Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1847-01-01

4 10 une WOrlu tlldt OnlLcU ISldteS anu MeAlCu
were at peace, before Gen. Taylor was
Grande. Certainly Mexico had not made war
upon the United States. No person will deny
that war-like act is war. Arc not the march
ing of an army of one nation into territory that
has ever been in the unbrokcn possession OF
another with which it is at peace, and where
the jurisdiction, laws and authorities of the
country thus assaulted have been daily enforced.
and the overthrow of these laws and authorities
by the invading army, and the substitution of
its military rule, warlkc acts =? If these acts
necessarily lead to Uar, it is not competent for
the President to authorize them, because the
Constitution vests the whole war-power of the
Government in Congress. But such acts are
War, and in most offensive form. Our ar
mics have taken possession of good part Of
New Mexico and chihuahua, without any ac-
tual conflict of arms ; and who will not say that
we have not made war upon those Mexican
States No; the President has no more right
or constitutional power of himself to under
take such acts than he has to appropriate money
in the Treasury, or to decide causes in the Su-
prcme Court.
But the Message assumes foldly that the Rio
Grande from its mouth to its source, is the west
ern boundary of Texas. 1t predicates this con-
clusion mainly upon the grounds that Texas
had al,cays claimed to that boundary : that her
Congress, by the act of 1885, declared it to be
so; that in her treaty with santa Anna, IN
May, 1896, he recognised it as such " and that
Texas, is coded to the United States by France
in 1903, has been always claimed as extending
west to the Rio Grande, or Rio Bravo" His
proposition then, is, that as Texas 10y annexa-
ton. became a State of the Union and her west
. ern boundary was the Rio Grandc, the United
States extended to that line, and it was his duty
to g see that her laws were faithfully executed"
up to il.
Let Us rapidly examine these various points
BY The resolution annexing Texas, Congress did
not recognise the Rio Grande. or any other line,
as the western boundary of Texas. There has
been at no time "A controversy or doubt upon the
true position Of any other than the Uestern boun-
dairy of Texas and, in reference to this line,
the resolution enumeration expressly included
only the territory properly included within, and
rightfully belonging to the Republic Of Texas :
cautiously providing, in addition, that said State
(of Texas was" to be formed subicctto the ad-
! jusment by this Government Of ali questions Of
boundary that may arise with other Govern
mcnts.' Here is Il distinct recognition that this
: western boundary was unsettled, and a condi-
ton imposed which, in terms, was acceded to by
: Texas, that its adj ustment with Mexico should
: be made by the Government of the United
States. VIII any one maintain that the Presi-
dent, Of himself. can adjust and determine the I'M
settled boundaries Of the United States That
can he done only by the treaty-nakirg power,
the President and the Senate acting by two
l thirds and this true and constitutional mode OF
settling the question is provided for by the arti-
clcs of annexation. To the extent of the dispute
in relation to the true locality of the western
boundary line of Texas, it was the duty of the
) President of the United States t. aw ait the &c
ton Of the merchandising power with Mexico.
But such constitutional delay did not suit his
r purposes He was resolved to have what he
then thought would be an easy, speedy and trl-
; umphant brush with Mexico and as his occu-
t patton of Texas to the utmost verge of her set.
5 Elements west ofthc Nucces for six months would
not extract the first fire from her. he was resolved
It to make the war himself, although Congress
c was then in session He therefore ordered the
a army to march in hostile array to the Rio
l. Grdnde. If this position of his, that the western
= boundary of the United States extended alon.
II that river from its mouth to its source, and i
e was his duty to maintain the jurisdiction and t,
'r execute the laws of the United States up to it
4, was not an attcr-thought, why did he not imme
d diately upon annexation march our army upol
r. Santiago !; break up the Mexican custum-hous
g there. and drive her officers, laws and authorit'
d from the soil OF the United States Why shoul,
'e he delay this work for months, it he was so ur
l. gently impelled by his oath and duty? Sant
in tie, too, the capital OF New-MeXico, was som
e. miles within the United Sta cs, according to hi
y present position. 1t was the seat of ioreig
or conflicting Government, Which was then main
As tanning an adverse rule over about as man
n Mexican towns, cities and people east of the Ri
s. Grandc AS there were in the entire country be
nd tween that river and the Sabine which az knowl
of ed .ed the jurisdiction of Texas. If the lowe
Il nart ofthat stream was the boundary of the uni
lit ed States on the annexation Of Texas accordin
tn he r W. -,
ad of the same boundary line to its source. Ifh
all was bound us President to iscrt the urisdctio
~ of the United States, and execute their laws
on Santiago, was he not under stronger obgatio
to eXpcl a foreign Government from Santa F
re- AMI to reduce that capital and all its dependal
o. clos under our laws and authority Yet tn
I he never attempted or dreamed OF, until Coz
m gress recognised the unconstitutional war whic
in hc had commenced. In such difficulties does
departure from principle involve men.
ed Texas, as coded to the I'm tied States
", France in $50, has been always claimed
ms extending West to the Rio Grande, or R
nd Bravo says the Message. Now, France new
1t ccdel Texas to the United States at all 81
he coded Louisiana which, the United States CO
Or tended, included all the country between d
lrd Mississippi River and the Rocky Mountains, fro
tn, the sources of that riverto the Rio Giande r.
the statement that France coded to the United Stat
ny TAXAs, 60 0rnine, can nave no other effect tn
osl to produce false impression upon the pub
led mind. Spain always controverted the posit
nm that Louisiana extended to the Rio Crane
all But that is neither the main nor collatel
nth question in this matter it is only thrown in
me distract and TO lead the mind from the tr
Rio POINTS. Louisiana and Texas once had Coz
or mon recognised boundary, and that was t
de. River Nueces. The query, however, is as
lng the boundary of Texas. Spain owned and "
lan possessed of Louisiana, which she coded
cen France by the treaty of October, 1900, Belc
the this cession she was undisputed sovereign
the Louisiana, of Texas, New-MeXico, and all {
the other provinces of Mexico. She held and pc
ms. sessed them all by certain aud definite bounc
ucd ry, and the Western line OF Texas, in viii
,ps she made settlements more than Il century a!
RIO was tie River Nueces Her ancient first a
yer only capital of New-Mcxico continued to
Tho Santa ne, whicht could not have been had
Do provinces of Louisiana extended to the