Weekly national intelligencer., 1848-01-22

able take and nan, possession, which do not admit,
would not give constructive possession right TO the
whole, coupled with possession OF part would answer
But Texas revolutionary Government, and could not
dvcst the title Of Tamanpas and other Mexican States to
the lands lying within their respective and nndoubed mts
except by taking and holding possession This se never did,
either by her settlers her soldiers; for the occasional pas
sage of troops the country not possession and IN
fact, the Mexicans crossed thus well as the Texans
Predatory excursions and border oays were never held to
make possession.
But my colleague says that Gen. Rusk for the purpose Of
facilitating the removal Of those occupying the country and OF
watching the movements Of the Mexican army and prepara
tory advance upon Maamoos, dispatched Gen Felix
Houston with sufficient force take possession OF Corpus
Christi and that DONE This rue sir and this Is
good pont-I mean the right Of Texas up TO that limit,
which indeed freely admit have been the frontier OF Texas
this they did not 90 beyond this they had pos
session. IN the legitimate sense Of the word and therefore
deny that the establishment of the port at Corpus Christi
'ahlshed the claim Of Texas up to the Rio Grande
FORTS shc had no civil officers in that country no, believe
not much justice Of the peace constable But il
sad proof of possession Of this country that at cleo
tion held at Corpus Christi in S42 certain settlers
from the disputed territory ard voted And asserted that
Texas thereby and then established her authority not where
they voted, but where they did not vote Well assert
acy the reverse, and ask whether if her authority had been
established on the Rio Grande she would have required her
citizens to travel $50 miles to give their votes Why, if
Texas had established any authority jurisdiction on the
Rio Gande she would at least have had the election held
as to accommodate these poor fellows who were desous
OF exercising the elective franchise Now, Icae not whether
knows who they whence they how they
induced TO whether they the poor fishermen Of
Padre isand struggling herdnen who attended their ocks
like the Nomades of the Eastern world. The whole thing
wants precision to make it valuable fact and if Texas
had not election precinct the Rio Grande country,
that of itself sufficient proof that she had establishment
there which could constitute possession.
The other fact which my colleague cites authority to
prove the right Of Texas what he stated the authority of
the Senator from Texas that certain purchasers the colony
grants of Tamnupas had their deeds recorded in Texas We
do not know where they executed and acknowledged
This, too precision dea and finish to give it GER
tanty and make available But suppose that be So and
what does it amount to than thshat some shrewd
hedging fellows, knowing that the country claimed by
Texas, and supposng might day be acquired by it.
thought prudent have these deeds recorded Texas as
well probably Matamoro future evidence their title
The fact, indeed is stated little broadly for it is said
this done back 1884, when in fact the revolution
in Texas only took place in 1885 At all events assuming
the fact in its fullest extent it only proves that Texas had no
clerks record officers in This region of $50 miles breadth
My colleague says that Mexican authorities be
found there and that Mexico had lost the right she had
Now propose refer few authorities to show YOU the
other side Of the question; and think that these authorities
cannot be overhrown shall invoke first the authority Of
the Senator from Missouri whose elaborate research whose
accurate and minute information have been the boast of his
friends and the admiration of his opponents. Now let me
read from speech made by that Senator after the formation
of the annexation treaty 1t will be recoected that he intro
duced bill for the annexation Of Texas and in that bill he
submitted several propositions the basis of his proposed ar
rangement Here what ne the subject of boundary
"The bill which ask leave TO bring in besdcs authorizing
and the President to treat with Mexico aud Texas
Tor adjustment OF boundaries and for The annexation of the
latter to the North American Union, proposes
the treaties expected to be made Boundary of these
and in this the basis conforms the geographical divisions
the counyto natural and proper lmtsto the line first
indicated President ackson's propositions
by MIR. Van Buren Mr. Ponsett 1899 and conforms
to the boundary designated in Mr. Randophs report So6
and to the resolution OF the House OF Representatives adopted
pursuance to that report and already read the Senate
Leaving the Rio Grande and all its valley and
Mexcans and the ssssppi valley and all its waters the
United States proposes to follow the heights
near the SoUTH Pass in the Rocky mountains called FRE-
MosTs Pass in the map Of the typographical bureau along
the Sierra obscua, Ozark mountain until il subsidies
plain approaches the Gulf of Mexico and then reaching
the gulf by line the prairie to the west of the Rio
Nueces, (Wanut This boundary between the
United States and Mexico pointed out by the finger of nature
agreed upon by eminent statesmen proper for Mexico
for ourselves and written down in the fate and the
law OF nature the true and boundary between
boundary will be established.
The Rio Grande del Norte Great River of the Nort is
Mexican river by position and possession and the Mexcans
may forever belong. The Mississippi, and all its waters
ours and TO the dsmembered parts return The
country east Of the Nueees land including h from position
geographical anities SOIL products and natural Dependence
appurenant the valley Of the Mississippi and must and
will go where ccngruy and homogeniaty it, No
wise man. OF commerce. wants river (beyond
its natural fronter for national boundary it is boundary
fruitful of expense and Of every species collision and colu
sion. and desert plain better and these
have bewee9 and Mexico and il would be Just as un
wise for 10 project segment salient angle, Of our
frontier this plain and mountain natural limits
OF Mexico would be in her make the same projection
ola segment angle of herself across the same plain and
mountain, into our natural dominion"
Sir is in the Senate only that this doctrine has been
find that distinguished member in the other
House, in speech made by him in regard Texas que
ton assumed the ground On the Sd Of January s45
Mr. &. ]. Ingersol said
upenous deserts between the Nueces and the Bravo
rivers the natural boundaries between e Anglo
and Mauritanan There ends the Valley the West
there Mexico begins"
This is the opinion OF the chairman Of the Committee on
Foreign Affairs Of the other House. Now let me turn TO
another authority propose to read from letter from Mr.
Doneson our Charge dAfares Texas to Mr. Buchanan
Secretary Of state:
t the policy OF those who the side OF Mexico in
the present crisis throw upon the United States the
sbiy OF for the country between the Nueces and the
Rio Grande That territory you aware has been the
Of both parties Texas has held in peace Corpus
Christi Mexico has held Santiago Both parties have had
occasional possession Of Loredo and other higher points,
Mexico however, has threatened renewal OF the war for
The whole OF Texas she accepts the proposals for
lion 10 the Union. III she undertakes such an expcdtion she
puts upon the hazard Of war the whole aim and
gives the right of going only the Rio Crande but
wherever else we may please"
At page 7S Of the document in letter Of Mr. Do
neson to the Secretary Of State Of Texas find this
My position is that hold Corpus Christi and all
other points up the Nueces Ii attacked the right Of defence
will authorize TO expcl the Mexicans to the Rio Grande
cit is better for TO await the attack than run the risk of
the question OF with the
Of Immediate possession OF the territory the Rio randc
You will find that have guarded every point"
He had idea of the advance of the army 10 the Rio