The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-02-03

manifestation oil regard Tor the rights OF Mexico IL re-
suited that the Executive of the United States, their
suutional organ for fulfilling the obligation OF protect
ing the country from invasion, placed under the ne
cesslty either to disregard that obligation enlltey
with respect TO Texas, TO consider II as coexteh-
slve with the limits which she had herself assert,
ed Between these alternatives medium presented
itself, except that the Executive should assume 10
decide what the proper limits OF Texas were- "a
thing impossible its part, without usurpahon oil
power less futile than fragrant; ior whist on 'ne one
hand could but leave the question oil boundary pre-
cisely where stood before, would nave involved az
once violation OF the rights OF Texas, violation OF
the rights OF Mexico, and defiance OF lne aalnoiy o.
these limits having, by that authority been referred to
the action of the treaty power OF the
United States and of Mexico. This fiagran and three
fold usnrpation on the part OF branch OF the govern
ment of the United States, constituted the only possible
middle course between the alternatives above stated
And this OF things must continue so long the
boundary OF the newly admitted member of the Union
should not be ascerained, either dentvely provi
sonay, by treaty or convention between the American
and the Mexican governments.
Thus stood the between the two republics. Here
luncture in human affairs, presenting fixed
fact-a fact which, manifesty TO the whole world, has
passed beyond human controhe absolute necessity OF
an Immediate understanding and agreement between the
two governments; whereby if not deinitively at least
Professionally, that boundary should be ascertaned, by
means of which alone their respective fields of duty
could be disngushed-by means of which alone coll
son, in the discharge of those duties could be avoided
The existence of this necessity, and the fact than il had
taken its place among those things which have passed
beyond human CONTROL were manifest to the whole world
And how it met by Mexico. BY refusal to
acknowledge it. TO endeavors the most earnest, the
most respectful the most concatory, the most pa
tent and persevering, to induce her to listen. she
responded by refusal to hear The admission oil
Texas into the Union denounced by the Mexican
government, terms that the undersigned will not re-
call, act of war and its unaerabe determination
proclaimed to wrest Texas-the whole OF Texas-from
the United States by force of arms. Armies were en-
bodied, and the OF the country exhausted in
preparations carry this threat into execution; and
finally, the troops of the United States attacked
and American blood shed within that
which, has been demonstrated, nothing but the ami
cable understanding which it had so earnestly but so
vanly sought, could have absolved the government of
the United States from the necessity Of considering
part OF the country which is under the most mperous
and the most solemn OF obligations to protect from inva
sion.
Thus did this war begin. 1t commenced not by
the United States, to acquire Texas, but by Mexico, to
subugate Texas after her national existence had become
lrrevocably blended and identified with that of the
United States. This the avowed purpose for which
Mexicos 'army of the north" was embodied and
marched, and for which 'the campaign OF Texas" was
opened The Interior destination OF that army, pro-
claimed by the press of the Mexican capital echong and
re-echoing the manfestoes and the orders poured forth
by the government was, the southern shore of the
Rio Bravo but the western shore OF the Sabine There
was mention then OF the distinction between the ter
rtory proper TO the State Of Texas and the territory
proper to the State of Tamaupas of the "zone be-
tween the left bank OF the Bravo and the right bank OF
the Nueces y of the latter river constituting
boundary OF any sort, or for any purpose The only
referred to, the Sabine and upon the bank OF that
river was the army OF Mexico to plant her flag.
Thus did the war begin. Had no such purpose the
terained, by the Mexican government had the " army
of the north" been formed solely for defensive purposes
even then on this suppostion so highly favorable to
Mexico, the cause of the could be found in but
thng-the pertinacious refusal of her government
cognse the necessity which had arisen for that
rent acon o. 81 n the two by Which alone
under the obligation to defend its own, from
that which it was bound to respect as its neighbors.
When considered in connection with the course pur-
sued by the Mexican government in refusing to recog-
Mise this necessity for understanding and for conont
action with that of the United Sates the presence
Of the force of the former upon the left bank of the
Bravo, anywhere within the asserted limits of Texas,
constituted an invasion. Independently OF any attack
by those forces upon the troops OF the United States,
their crossing the Bravo amounted OF itself to active
This invasion repelled and the war thus forced
upon the United States, became soon of INVASION
their part: OF invasion, but not of aggression;
Tor they had renamed passive until struck, and un the
pertinacty of the Mexican government in maintaining
its attitude OF hostility had made it manifest that good
consequences could result from further forberance and
had precuded all doubt that the only hope OF the restora
ton of peace between the two countries rested upon
vigorous prosecution Of the war by the party assaed
The results by which it has thus far been attended,
needless here to dwell upon tsuces to say that
the seapors of Mexico, together with the chief cities and
strong places OF very considerable portion of her terrific
ry are in the possession Of the forces of the United
States and this under circumstances afording pros
pect whatever that their hold upon them can be made 10
loosen. These are the circumstances under which the
desire for peace, seadfastly cherished and con-
stantly manifested by the United States, is again
repeated In making this Offer upon the condition set
forth in the projet submitted by the undersigned, the Uni
ted States occupy position very different from that sup
posed in the observations which have elected these
marks.
In proposing to Mexico to agree to the establishment of
the boundary defined in that prOje they do not present
themselves purchasers attempting to neg hbo
to the sale of her territory They do ii is true rely on
the title by conquest but not in the sense wherein alone
this title has any odum attached to it, according to
the highest known standard of International morality
The title by by conquest the
forcibe wrestling of country from its rghtful owner
without Just and sufficient and through the
desire possess ths title by conquest which the
Mexican government does nothing than justice to the
United States in supposng that it finds no favor in their
tory which neghbor, BY forcing you into has
PEELED you to occupy after every possible means has been
exhausted by you to preserve and to avoid that
cessityf this be the attached to the word then
the title by conquest is which any member of the
great family of nations may appeal to- in the certainty that
it will be pronounced good by the tribunal to which they
alike amenable. From the judgment of that tribunal
have nothing to apprehend In the eyes of candid
world when the excitement and the misconceptions OF
the hour shall have passed away, their conduct will
appear in its true light; and the erroneousness of
the view taken by Mexico of the position which they
occupy towards her will be manifest Instead of the
covetous neighbour seeking to extort from the weak
of another the sale of territory which she Is
averse to part with, they will be seen to-. have
realized the character of generous CONG deror
value, acquired at vast expenditure OF blood and of
treasure in the prosecution OF war into which he had
been most reluctantly compelled and who whilst insist
ing, with respect to portion of his conQuests, upon his