Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1848-02-16

went the next morning to ,Filisoln, order
ing him to retire with lis troops from the
soil Of Texas; and where did he re:ire?
Where did he stop? They did not stop at
the Nueces. That was not1the boundary oI
Texas. They did not stop at the Rio
,Grande. That was not the boundary. Flu.
they marched on, in pursuance Of the m n
date to leave Texas, and they first stopped
at Monterey, leaving all Texas behind them,1
and leavingit free. The government a.
greed with Santa Anna afterwards upon
the Rio Grande as the boundary of Texas,
and no question exera arose ns to. The ue-
ces being its boundary pending the negoti-I
ations for annexation; but it is only since
this war began that this question has been
raised by its enemies But still more. Bv
law passed in 1886, it was promulgated
to all the civilized world that the Rio
Grande was the boundary of Texas.
This boundary was then defined and strict
ly laid out as beginning at the mouth ofthe
river by that name; then running north
west course up the middle Of the river,
from thence, crossing in line particular
ly defined over the territory Of the United
States, on to the ocean. This was then de-
clared bv law to be the boundary ofTexas.
This was not done in q corner-it was not
hid under bushel; it was proclaimed in
the face of all the civilized world This
was in 1886. This was then recognized
as being our boundary by the United States;
this was then recognized as being our
boundary by France: it was SO recognized
by Holland; it was so recognized by Bel
gum. II was not questioned by any one,
OR any power, but that this was our boun-
dary. No man can contest this truth. All
Christendom recognized this to be the boun-
dary of Texas, by their subsequent acts d.
[Great applause But this is not all; the
evidence lhickens upon me; but time will
not allow that should bring it all forward
before you. When Mexico invaded Tex
as, she crossed the Rio Grande. and vast
ed and plundered the rancheros which were
on the Texan side of it. When she came
TO spoil our country. to ravage our land to
burn our villages and our farms. and spread
destruction and desolaton over the country
of Texas, she crossed the Rio Grande, and
then and there she began the work of spoil
and devastation. And again, after these fur
i've tA AplOllS, w Itll Sic IlGu, NElSGll away
with infamy by our soldier citizens, she
skulked back again to hide in her fastness-
es on the other side OF that river. This was
declared and manifested before all the world
to be the boundary Of Texas, and this long
before the act of annexation with the United
States. Nor is this all; Mexico, after two
successive outrages upon Texas, still refus-
ed to learn wisdom by experience. The
President of Texas ordered and prepared
an army which crossed over the Rio Grande,
reduced Guerrero, and recrossed it again
at its leisure. saying effectually TO Mexico,
awe can cross over into your country as
we'll as you into ours. You stay where you
are, and we will let you alone" They
never crossed again. The unfortunate Mier
expedition arose out of this state Of things.
1t cost US much trouble 10 teach Mexico
that our boundary must be respected by her,
or else that her boundary would not be re-
garded by US. But this is not all. Mexico
never occupied this country after our inde-
pendence was declared and asserted. We
possessed and occupied the country, and
would not permit the establishment of any
Mexican settlement in the country we oc.
cupied. In all the negotiations we entered
into in relation to the armistice, there was
no question raised of the Nueces being the
boundary of Texas; but our commission
ers went on the other SHE Of the Rio Grande
to meet the Mexican commissioners, and
there it was they negotiated for an armis-
tice. Again: when Santa Anna put an
end to the war, he denounced all those who
should be found in league on this side Of
the Rio Grande. This shows that he him
self regarded this line rs our boundary. But
this is not ALL When, in 1886, treaty
was made with the new Executive (Jones)
with the then government of Mexico, which
treaty was called the Cubes treaty, Alexi-
CO, by her own act, then recognized the
| Rio Grande as the boundary Of the State
of Texas. She never raised tho question OF
the Nueces being the boundary of Texas.
She recognized again the Rio Grande as
our boundary when she required of Texas.
as the condition of acknowledging her in
dependence, that she should not become
annexed to the United States. All this, fell
low-citizens, which have here mentioned,
and more which might be mentioned, goes
to establish the fact that the Nueces never
was the boundary of Texas, until it was
made so here in the United STATES. Mexico
herself never thought it to be our boundary.
We marked out our boundary by our life's
blood: we obtained it by the sacrifice OF
our citizens, and by noble conquest. It was
recognized by Mexico and the world, and
it would be scandal to the United States
to give it up. Loud cries of "Never! new
erp>1 We made ourselves, by our acts, a
free, sovereign, and Independent nation;
and we had the right to annex ourselves to
the United States. We did so. Who will
say it was not constitutional to take us! 1t
was the voice. Of the American people which
/ took US into this confederacy; and now that
we are part Of the Union, it is the duty
of the Executive to defend the soil acquir.
ed to the confederacy. There is no ques-
ton what is the boundary; for it was de-
| fined, asserted, and maintained, before the
annexation was made; and it has never
beed questioned, except by those who have
raised the question from party motives and
faction. Was it, then, the Presidents duty
to defend the soil and territory of the Uni
led States? Or did he, without cause, bring
about this war upon poor oppressed Mexi