Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1847-03-18
MR.. INGERSOLL'S REPORT.

A brief Report from the committee Of Forei.
Relations of the House Of Representatives, entir
ly characteristic Of its distinguished chairina
Charles Jared Ingersoll, has recently made its a
pearance, and is eagerly copied, with highly con
plimentary remarks upon its ability, by the papel
friendly to the Administration. Its almost exclu
sive object seems TO be TO show that tho RiO Grand
is the true boundary Of Texas, and consequent
that the President was bound to station the Arm,
at that point, in order to protect that Bev "Star
the Contederacy from meditated aggression. AND
yet this bold assumption is in direct contradiction
to the admission Of Secretary Walker, who in hi:
reply to Mr.. Benton in 1914, repealed the assump-
tion OF the Missouri Senator, that the celebrated
Tyler treaty recognized the Rio Grande as the
boundary, that question, he said, being left open for
| future adjustment between the United States and
Mexico. 1t conflicts. too, with the admission of
Mr.. Polk, who, in his first Annual Message, con-
graduating Congress and the Country on the
"bloodless" acquisition OF Texas, informed them
that he had directed the concentration of large
force on THE WESTERN FRONTIER OF
IEAAS,'-th point selected for the encamp-
ment OF that force being Corpus Christi, on the
Western bank OF the Neuces, 100 miles cast Of the
Rio Grande But Mr. lngersol contradicts him
Seg also; for, before it became necessary to tho
Vindlcaon OF the Administration 10 assume, in the
teetfsof well known facts that the Rio Grande
was the true boundary line between the two Re
publics, Mr. lngersoll, while occupying, as now,
reign Relations, had emphatically said 1.-The
stupendous deserts bettccen The .Neuces and the Rio
Grdadc are the natural boundaries between the
Anglo Saxon and the Mauritanian races. There
ends The Idttey IF the JTest. THERE MEXICO
BEGINS. Viate peace is cherished, that Jot.ndaru
tcM be sacred. Not till the SPIRIT OF coNaUEsp
RACES Will the people on either side mix with or
modest the other" And yet the new position of
the Administration requiring Il change of the boun-
Diary line, this supple defender Oft acts on all oc-
caslons, Gas all pertlnacous applicants for Execu-
tive favor, like himself, are sure to be) does not
hesitate, without blush, 10 deny his own previous
declaration, and to make labored effort to show
that it was false 1--WE appeal from Philip drunk
TO Philip sober-from the applicant for the French
Mission, which we presume he purchased by his
attorneyship, to the representative who had no
special motive to bend facts to his purposes. The
country may Judge, from this specimen, of the
claims of this Report however ingenious and able
it may be, TO It's confidence. In the strong but just
language OF the Philadelphia North American, ''the
Report is brief; but within its narrow compass is
comprised more of alsehood and folly than the en-
tire session has given birth to'
But let it be admitted that the Rio Grande is
the ''western frontier of Texas ;" and not the Neu
ces, as in that event. Mr.. Polk ignorantly assert
ed in his first Message to Congress, the ''stu-
pendous deserts" referred to by Mr.. Ingersoll. It
results, as necessary consequence of this admis-
sion, that the President in utter dereliction of his
duty, permitted Tor many months large portion OK
the State of Texas to be occupied by foreign pop
ulation--ls towns TO be garrsoned by foreign sol
c ers-lts custom-houseS to be occupied by Mexi-
can collectors, levying tribute for the Mexican
j reasury on the commerce of American citizens,
entering an American EOrt--ts people governed by
Mexican laws, which were un.nterruptedly admin
lstered and executed by Mexican Governors and
Congress itself, supposing, in its
great Ignorance, thai Santa Fe Mexican city,
iegslated in reference TO that supposition, passing
an act to CIRCULATE the commerce" between Mis-
souri, and Santa Fe, just it did in reference I'd
British and French ports! Nay, more than this
The recognition OF the existence of the war by
Congress was Immediately succeeded by a hostile
to Santa Fe, which, if it be Texan
city, was altogether unpardonable-as also the
conduct OF our commander at that post who, upon
taking possession oft, after eXpelng the Mexican
Governor, Arnjo, from the 'Amcrican soil,'
which, by some strange oversight, he had been SO
long permitted quietly to govern in virtue of au-
thoriy from the Mexican government, proceeded
to tranple upon the sovereignty Of Tex
as, by organizing a territorial government
within her limits The admission, therefore, that
the Rio Grande the righifu boundary of Texas,
involves the Administration in a more complicated
labyrynth OF absurdies than even its denial. II
that river be not the boundary Of Texas, then Mr..
Folk was guilty only CT a single act Of usurpation,
in ordering Gen. Taylor to take possession of it
an act indeed by which he virtually wrested from
Congress the making power, but nevertheless
Isolated and alone. But if it be the rightful boun-
dairy, then he has been guilty of numerous acts,
both OF omission and Of commission, for which he
deserves the severest rcprehonson-of omission; in
so long permitting American soil' to be held in
possession by foreign Power%-and of
commission, in proceeding, after wrestling it from
that Power, to organize governments within
the limits Of sovereign State, without its sanction,
and even without deignng TO consult it on the SUBJ
ject!
In this dilemma we leave the President and the
great rejected" Mr.. Ingersoll-who, we are glad
to say, has not received, though he has we'll earned
the wages Of inquity." If they can be extrica-
ted from it, shall be prepared to do all honor to
the genius that may be equal to the Hercuean task
Richmond JThir