Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1848-04-27
hich was the opportunity of establishing


3D. The certainly Of Texas irnot now at least short
period, establish by force her claim to this boundary This
capacity Is fairly nioahc from the offer of Mexico TO tecog
nlc her independence, aud admitted BY the British and
Fench Governments when they become the medium OF ne
offer But independently ofsuch circumstances this capacity
soeydent 10 ali who have any knowledge of the relative
herself without amy connection with the United States Ind
euchcd the point whcic she could compel the recognition OF
be cssouod by becoming member of the American Union
cath. The United States, after aaneyaton IN gdIi,on 70
the foregoing grounds will have the older one founded on we
Louisnna claim That this claim went as Tar as the Rio
Gtande, much apparent Than was IN lev whon
the Snhne was the limit OF the ccssun TO u.s.
especially fit be true, uedged mat me nh9h,an OF
Texas that time protested against the right OF The United
States TO deprive them Of the benefits secured to the in the
Treaty with France"
Does this reasoning of our Charge do Afiaires
look as though he believed Texas had carried
her revolution to the left bank of the Rio Grnnde,
and subjected that country to her jurisdiction
and laws? No, sir, from it. If there
should be no declaration Of war or invasion oil
Texas by Mexico to furnish an excuse for selz-
ing the country, we must rest our claim to 1t on
the ground that Texas could and would have es-
tablshed, by force, her claims to that boundary,
if she had not been prevented by the agree neh'
she made with Santa Anna, on the l2th OF May
1896, Ivy which his army was allowed to return
to Mexico, and carry with them valuable arms
and munitions OF war.
Bat this is not ALL Mr. President In 1889,
nearly three years after the passage OF The act OF
the Texan Congress, defining her boundary to
be the Rio Grande, Conaes, Mexican Chief,
attempted, with the consent and aid Of Texas, to
establish the renubc OF the Rio Grande, to be
composed of the States Of Tamaulpas, Coahuila,
and Durango. liz independence was declared
and Canales elected President lie collected an
army and encamped at Laredo, small town OF
Tanaulipas, on the east side OF the Rio Grande
where he remained five or six months. In April
1910, General Arsta, at the head ola large Mex
lean force, attacked and defeated Canaes, and
he retreatcd into Texas. Ia this struggle the
navy and army Of TcXus co operated with Ca.
males, Before Cunaes undertook The expedition
he entered into Il secret agreement with Texas
three articles OF which have been published in
the newspapers of the day, and arc as follows;
" lst The President of the republic of the Rio GrandC
General Canacs pledges himself to declare the independence
of the Republic Of the Rio Grandc and to declare and esab
fish the Federal Constitution Of 1874, he
shall established his headquarters within the limits
2d. That the republic of the Kio Grande shall mmedi
aey after said declaration ofndependcdcc, recognize the in
dependence of Texas.
H3d That the republic of Texas pledges herself to al,
the cdeass ofhc Rio Gnne in their struggle for indepen
dence directly after her independence is recognized by the
republic of the Rio Gmndo."
sir. RUSK SAID he had lived in Texas fol
fifteen years aid bad never heard of such agree
ment, aud lie asked when and where the paper
was signed, lis date, and who signed it.
Mr.. UPGlAM. cannot give the date of the
agreement. nor the names of the persons VIII,
sigued it. | have only the three first articles a.
found them in The newspapers of the dav.
MI RUSK said that no agreement was eve
ma with CaHnes, or any body, of the kind al
luded TO. Candles was considered there pub
lie highway rubbcr. lie had often attemptod [,
raise instruction in Texas, as did other Mexi
can ctti' eis but he always kept on .he other sid
Of the Rio Grande.
Mr.. UPHAM. The agreement makes up
part Of the history Of Texas, and have neve
before heard It's truth called in question. 1t ha
been the rounds Of the newspapers, and it wa
read in the other end OF the capital in debate las
winter in presence, presuine. Of the member
from Texas, and not, to my know ledge. denied
Mr.. RUSK said ii 1t was par. OF tic hlstor,
OF Texas, it had never reached Texas.
MIR. UPIAM. Iflhe agreement be iorger
1t ought not 10 preclude the clam of Texas L
territory west OF the Nueces but if it be gen
uuo instrument, it GOES very far TO show that sh,
had abandoned all claim west oc that river.
But to pass ON: General Taylor's account O
his march from Corpus Christ, to the Rio Grand
shows that the country was in possession of Mex
leo. AT the Arroyo Colorado he was met by
marty of irreruIar cavalry. (raocherosA who in
formed him that crossinp the river would he con
sidored an act orGostihty: and tb,tthcv had ey
press orders TO fire mon him. # Le nr,6mn,ed i