The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1847-12-28

nucai hmtS OF Texas proper, previous to thti |
last revolution, were the Nueees River. on the
West; along the Red River, on the North; tho
SABINE on the East; and the Gulf Of Mexico
on the South
Al the time of the cOnsummation of the act of
OF annexation, Mr.. Donelson being the Charrd
d Affairs of the United States to that Young
hepubhc, communicated freely with his Cow
ernment, as to the position of things in Texas
rom ms letters, we eXtractth following pas
sageS' showing what was the fact as to the Inns
It's OF the territory actually occupied by Texas,
even at that time
corpus Christi is said to be as healthv.asJ
Pensacola convenient place for supplies, and
the most western point now occupied bv Tex.|
as--Ietr 10 Secretary Of State, June so, 1915.
'The occupation of the country between the
Nueces and the Rio Grande, YOU are aware; is i
disputed question. Texas holds Corpus Chris
Il. Mexico holds the Brazos de Santiago"-i
Letter to Gen. Taylor, June %, ls45.
The JOINT resolution of our Congress LEFT
the question an Oren one, and the preliminary
proposition made by this Government, under
the auspices Of the British and French Gov
ernments, as the basis Of definite treaty with
Mexico, left the question in the same state
And although this Government (the Govern
ment OF IeXas) but n few weeks lefure. issued
proclamation suSpending hosilities between
Texas and Mexico, the practical effect IF which n
was to leave the question precisely rs it stood
when our JOINT resolution plSse,l-Nicxico in /,
possession of one portion Of TIE territory, Al
Texas ofanother." The proclamation of
truce between the two nations, founded on
propositions mutually acceptable to them, lea h
wing the question Of boundary moi only an o.
pen one, but Mexico in possession Of the east ,
bank of the Rio Grnnde. seemed 20 ne inccn-
slStent with the expectation that in defence of
the claim of Texas our troops should march
immediately to that river What the cxeeu-
tive of Texas had determined not to fight for,
but to settle by negoci; ton, to say the least of
it, could as well be left 10 the United States
OH the same conditions"
"The question whether, under the circum- a.
stances, VIC should take position to make war
for this claim. in the face of an acknowledgements
on the part OF The Government tia; it could be
settled by negotiation. Ut once Gc,idCd that We
should take 10 such prorosiion, but should regard
only as within the limits Of our protection that
portion Of territory actually Possessed by Texas
and which She did not consider as subject to ncgo-
ation."-Letter 10 Ifr. Ba,kanan .Juig u, Is43
your purpose will be the defence Of Texas, if
she is invaded by Mexico, and you will be in po-
sitiOn ut Corpus Christi, San Antonio, and other
points on the NueceS, ready TO act according 10
circumstances"-Io Gen. Taylor, .j,iy !. ls45.
These extracts taken together establish hpon
the evidence OF our Government itself through its
Diplomatic Representatives in Texas, that Mcsi- i
co was in possession Of the territory west Of the
Nueces tcxcsit the country Of Patricio) and Tex
as Of the territory east Of tie Nucccs, with the
addition of Peiririo; that Mexico was admitted
by cur own Envoy to he in possession Of the east
,,ft c.sh
WINS the most western point then occupied ny
Texas. These admissions from source well
informed, so free from bias in favor Of any inter
est but that of the United States, Including Tex
as are fatal 10 every prcienSion of territorial
right on the part Of Texas between the Il d
Grande and the Nueces, the small county Of Pat
ricio perhaps excepted.
All that remains therefore to sustain TIE IRE
tension Of our Administration that The Hound, ~
Of Texas extended 10 the Rio Grande. end that
bv her annexation the Rio Grande became the
boundary Of the United States, is the act Of TIE
Legislature OF Texas declaring It's boundary TO
extend TO the Rio Grande. If TINT act could be
considered Of any effect whGieveTf would al n ust
leave ground for controversy and ncco.iat.on Us
was assumed BY Mr.. DOHel>on. But that act it.
self was Il mere nullity.
To that effect we have the opinion Of Senator
Woodbury. (now an associate Judge Of tie SUI
prone Court the United States.) in lis Speech T
in favor of rniifying the treaty Of Anne' ion:
Texas hy a mere law said he could acc ire
no title hut what she conquered from Nex;cc ard
actually governed. Hence though her law ill.,
clulcs more than the enoicnt Texas, sic could +
ho'd and convey only that, or, NJ the utfcrn.os.
only what she exercised clear jurisdiction over
Texas never had exercised jurisdiction of any
sort over any territory IN the Rio Orardc, and
could not. therefore by possibility convey TO the
United States any title 10 it.
To the same effect VIC Lave the authority Of Mr.. .
GaIIatiu which saves IL md our rc;dcrs tie ]
trouble Of searching further On the subject.
"The Republic Of Texas did. by an act 81 De-. 1
cemher. 1856 declare the Rio del Noite to J c its
II will not e seriously cont ed that
n T. alton has right by a law Of its own. 10 de-
ternnine what is or sli II be the bot ndary between
it and another country. The net was nothing
more than the expression or pretcn>ions Of the
Government. As regards ngif, he act Of 1tros Is {
a perfect NCI LITY.
II is thus conclusively demonstrated that the
territory between tie Nueces and the Rio Grande
never Ia passed ont Ct the po session Or right Of
the possessio Of Mexico, and in TO sense !
American soil or territory of the United States.
The fact is moreover, too notorious TO need to be
here dwelt upon, that the army OF tie United
States. when Il neared the Rio Grandc, chased the
Mexican custom house officers out OF their hous-
ps and when it enCaruped on the bank Of the riv-
Pr found itself in the midst Of Mexican popnla-
ton, occupying the corn and cotton fields, which \
they had fed from in dismay. The hng Of the u
nited States was planted by our army, rs in def
ance. under the guns of Mexican fort, and at the
same time the vessels OF our navy blockaded the
mouth Of the Rio Grande-a river running. from
its source to the ocean, altogether between Next
IAN banks, without Texan settlement Of any
sort within a hundred miles Of it. Nay. Cereal
TAYLOR himself, after literally chewing the eXecu-
i've ORDERS bv occupying position oppos &c Mat
amoras. thus reported to the War Departments
under date of April 6. 1861 lis proceedings
@On our side a battery for four eighteen pound
ers will be completed and the guns placed in BAT
tery today. These guns bar directly gTon tte Pr-
tc sopn1rs of JEifauoras and srkin good range for
he torrn. TIiEIR OBJECT CANNOT BE
MISTAKES By THE ENEMY.
The enemvI What enemy? Does not this
language prove that the brave old General under
stood Tcrv well what he was sent there for War
aid not exist until he had plsnied battery Of
guns bearing directly upon the public square Of
Matamoras the object of which, as he very truly
reports to Mr. Marcy, could not be mistakenl