"
What thc Convention regarded the boundary
~ The province ~ Texas" they clearly make apparent in
the 10Th srco nj the Schedule where they proceed 10 d
vide the State into Senatorial districts IN this division
fHrf 90 NJ IuhrHLk wEsr UihS EIyrR Nrr.ss. THr
rutEr!
In aruoo 9Th Of the Schedule the Convention expressIy
recognize The old boundary line between Texas aud Goa
hn'a which was ho Nucces To- thar article they proyd,
'hat the authorities Of the State 81 C1ahua and TcSas
ihat hli their offices within the limits ri Tc1as shall con
nnue w che execution oi their respective dutes.'
IN view 81 TINS auay Of undcmable OF recorded facts
Tha becomes oi DE assertion that the western bounda
o Texas has been always held extend 10 the no Grandc
The assertion, by wuonsoovei medc whether by tc Pft
sidcn he Official organ, by the party press Do a
audacious ialshcaun Of tho Truth 81 neutrality-suspicious.
uf the cole purpose u relieving Mr. Poik iron the hoav
responsibility he has incurred by ordering nsrrh of on
army the Rio GTandc, which order brought on DE et
isung with MEXICO.
az note from one Of Col D5niphan's commaud to Oh
editors OF the New Orleans Pichyuno states that many
shc soldiers Of that heroic corps had determined beioi
reaching salno. to-enls, 81 that place. This rosouuo
upon the understanding tina, they oro
month's paya psrt oHly u what due them
whieh would eushle 1hem soto up ihor iulo aeoouo
4.