The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-02-21

cd and maintained during her war with Mexico / think
, eau SHOW ths and my argument will be confined TO
inc county petween the Nueces and the Rio Grande
ana below The old line of Coahula and Texas when the
wa began would premise, that prior to 1896 Mexico
nst no PeInanent settlements in this region
OF the Expectations of the Indians. There were some
rahchos opposite Mler, Camargo, Reynosa and Mata-
molas, te proprleors of which resided, for the most
part az those places and engaged mostly, when
across he river, In herding cattle and smuggling For
an ciV purposes, the country uninhabted except at
BTazos Santiago point This should be borne in mind
anu lhe central government established, with Santa Anna
as dictator nearly all the northern States and departments
declared Tor the federal constitution, and civil
waged III northern Mexico.
Santa Anna was successful he conquered Zacatecas
ana durango, and advanced north until all Mexico
consoaased excepting Texas and, in the fall of 1885,
General Los was sent to disam the people of Texas At
this time all the political organization under the consttu
uon OF 1924 was dissolved and all lines of demacaon
obhleraien, except such should be marked by the
sword Texas resisted the of General Cos; and,
al that Tune, her cause the that of most
northern Mexico And II was not until some months al
ter he capture OF Gen Cos at San Antonio, that Texas
determined TO strike for separate independence. make
TINS summary because II is too often forgotten that the
leHah revolution was part OF great political change
in Mexico, which totally obiterated all previous orgahi
zaton II was not as generally supposed, mere revolt
OF Texas against the balance OF Mexico. 1t has been
well said in Congress by wing, that countries do not
| reyolutionlze by lines and boundaries.
VIII now mention OF the leading facts, showing
the color OF title Texas had to this section at the time OF
nexaon; and think was such the United States
boou dltn W maintain Ddiua Anna,
when he invaded Texas, was dictator The constitution
OF 1924 was overthrown he the government After
his capture, he entered into convention establishing
the RIO Grande the western boundary of Texas and
stpuatng Tor the unmoesed retreat of his army beyond
that river. This agreement was forwarded to General
flisola next IN command, and ratified by him and Gen
erals Urea, Sesma, GorostZa, and others. 1t is no.
torlous that but for this convention, the whole Mexican
army might have been captured Destroyed they
utterly dlsheartened and stricken, and could not
have effected SO long retreat, in their destitute and
brokendown condition, If harassed by the pursuit of
victorious army Texas performed her part of the
and the Mexicans avaled themselves of its bene
fits. When Gen. Rusk reached Goliad, he fell in with
Gen. Gorostiza, who claimed, under the convention
some bread which had been abandoned at that place
which was generously given up-thus saving the Mex
cans from starvation their long and dreary march
Mexico derived all the advantage of the contract with
Santa Anna. Her army saved, and Texas certainly
has just and equitable claim to the boundary conceded
to her.
Even after the Mexicans had crossed the Rio Grande,
they confirmed the convention by giving up. property
which had been carried of from Texas Mark this
time Here is claim asserted and acknowledged. And
Texas, when the last Mexican soldier crossed the river
had as perfect right to the east bank Of the Rio Grande,
as she had to the west bank of the Sabine.
now assert that she lost her right From that
time forward, Texan force was ever defeated east of
the Rio Grande and every Mexican army sent against
Texas, east OF that defeated and driven back
and the last occasion, the Texans followed to the
river and part of them crossed over thus again
queror to that line, and having good right
can be obtained without ratification by treaty
Some months after the Mexican army had retired, twas
announced that the government established after Santa
Annals defeat the convention made by him. and
threatened renewal of the war; receiving this infer
nation, Gen Rusk projected attack Maamoras, and
sent Gen Felix Huston who commanded the cavalry with
several hundred men, to occupy the country beyond the
Nueces Gen. Huston did So and remained some weeks
west OF that river sending his scouting parties to the vi
clny OF the Rio Grande during the and fall Of
1886 His report is that the Mexican army retired into
Matamoras and the rancheros abandoned their ranches
at the news OF his approach.
In the fall of 1885, the Texan Congress declared their
boundary the (rrQOdp
tainly was master OF the "debatable land"
In the summer of 1887 about three hundred men,
authorized by the government commenced driving back
the ncheros who had ventured across the Rio Grande
and driving their cattle forward.
These worthy "cow boys" the actual possessors
OF the country west OF the Nueces for five or six years
In parties OF from fifteen to fifty they drove the Mexcans
across the river when they pleased and drove off nearly
SO 900 head of cattle.
And this important fact 1t negatives the idea of
Mexican possession, and full Offset against the few
ancheros and smuggles who venured into Texas during
the intervals OF war From the nature of civil war; there
must be vacant border the prize of the maaudng par
ties of the most warlike. In this case the Texan 'cow
boys held possession against any organized or morgan
lied force that Mexico sent against them
In 1899, the iedelists OF northern Mexico revolted
against the central government. They defeated,
and Gen lAmaya now President Of Mexico into
Canaes crossed the Rio Grande with his forces taking
shelter under the lone
Maj; Reuben Ross, with his company and about 200
cowboys joined Canales. They crossed the Rio
Grande, took Mier, and drove the Mexican army into
Matamoras; and Ross remained near a month west of
the river, and returned in safety
Gen Canales again crossed into Texas in 1910. Col
Jordan united with him with $50 ''cow-boys;" they
crossed the Rio Grande, and went beyond Saltlo when
Canales betrayed his allies and the gallant Jordan fought
his way back with the loss of but 80 men.
DO these things show-what is often asserted in
Congressional Texas is claiming section of country
where she dared not go?
In 1912, Mexico again invaded Texas under General
WOLF he was defeated. The Texan army followed to
the Rio Grande, and took possession of Loredo when
they unfortunately divided. portion of them crossed
the river and captured at Mier And this ends the
chapter Texas had conquered to the Rio Grande, and
Mexico captured those who passed beyond that river
Thus matters stood till xaon and hardly think
either side had organized force of hundred men
between the two rivers up to the time of Gen. Taylors
arrival at Corpus Christi
Smuggling took the place of war; and constant and
peaceabe intercourse was kept up between the Texan
settlements on the Nueces and the ancheros and snug
gers who ventured the Rio Grande, after most of
the "cow boys" had been captured at Mier And here
lies the secret of the muchtakedo Mexican occupation
ea OF that The fact is, the Mexican authorities
tried to prevent their population from crossing the river
destroyed their and Texas encouraged It.
think have seen proclamation OF Gen. VOL, pro-
hibng the Mexcans from crossing the rver and in the
armisce made with Texas the Rio Grande was specified
as the dividing line.
Politician No. contends that Gen. Taylors march to
the Rio Grande commenced the war.
very slight line divides his position from that OF No
O. Will he give date, and mark the line when the war
began venture to say, that of the IS members OF Con-
gress, who have sworn that the President unconsttu
tionaly began" this war, not twenty agree the
time when place where, this monsrous enormity was
committed. Suppose Mexico had acquesced in the Amer
III IL. D.. /.