Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1848-01-15
Nc. AS.

received, yon will be careful to avoid any acts
oil aggression, unless an actual state OF war should
exist. The Mexican forces at the posts in their
possession. and which have been so, will not be
disturbed as long as the relations Of peace be-
tween the United States and Mexico continue"
On the Both July, 1915, the Secretary
again addressed Gen. Taylor as follows:
You are expected to occupy, protect, and de.
lend the territory Of Texas, to the extent that
i has been occupied by the people Of Texas.
The hIo C1rande is claimed TO be the boundary
between the two counties; and up 10 this boun.
Diary you are to extend your protection, only ez
cepttng any posts on the eastern side thereof
which are in the actual occupancy Of Mexican
forces, or Mexican settlements over which the !
Republic Of Texas did not exercise jurisdiction
| at the period Of annexation, or shortly before
tha. event. 1t is expected in selecting the cs
'aoIlshmenl Tor your troops, you will approach
| as near the boundary line, the Rio Granle. az
prudence will dictate With this view, the
President desires that your position, for rar,'
Of your forces OF least should be west Of The
river Nuaces."
The Mexican settlements thus excepted,
are not those over " hich Texas did not
claim Jurisdiction, but those on the cas-,
bank of the Rio Grande over which Texas
did not exercise Jurisdiction at the period
mentioned. The President had no author,
ity to give up the territory claimed by Tex.
as; but it is clear that at that time. when
war was not contemplated. the Administra.
ton was Of opinion that, till the question
was definitely settled, the occupancy by the
Mexlcans of the territory adjacent to the
left bank Of the del Norte ough, not to be
disturbed. Neither the subsequent refusal
by Mexico TO receive q resident envoy nor
the successes Of the American arms have
| affected the question of RIGHT. The claim
Of Texas, whether TO New Mexico or to
the lower portion Of the Rio Noric. was
iidentica!.y the same; as invalid and ground.
less in one case as in the other. Whv q
distinction has been made by the Fvccu-
tive has not been stated. The fact is, thot
he has established 4 temporary government
| for New Mexico, as 4 COUNTRY conquered.
and without any regard to the claim Of
! Texas; whi!e, on the other hand. he Las
permitted that State TO extend its ilrisGic.
lion over tho country lying on toe ~
bank of the del NOrte. which. Ike New
/ Mexico. had been conquered by the arms
/ of the United States. Not q shadow of
| proof has been adduced to sustain the pre-.
| tensions Of Texas TO thlt district; and igs-
ticc imperious!y requires that it should, by
the treaty of peace, be restored to Mexico.
| 1t SO happens that the boundary which
may be traced in conformity with this prin-
cipie, is natural one, and that, as n meas.
Ure of eEpedency, none more eligible could
have been devised. 4 desert of one hun.
dred and twenty miles separates the most
. Thvop g
pus Christi and San Patricio from those
Of the Mcxicans on the left bank Of the
del N0rlc. than which no boundary could
be devised better calculated TO prevent
collision hereafter between the two nations
1t will be sufficient for that purpose to
draw a nominal line through the desert,
leaving all the waters that empty into the
; Rio Norte to Mexico. and all those that
empty into the Rio Nueces TO Texas, to-
gether with such other provisions respect.
ing Notifications and military posts as may
be necessary for the preservation Of peace.
The line of the Rio Nortc is one from
which Mexico would be perpetually threat.
ened, and from which their adiacen, town
on the eastern bank may be bombarded.
Such an intolerable nuisance would per.
petuate most hostile feelings. With such
, narrow river as the Rio del Nor,e. and
: with Joint right of navigation, repeated
collisions would be unavoidabe
Among these, when there was nothing
but a fordabe river to cross, slaves would
, perpetually escape from Texas; and where
would be the remedy? Are the UnitcC
States prepared to impose by treaty or
Mexico, where slavery is unknown. the OBJ
!, legation TO surrender fugitive slaves?
Mexico is greatly the weaker Power, arc
requires boundary which will give her
j as much security as is prGc,icaLle. l. i
;; not required, either for the preservation
o Of peace or for any other legitimate pur
y. pose. that the United should occupy
u threatening position, It. cannot be ration
r ally supposed that Mexico will ever mak,
n an aggressive war against them; and ever
: in such case the desert would protect then
J. against an invasion. If war should eve
II again take place between the two coun
tries, the overwhelming superiority of III
II navy of the United States will euabl
e them to carry on their operations whcr
II ever they please. They would within
month reoccupy the left bank Of the Ri
Il Norte. and within short time effect
S. landing, and carry the war to any quartz
is they pleased.
j. Must the war be still prosecuted for a
j. object of no intrinsic value. to which IL
E. United States have no legitimate RICH
as which Justice requires them to yield. Ill
,e which even even expediency does not IT
Is Cuire1