Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-12-28
MOND, VA.
Tuesday Morning, December %, ls47.


Tuesday Morning, December 20, 1s47.
Nothing shows the weakness of their cause
more fully than when the Wings attempt 10 sus-
tain The argument that Mexico is in the right and
our country in The wrong, by introducing Me1l-
can authority, which is always so feeble that i
makes the case worse with than without it,
The Richmond Times Of Thursday last labors
through four columns 10 sustain the Mexican
side OF the question, in which an effort is made 10
show ,ha, MIR. Donelson considered The Neuces
as The Western boundary Of Texas. We are con-
tent 10 present The following extracts from Mr.
Done!son's letters OF lllh June, Is45, in which,
10 our minds, he fully SETS forth the Rio Grande
as its Western boundary. He states, that "lhere
had been no discussion OF Ms question Of limits
between Mexico and Texas" and goes on to pre-
sent the grounds on which the United States
would sustain the right OF Texas 10 the Rio
Grandc.
"The grounds on ,chich tie claim rould APPEAR
TO me defcnsble after the admission OF Texas into
the Union, il there be no declaration OF war, or
invasion by Mexico, may be generally stated as
follows:
81. The revolutionary right Of the people of
Texas 10 resist oppression, and enforce such
political organization as they deemed necessary
10 the enjoyment of their happiness. The de-
sIucion Of the Constitution oil 1894, and the
despoism which followed it, furnished The most
ample grounds for resistance.
~. The acknowledgment of Santa Anna, by
whose concessions, in 1885, his army was allow
ed 10 return 10 Mexico, and carry with them va
liable arms and munitions and by which Texas
was prevented from following up The advantages
of victory, among which was The opportunity Of
establishing herself on the Rio Grande.
"3. The capacity oil Texas, not now, at least
in short period, TO establish by force her claim
10 this boundary. This capacity is fairly in
terrible from the offer OF Mexico TO recognise her
independence, and was admitted by The British
aud French governments when they became The
medium OF The cffer. But, independently ofsuch
circumstances, This capacity is sellevident 10 all
who have any knowledge of the relative power
and position OF Mexico and Texas. If Texas,
then, by herself, without any connection with the
United States, had reached The point where she
could compel the recognition OF The claim 10 the
Rio Grande, her right 10 do so ought not 10 be
lessened by becoming member OF the American
Union.
ID The United States, after annexation, in ad.
dillon 10 the foregoing grounds, will have the old
er one founded on the Louisiana claim. That
this claim went as lar as the Rio Grande, is now
much more apparent Than it was in 1919, when
The Sabine was fixed upon as the western limit OF
The cession to US; especially il be true, as is al
legged, that the Inhabitants of Texas al that time
protested against The right of The U. States 10 de
prive them OF the benefits secured to them in the
treaty with France.
"Bul 5lh, and lastly. All these considerations
are bu subsidiary 10 The necessity which exists
for the establishment, OF The Rio Grande as the
boundary between the TWO nations. Mexico ne
yer can enforce authority east of that slream.-
She is now The mercy of the Indians, who, with
out fear OF her authority, murder her citizens and
piIlage their properly. She can enforce no stipu'
iations 10 keep these Indians al peace; and every
a,lcnpt that she has made at COLOMBIA ton in that
territory, shows her utter inability 10 maintain a
government over il. To arrest the growing mis-
chiefs resulting from the superiority OF these In
dams. the u. States, in seliGelence, must make
the Rio Grande the boundary.
"Mexico installing he cause OF her misfur-
tunes, has granted the most of her lands On The
Rio Grande TO Europeans, with stipulation, lat
terly, that no North American should be permit
ted 10 settle upon them; yet Texas has at pleasure
suspended Jurisdiction because il was inconveni'
ent 10 maintain il. and because she knew that in
a short pcriod her resumption Of il would be ac-
uuesced in by The inhabitants, il they were assur-
ed OF protection. On such grounds il cannot be
doubted that Mexico already considers The whole
of the territory between tie Rio Grande and the
Nneces as lost TO her. On The same grounds, il is
clear that the United States may maintain the
claim, and be justified by The civilized world"
We strengthen oar position BY quoting from
den, Paroles proclamation Of 23d April, in which
he says:
Tin the meantime the army of the U. States
made encampmenlat Corpus Christi, and occu-
pied The island Of Padre Vayiu; it then marched
10 Point Isabel, and The flag OF stars floaied on
the RICH, bank of the Rio Bravo del Norte, in
front OF the city of Nalamoras, the American
vessels having previously seized upon The navi-
CATION Of The river.
81 solcmnlv announce that | do not declare
war against the Government ofthe United States
OF America, becaus. it belongs 10 The august
Congress OF the Nation, and not the Executive,
10 resolve definitely what ieparalion should be
exacled for such offences. But The defence OF
the Mexican territory which The forces OF The u.
S. have invaded, is an urgent necessity, and my
responsibility 10 the nation would be immense,
should IA to order The troops, which thus act
as enemies, to be repealed, and / haze therefore
giren Mat order. From this day begins our de-
iensive war"
We would here ask, wha. "offences" we had
committed, which justified the order OF Parades
to make war upon Us. He draws no distinction
between our army being at Corpus Christi or al
the Rio Grande He embraces both as Mexican
territory, and his language is explicit upon this
point "Bmt tie defcmee Of the Mexican territory,
patch The toroso of The United States haze inradcd,
is an urgent necessity, and my responsibility 10 the
nation would be immense, should / fail 10 order
the troops, which thus &C, as enemies, 10 be re-
relied, and hare therefore given that Ordsr.-
From this day begins our defensive war;
The Wings justify our army going TO Corpus
Christi, and although the Mexican President dis
,inctly declares that 10 be Mexican territory, and
that he has ordered war 10 be made upon our
troops 10 recover Mexican territory, yet we find
the Wings admitting our right 10 be there, and, at
the same time, justify Mexico for making war
upon us TO recover il.
With the knowledge of the fact, that Mexico
intended IL make the effor, not only 10 drive our
army from Corpus Christi, but any and every
other part of Texas, i, was right and proper that
our army should take any position, up to the Rio
Grande, which would add most to its strength,
and thus prevent the butchery Of the citizens OF
Texas, which must have followed, il large
Mexican army had got into the heart Of Texas be-
fore we felt at liberty 10 protect our citizens.
The designs of The Mexican army were fully
known before General Taylor left Corpus Christi,
and fears were entertained, and freely expressed
that The Mexican army would do much damage
in Texas before we could throw sufficient force
there 10 drive Them out OF the country.
The brave old General understood its move
mems hen he wrote 10 the War Department. on
The 9Th A pril, 1916:
"On our side, battery for four eighteen
will be completed, and the guns placed
in hall to-6ay Thee rune bsrr 1,rerIJU 1lDOu