The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1848-08-09

;no on that mar, of the Rio Grande which lies
below The province OF New Mexico she hao
never conquered, or reduced to actual posses,
sion, and brought under her government ana
laws. that part Of New Mexico lying east oi ,ne
Rio Grande, which she claimed 10 he wl'h'h
her limits. On the breaking ont OF 'he war,
we found Mexico in possession ot this d'spueo
territory.
As our army approached Santa Fe, ('he cap:
i,al Of New Mexicn,) it was found to he held
bv q Governor under Mexican authority, and an
armed farce collected TO resist our ADVANCE
The inhabitants were Mexicans. acknowleds
ina ALLEGIANCE to Mexico. The boundary IN
dispu,e was the line between the two countries
on ord in actual war, and the settlement ot "
Of necessity, depended on treaty OF peace.
Finding the Mexican authorities and people !"
posxession, our forces conquered them, ano eH
tended military rule over them and the territory
which they actually occupied, in lieu OF the So
vereiun,y which vas displaced. 1t was not
possible to disturb or change the ptact!cai
boundary line in the midst OF the war, when
no nceniiation for its adjustment could he open
ed and when Texas was not present, ny ner
constituted authorities, to establish and mann
tain government over hostile Mexican popnIa'
tion. who acknowledged no allegiance to her.
Tbere was. therefore, no alternative left, but TO
establish and to maintain military rule. during
| the war over the conquered people 10 inc us
puted territory, who had submitted 10 our ar"hS'
or to forbear the exercise OF our heh'Sere",
rights, and leave them in state OF anarchy anu
without control.
Whether the country in dispute rightfully be-
longed to Mexico or to Texas, it was r'ght IN
the first case, and our duty as well as our rIght
| in the latter, to conquer and hold II. ""''S'
this territory was in our possession as conquer.
era. with population hostile to the United
States. which more than once broke out in open
insurrection, it was our unquestionable duty 10
continue our military occupation OF II until the
conclusion of the war, and to establish over II
| military government necessary tor our own Sc
lcurty, as well as for the protection OF Inc con-
quered people. c,,,
By the Joint resolution Of Congress OF March
/, ls45, .sfor annexng Texas 10 Inc on'teu
States" the adjustment Of all questions Of
boundary which may arise with other govern
ments." was reserved to this government.-
When the conquest of New Mexico was con-
sumated by our arms, the question OF boundary
remained still una1iusted. Until the exchange
Of the ratifcatrons OF the late treaty, New Mex
leo never became an undisPuted portion "t Inc
limited States: and it would. therefore, have
heen premature to deliver over I" lekas 'na'
portion of it, on rhe east side o the R'o oranoe'
to which she asserted a claim. However just
the right of Texas might have been to 1t, that
right had never heen reduced 10 her.PossessIon'
and it was contested by Mexico.
-.
| Bvthe cession of the whole of New Mexico
on both sides of the Rio Grande to the United
States, the question of disputed boundary, so tar
as Mexico is concerned, has been settled, lea
wing the question as TO the true limits OF Texas
in New Mexico, to be adjusted between that
State and the United States. Under the CIR
stances existing during the pendency ot the
war. and while the whole of New Mexico, as
claimed by our enemy, was in our military oc.
cupaton, was not unmndul of the right OF
Texas to tha, port ion Of il which she claimed 10
he within her limits. In answer to letter
G.ea, the eoyernor of Texas, dated on the 4th
nv directions. Informed him. in letter oi tie
18th of February, ls46, tha, in the Presidents
annual message Of December, lS46, "You have
already perceived that New Mexico is at pre-
sent in the temporary occupation of the troops
| VI
it is military in its character.
1t is merely such government as must exist
under the laws Of nations and OF war, to pre-.
serve order and protect the rights of the Inhab'.
tants, and will cease on the conclusion OF The
treaty Of peace with Mexico. Nothing, there.
fore, can be NOR. certain than that this tempo
rary government, resulting from necessity can
never iniurousIy affect the right which the
President believes to be Justly asserted bv Tex.
as TO the whole territory on this side Of the Rio
Grande, whenever the Mexican clam to il shall
have been ertinsushed by treaty. But this is
subjec. which moro pr"perly belongs 10 The
legislative than the executive branch OF the 60.
vernment.
The result of the whole is, that Texas had
asserted right 10 that part OF New Mexico east
ofthe Rio Grande, which is believed. under the
Acts of Congress for The annexation and adrnls-
sion of Texas into the Union as State. and
under the Constitution and laws of Texas. to be
we'll founded hut this right had never been re.
dnced to her actual possession and occupancy.
The general government, possessing exclusive
" the war making power, had the right to take
military possession of this disputed territory; and
until the title to it was perfected by treaty oil
peace, it was their duty TO hold it, and to estab.
lish temporary military government over It,
for the preservation of the conquest ITSELF the
safety of our army, and the security Of the con.
quered inhabitants.
The resolutions further request information
whether any persons have been tried and coli.
demned for "treason against the United States
in that part Of New Mexico lying east of the Rio
Grande since the same has been in The occu.
paucy of our army" and fso before "what Iri-
hunal," and "by what authority ofla such tri.
bunal was established" II appears that after