Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1847-10-29

fully belonging 10 lhe Republic Of Texas may be
erruIcd into a new Staie," &C.; and "ihaI the
lurcgOing consent Is given on the following con.
dillon" 20 vii:
/ "Said State shall be formed. subject 10 the nd.
juslmenI by this Government Of all questions Of
boundary thai may arise with other Govern
mrnis," &c.
/ On the e5th Of January these resolutions were
passed in the House Of Representatives by q vote
Of lls TO 90, and on the next day passed the
Senate without alteration in any material point.
Nov ! pause here in my narrative to ask you
10 remark the very guarded Phruseology Of these
Joint resolutions by which il was sgreed 10 annex
Texas. They say "Ihe territory properly inclu-
ded within and righifUlly belonging TO the Re-
public Of Texas" Why was Ibis language in.
serIedi Several Of the resolutions proposed by
others in the House did not contain it. Congress
would nO' agree 10 those other resolutions, but
adopted those only which contained this Ian
guage. Why did Congress also insist upon
CONDITION that the Stale Of Texas should be form
ed "sublect to The adjustment by this Govern
meuI Of all questions Sf boundary that might a.
rise with other Governmensi" What other
Government was iherei None but Mexico with
whom NC could have any difficulty. What was
that dithculiyl The preIsnsion set up by Texas
10 extend her boundary to The Rio Grande. lf
Texas had rghito that boundary, what had we
to adjust with Mexicol Nothing. II Texas had
this rghi, what do those resolgloEs mean by lay.
ing such Tess upon the words "lerrilory proper.
y included within and righifuIly belonging to the
|. Republic Of Texasl" ManiiesIIy they mean
that the Republic of Texas had made preensions
to territory not "properly included within" nor
rightly belonging to" il.
But, as if the Congress OF the United States
was determined to express the most unequivocal
dissent from the pretensions Of Texas, as made
known in her act of Congress Of 1886, and TO re-
rpudale the notion that Texas by that net had
any claim to The boundary Of the Rio Grande,
they passed law at this very same session,
which is entitled "An act allowing drawback
upon foreign merchandise exported in the origi.
nal packages TO Chihuahua and Santa Fe, in
Mexico" This bill was passed in the House OF
Representatives on the 2lst Of February, nearly
month after the passage Of The resolutions for
annexation, and was amended, with view TO in.
clude another foreign country, by adding the
words, land the British Norh American Provin.
ces adjoining to the United Stales."
/ Now, the object of this bill was TO entitle any
merchant who should import goods into the U.
States to have the duties refunded 10 him if he
!. exported them in the original packages to Santa
Re, in MericOi thereby recognising Santa Fe 10
be foreign country, as it undoubtedly was. Yet
! Congress had, just a month before they passed
, This bill, agreed 10 annex Texas TO this Union,
and Texas had, by her act of Congress Of 1886,
extended her limits 10 the Rio Grande, by which
she included Sana Fe. Ii is clear, therefore,
from This fact uIone-if il were not still more
clear from the whole history of the case which
have given you--lhat Congress had no idea of
recognising the claim of Texasto the Rio Grande,
but on the contrary, directly aud unequivocally
, repeCd that claim, and refused in any way TO
, allow it.
This is oil that have TO bring before you
touching the history OF the annexation. What
Q | have Submiued 10 you shows clearly aud be-
yond all dispute
h LIST. Thai Texas proper--Ond by that mean
4 The Texas which revoted against Mexico and se-
r cured her independcnce--dd not extend 10 The
Rio Grande.
Cd. That the treaty for annexation was rejec.
ted because it was supposed to give color 10 claim
10 extend Texas to the Rio GraDde.
, Sd. That the Government dsavowed any pur.
pose to assert u claim TO the Rio Grande; but,
on The contrary, desired 10 open n negotiation
with Mexico for the purchase of thai boundary.
4lh. That the joint resolutions upon which f.
, nNIly Texas was annexed carefully provided a.
gOinst taking any territory that did not righ)uIiy
belong TO Texas.
9th, aud lusIly. That Congress- by the most
explicit ucl Of legislation in relation TO The draw
Q back, announced that the country included with.
in The new limits Of Texas, and beyond The old
limits, was foreign country belonging 10 Mexi-
: CO, and that consequently the territory on The
Rio Grande did not "righJuiiy belong" 10 the
4 Republic of Texas.
\ | am now prepared 10 speak OF the manner in
h which this Mexican war began, and 10 examine
}, The question how far Mr.. Polk acted in accordance
j.. with his powers and duties, under the constitu-
!. tion, in reference 10 that matter.
n Mr.. Polk was lnauguracd on the 4h Of March,
i l845. You will now perceive that the moment
this affair of the annexation came into his hands,
he gave il an essentially new direction. He de.
' lermned to pay no regard 10 The considerations
4 upon which Texas was admitted TO The Union,
J. and to recognise no pledge which The proceedings
Of tho last Administration and of Congress had
e given to Mexico upon the subject Of the boun.
/ dary.
. Before the annexation was agreed upon it is
true Mexico had said she would consider il as an
act Of war upon her, and Mr.. Polk, freely ad.
4 nit, was bound to b. prepared for such an event.
o think il WAS in the highest sense his duty TO be
o TeH prepared for war if Mexico should act up.
on her threat.
:. A convention was to meet in Texas on the 4h
}. Of July, l645, 10 consider our propositions for
e annexation. The convention did meet, and rOt.
:. fed the proceeding. Previous, however, 10 The
y meeting of this convention, ,ha, is to say on The
2Sh Of May, the Presiden, ordered Gen. Taylor
). 10 mSve with his little army towards Texas.
4 There seems now TO have been some private
understanding between Mr.. Polk and the Govern.
; ment of Texas thai, without regarding what had