The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-10-12

10 the Union was deemed essential; ii the eIntr
gency pressing and the fear of foreign influence
great to induce TO risk the hazard even OF war
10 effect H. surely the government OF The United States
should be prepared 10 treat with Mexico in spirit OF
llheraly. They were prepared, and ! entertain no
doubt that It was the design of the government at that
time to deal with her justly and literally so far forth
injury of this character could be repaired by pecu-
mary consideration. | have said BEFORE and will re-
peat it, do not believe that the government of the Uni-
ted States at that time intended that should be the
ut believe they intended to satisfy Mexico for the
injury they mad done her by the of Texas,
and TO do II without any interruption OF the aEcable
aons which then existed between the two governments
believe that to have been the intention OF this
men originally whether it was SO when Mr.. Slidell was
sent to Mexico or not.
| in regard TO the instructions given to Mr. SdeI am
not at liberty 10 speak, except far az the President in
his message to Congress, has informed u.s. The Presi-
dent says that Mr. SIidel authorized TO come to
fair settlement upon Liberal terms Those terms. OF
were never communicated to the Mexican government,
bee they refused to recognise Mr.. Sde in the
pacity of resident minister in which he sent
stead OF that Of commissioner ad hoe in which charac
ter alone the lettering government OF Herrera had agreed
to receive him. Sir, 1t is remarkable fact that al the
very time-November, 1S45--when Mr.. Sldel sent
as minister OF peace, to diplomatic relations
with Mexico, ostensbly with view to amcabe adj
ustmen the administration also sent Capt Gillespie o
watch over American interests in California" And
to to motives from results, 1t with a
view to revolutionary movement IN that department,
with the ultimate design OF annexng it to the United
States Now, if the mission OF Mr. Sdell was really a
mission of peace, if designed such, it to
me that the pursued by the administration in send
ing Gen. Taylor to the Rio Grande and Capt Gillespie TO
California are indicative OF very different spirit on the
part OF this government though without any act OF the
American Congress to warrant it, 1t wears the appear
ance certainly OF an intention on the part OF the admin
s,raton to bring on war AS the result OF that policy
the country became involved in | go
ing TO inquire mnutey into the manner in which the war
commenced. look at the general causes which were
brought to bear upon The policy OF the two governments
and to the results which they produced But when war
was declared by Congress in consequence of the conflict
which ensued between the two armies stationed oppo
site sides of the Rio Grande, the question what
the equitable and just for setting the
versy Texas, before she came into the Union, as we
have been informed, was at one time prepared to spu
late for the payment of five millions Of dollars to British
bondhoders towards the payment of the public debt, if
Mexico could be induced therebyto recognise her nde
pendence. Coming into this Union, she is relieved from
this obligation, and Mexico il left to bear the burden of
the whole debt, including the claims of citizens,
which was before common charge upon all the depart
mens of that republic Mexico has right then--a right
WHICH justice requires this government to recognseo
expect that in any estimate that may be made of her
claims at the inception of the the obligations OF Tex
as fo the liabilities of Mexico, at the time OF her annex
sir what else is there that Mexico could fairly claim to
have taken into the account! The President has de-
cared that to the United States the annexation of Texas
was boon Of incalculable value. To the extent
that boon to the United States, not also
loss to Mexcoa loss to be fairly considered in the ad
Hstmen OF the controversy Now beey e that when
Gated to will appear that our government then
willing to adjust in spirit Of liberality the incpient
c0ntrOversy with MEXICO, ana mus ODtan ne assent 10
the annexation OF Texas without the hazard of conflict.
What more, them do we now ask
| What the limits OF Texas at the time of her an
nexaton? agree entirely with the honorable senator
from South Carolina [Mr. BurLEal that Texas had no
title which she could transfer the government of the
United States beyond her original limits and the territory
then in her immediate and actual possession Texas
VOTED department Of the Mexican government She
rlghfully revolted and maintained her independence
within the boundary which originally pertaned to her.
All that she claimed to have acquired beyond she must
have acquired by conquest And to the validity of such
title, it is essential that the whole OF the territory thus
claimed must have been in actual possession and under
the absolute control OF the conquerng party, and aban
doned by the power which originally claimed it. So far
the unoccuped territory is concerned the possession
and title are presumed still to pertain to the government
| Taylor tells us that, between the Nueces and the Rio
Grande, he found Mexican custom house, Mexican
villages and Mexican officers, and that deputaton from
the Mexican department of Tamaupas warned him not
| to advance He was also directed by govern
men in making his advance, to respect the posts in the
occupancy of Mexican forces and the Mexican settle
ments over which Texas did not exercise jurisdiction,
and give the people the bank OF
the Rio Grande that they would not be nteered with in
privileges WY was he unless
was recognised at the time being Mexican popula.
tion' The people abandoned their coQn-ields and fled
at his approach Why did they fly, unless they were
Mexcans' No, sir; there is not, in my Judgment a
plausible pretence of right the part of Texas, at that
me to territory lying between the two rivers. except in
the immediate neighborhood of the Nueces Between
that river and the Rio Gande there immense tract
OF country, without population, which had not passed
under the dominion of the Texan government That
territory is in the possession of the United States
Texas since her annexation to the Union, has been per-
med to exercise jurisdiction over it. The government
OF the United States has alsosextended its jurisdiction
it by the establishment Of post roads, and other
OF Congress have been passed since the commenced
recognising il part Of the State of Texas.
Now, sir, in the settlement between the United States
and Mexico, ask, II we obtain REIMBURSEMENT OF all
claims which the government of Mexico and the depart
ment Of Tamaupas may nave to this territory between
the Rio Grande and the Nueces and Also in addition TO
this, the right to the navigation of the Rio Grande,
which General Taylor was instructed not to attempt to
enforce, shall not have fair equivalent in value
the claims OF citizens, reduced in amount
little than five millions of dollars In addition to
this, large amount has been collected by the army in
trbuons levied on the people by order OF The President
which ought to be regarded fund for the payment of
the awards in favor OF citizens for which the
thus seized and appropriated without lawful authority
were pledged by the convention of January, ls43
These, sir, my views in regard to what Is just be-
settlement of this controversy. As to any claims of
ntoal cesson. for which prce is TO be paid in money
TO Mexico deny, sir either that this government has a
right to demand such cessOn that 1t would be proper
! or lawful for Mexico to make it. Mexico it is
ceded, has no public domain. The departments of New
Mexico and California, which the President desires 10
discover from the Mexican republic and in right OF
quest or cesson to to our own are members OF
that conederacy, in the same manner as the States of
this Union united in own. What, then, is their
relation to that repubc In the message of the Presi.
dent of December s. 1916, he says;
Gin the year 1924 Mexico established federal consn
ton, under which the Mexican republic posed OF
federal union similar Each oil these States had
its own executive, Legislatures and judiciary, and Tor all