The Middlebury galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1848-1850, 1848-01-11
GALLATIN ON THE WAR.


TIE CLAIM OF TEXAS TO THE RIO DEL
NoRTE, AS ITS BOUNDARY, EXAMINED.
From what prcccdes. it appears that the Gov
eminent of the United States considered the refu-
sal of Mexico to receive resident Envoy or Min
lister a sufficient cause for War; and the Rio
del Nortc as the legitimate boundary of Texas.
The first opinion is now of no importance; tut
the question of Boundary, which was the immedi-
ate cause of hOstilities, has to this day been the
greatest impediment tdNAe ss.toretien- Of. Peace.
feel satisfied that, if this was settled there would
be no insuperable difficulty in arranging other
pretensions.
The United States claim no other portion Ct
the Mexican dominions, unless it be by right of
conquest The tract of country between the Rio
Nueces and the del Nor:e, is the only one which
has been claimed by both parties, as respectively
belonging either TO Texas or Mexico. As re-
CARDS every other part of the Mexican possessions
the United States never had claimed any portion
of it. The iniquity Of acquiring any portion of it.
otherwise than by fair compact freely consented to
by Mexico is selfevident 1t is, in every respect.
most important to examine the grounds on which
the claim Of the United States TO the only territory
claimed by both nations is founded. 1t is the main
question at issue.
The Republic of Texas did, by an act of De-
ccmber, 1886, declare the Rio del Norte to be its
boundary. 1t will not be seriously commended that
nation has right, by law of its own, to deter
mine what is or shall be the boundary between it
and another country. The act was nothing more
than the expressions of the wishes or pretcnsions
of the Government. Its only practical effect was
that, eminating from its Congress or legislative
body, it made it imperative on the Executive not
TO conclude any Peace with Mexico unless that
boundary was agreed to. AS regards right the
act of Texas is perfect nullitv. We want the
arguments and documents by which the claim is
sustained.
On first view the pretention is truly startling
There is no exception the Rio Norte, from its
TO its mouth, is declared 10 be the Iightful
boundary or Texas. The river has its source
within the Department, Province or State of New
Mexico, which it traverscs through its whole
length from north to south, dividing it into two
unequal parts. The largest and most pOpulouS.
including Santa Fe, the capital, lies on the left
bank of the river, and is therefore, embraced with
in the claim of Texas. Now this province of New
Mexico was first visited and occupied by the
Spaniards under Vasquez Coronado, in the years
1910 TO 1912. 1t was at that time voluntarily G.
vacuated, subsequently revisited md some settle
ments made about the year 1883: finally CON
quered in 1895 by the Spaniards, under the COM
mand of Onate. An instruction of the Indians
drove away the Spaniarls in the year 1850 They
recntered in the ensuing year, and after long re-
SiStance, reconqucrcd it. This was an internal
conflict with the Aborigines; but. as related to
Foreign Powers, the sovereignty of the Spaniards
over the territory was never called in question
and it was, in express terms made the Wes-
tern Boundary of Louisiana in the Royal Charter
of the French Government.
The conquest of the province by Onate took
place fiye-and-wenty years prior TO the landing of
the Pilgrims in New England, and twelve years
before any permanent settlement had been made
in North America, on the shores of the Atlantic,
by either England, France, Holland, Sweden or
any other Power, but that in Florida by Spain
herself.
have in vain sought for any document. ema-
mating from the r epublic or State of Texas for
the purpose of sustaining its claim either to New
Mexico or the country bordering on the lower
portion of the del Norte. The only official papers
within my reach, in which the claim of Texas is |
are the Presidents Message of May ii |
and December 3, 1876; and these refer only to |
the country bordering on the lower part ofthe del
Norte The portion of the Message of May IL. |
1916, relating to that subject, is follows Mean
time Texas by the final action of our Congress, |
had become an integral part of our Union. The |
Congress of Texas. BY its act of December 49, |
1856, had declared the Rio del Nortc TO be the /
boundary of that Republic. Its jurisdiction had |
been extended and exercised beyond the Nueces |
The country between that river and the del Norte /
had been represented in the Congress and in the /
Convention of Texas; had thus taken part in the
act of Annexation itself; and is now included /
within one of our Congressional Districts. Our
OWN Congress had, moreover, with great unanim-
ty, by the act approved December 81, lS45, re-
cognized the country beyond the Nueces as part
Of our territory, by including it within Reve-
hue system and Revenue officer, to reside with
in that District, has been appointed, by and with
he advice and consent of the Senate. 1t became |
therefore, of urgent necessity to provide for the
lefence of that portion of our country. Accor-
lingly, on the 18th of January last instructions
we're issued to the General in command of these
roops to occupy the left bank Of the del Norte-
"The movement of our troops to the del Norte
vas made by the Commanding General, under
positive instructions to abstain from all aggressive
lets toward Mexico or Mexican citizens and to
-egard the relations between that Republic and
he United States as peaceful, unless she should
leclare War. or commit acts Of hostility Indicative
If state of War. He was specially directed TO
protect private property, and respect personal
lights
In his annual message of December s. 1916,
he President states that Texas, as ceded to
he United States by France in 1903, has Teen
always claimed as extending west to the Rio
Irande; that this fact is established by dec
arations of our Government during Mr.. Jeffer-
on's and Monroe's administration; and that
he Texas which was ceded to Spain by the