The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-02-12
From the Albany Atlas.
From the Albany Atlas
Mexican War.
Report Of Judgs Fine. of The ~ Y Legislature on The
Merriam Var

|
The minority report of Messrs Fine and Belts on the
origin and justice OF the Mexican war; will be found in
another column. has the great merit OF brevy. Ii is
recital of facts with little, if any, accompaniment OF
words IN illustration enforcement of the positions TO
which they lead and if it convinces any, it is by the
cogency of facts and not by the adroness or skifu and
deceptive array OF language.
1t is in happy contrast in its accuracy OF statement and
its strict reliance facts, well as in its positions, with
the address of the majority
Minority Report of the Senate Committee The Gover-
nor'S Message.
The undersigned minority of the senate committee
on that part OF the governors message which relates to
the Mexican war, beg leave TO report:
LIST The war begun by Mexico; we had cause OF
war against Mexico, and would have been justified in be-
ginning the war; but did not
Mr Forsyth sums up the wrongs committed by Mexico,
IN his letter OF May, 1887, to minister in Mexico
These wrongs are of a character which be toll
with proper regard for the opinions Of other nations
with an enlightened concern for the permanent welfare
OF those portions OF Its peopew may be engaged in for
Treasure belonging citizens of the United States has
been seized by Mexican officers IN its from pi
tai TO the coast
Vessels of tue United States have been captured de.
tanned, and condemned upon the most frivolous preexs
Duties have been exacted upon Others VIGOROUSLY
against law, without law Others have been employed
and IN some instances in the Mexican service with
| out compensation to their owners
Citizen of the United States have been proned for
long periods OF time, without being informed Of the often
with which they have been charged Others have
been murdered and robbed by Mexican officers the high
seas, without any attempt to bring the guilty to Justice"
War commenced by Mexico in the murder of Cross
and Turner, and AFTER oath April, 1916, by the
capture of Thornton and his party On that day, General
Arisa officially notified General Taylor that hosties
had commenced.
On the day before (2ad Aprl) Paroles, the President,
issued his proclamation declaring war He says
'IIaving determined in the beginning OF the year to
adopt vigorous policy, he had ordered the Mexican
| army attack the American uoops.'
| On the 18th April 1885, Paroles wrote to Ampuda ii
Indispensable hostiltes should commence. The Ian
guage OF Paredes IS
AT the present day suppose YOU at the head of that
for the operations campaign. 1t is indispensable hos
tes be commenced yourself taking the initiative against
! the enemy"
A. soon as the capture of Thornton and party was
known at Washington, Congress declared, doth May,
1861 war existed between Mexico and the United
Sates-2 noes in the Senate IA in the House The act
gave power 10 the President to prosecute the existing
war to a speedy and successful termination.
| I'd. Mexico was not justifable in making war.
The and the only put forth by the MeXi
can government is the annexation of Texas.
Bocanegra, the Mexican Secretary OF Foreign Affairs, in
his letter to w. Thompson, our minister, August ed,
| ls43, says:
"The Mexican Government will consider equivalent
| Texas into the United States"
He repeats this in his letter of September, 1s43 and
his letter of 18th November ls43 he Declares by
press order OF his government that war will be the IN
evltable consequence OF the annexation OF Texas
18th March, 1916, the Mexican minister writes to
minister
"The Supreme Government, had beforehand declared it
would look upon such Uhe annexation of Texas
beAi, and, necessary consequence,
the only resort fthe Mexican government"
9th March, 1915, the Mexican minister at Washing.
ton wrote to our government protesting against the an
nexation of Texas act of aggression AS conse-
quence, he declared his mission had terminated he de-
manded and received his passports and returned home
LIST March, 1915, the JOINT resolutions passed
by Congress to Texas This not sufficient
ground of war; Texas being an Independent nation
ton of independence. 21st April 1886, the battle
of San Jacinto In May, 1886, Santa Anna signed a
treaty. acknowledging her Independence. In 1887. the
States and afterwards by France England and Belgium
Mr. Webster reasons upon the point as follows:
From the time of the battle Of San Jacin'o. in
the internal signs of independence Mexico her
self and with quite as much stability Of government.
hostile fool ha found res, Within her sr'ta v for SIX n o
years Since 1887 the United States have regarded
as an ma s,s as mush as
ter in Mexico, July 9Th, 1872
3D. 1t is said by some, that Mexico iusti6abe in
carrying on the war, because the President claims the
boundary OF Texas to be the Rio Grande.
Our Congress, by the act of 3lst December 1885, has
made the same claim by establishing post routes between
the Nueces and Rio Grande and district for the col
lection of duties Texas, when she became an ndepen-
dent republic, made the claim Land was located
between the Nueces and the Rio Grande by the Texan
government; the laws of Texas extended over it
tce were organized.
The Texan government defined the boundary of the
republic December 49, 1886, follows beginning at
the mouth of the Sabine river, and running along
the Gulf of Mexico, three leagues fIom land, TO the
mouth of the Rio Grande thence up the principal stream
of that river to its source thence due north the AID
degree of north ATTITUDES thence along the boundary line
defined in the treaty between the United States and
Spain, to the beginning"
With this boundary Texas was acknowledged indepen-
dent by the United States in 1897 and annexed in 1915
Santa Anna acknowledged the Rio Grande the boun-
Diary in his treaty of May 1886
The country between the Sabine and the Rio Grande
coded by the United States Spain by the Florida
treaty OF 1919, which negotiated by Mr. Adams as
Secretary of State Mexico and Texas succeeded to this
title.
Mr. Webster in his official letter as Secretary of State
to our minister in Mexico July 6th, lS42 says: By
the Florida treaty of 22d OF February 1919 the territory
between the Sabine and Rio Grande confirmed by the
| United States to Spain"
Mr.. Clay in his letter Of April 18th, 1914, published in
ceded and relinquished to Spain, by the treaty of S9
the country between the Sabine and the Rio del Nore, by
which the Sabine substituted for the Rio del NoIte
as western boundary"
Before the treaty of 1Sl9 the United States claimed the
boundary to the Rio Grande, and exercised jurisdiction
it. This stated in the letter of our minister in
Mexico Mr.. PonsetO to Mr.. Clay, Secretary of State
Sept 90 1925 Mr. Monroe in 1916, gave directions for
the removal OF squatters this territory The country
far west the Rio Grande purchased by the Uni
ted States of France undr the Louisiana treaty of 1904
United States acquired title to Texas-extendng as be
lieve TO the Rio del Norte-by the treaty of Louisiana
Messrs Monroe and Pnckney, our ministers at Madrid
wrote to the Spanish government 2Sth January 1908