The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-01-11


we substitute Tor that which is inseparable from vio-
ence and inlusticethe punishment is al hand The de-
cay begins, and progresses until involved in hope
less ruin.
National character is national power; and the purer
the more elevated the spoless that character the
greater the power trust therefore in God that am
sh1 IN The OPINION thar thus war ls upon part just
blehen will we be pronounced by the judgment OF the
world, band OF murderers. No other sentence can
descendants of sires who knew moral blemsh-who
estimated the national honor above all price II we are
wrong, we have dsgraced the inheritance of freedom
they have left us, brought dishonor upon land and
aimed fatal blow at constitutional freedom itself
If speak strongly, il is because feel strongly.
wish to give offence to nome take no offence others
hold different opinion | am here to Justify my
before the Senate and the country; and mean to do
with the freedom that belongs TO each OF us.
have an instructive repugnance to believe my coun.
try wrong in any in which she can engage; and
rejoice that in this instance my feelings and my judgment
now proceed with the attempt to maintain that
Judgment have not time, SIT, nor health, TO state all
the facts which difficulties with Mexico have deve|
opei applicable this question Nor, il hail. should
deem necessary to trespass so much upon the time OF
ms body My purpose is to refer only TO such AS an
cannot be successfully denied, and which Of
themselves, In my Judgment conclusive of the contro'
versy.
In 1884, the Mexican Congress passed decree re-
quirng all citizens to surrender to the government Their
The legislature of COahuila and Texas by de-
demonstrated against IT, and other acts repealnf
the constitution of Mexico OF 1924, by which they hi
changed the government from federal to central
For this, General Co.'S under the order OF Santa Anna.
at the head OF his army, broke up the legislature OF Goa
hula and Texas, arrested all the officers OF the gov
ernment marched the Rio Grande, and established
hs headquarters at San Antonio leaving garrison at
Lipanan, the Nueces and one at Goad The
Texans then commenced the revolution, retook Goad
Lipantlan and San Antonio, in 1885.
The boundaries of Coahuila and Texas, as these de-
partmens laid off into State by the constitution
the Nueces. running for upwards OF one hun
trad tstrp thanh a
that point to the Rio Grande The territory below that
lne between the Nueces and the Rio Grande, part
rious individuals by what called colony grants
der which many settlements were made These coonists
the greater portion Of them, entitled to this portion
of the territory, joined in the Texas revolution and were
represented in the convention Of Texas which suhse
queny declared the independence of that republic. The
day after the battle of San Jacinto 3ls April 36 Santa
forwards he entered into treaty with the government OF
Texas, acknowledging the Rio Grande as their south
western boundary upon condition that Gen Fiiisoia
then at the head of five thousand troops being all that
were left to the cenass maintain their power should
be permitted to retire west OF the river. and that he hn',
self should be released, These conditions complied
to the west of the river, and Santa Anna in October at
forwards released The treaty contained, also, various
spuatons about the release of prisoners and the sur
render of property Gen Rus then at the heal OF the
Texan forces and under the order of the Texan govern
ment transmitted copy of the treaty to Gen Flisoa,
who recognised it, and at complied with all the OBJ
In 1886 I9th December) the Texan Congress passed
law describing the Rio Grande their southwestern
boundary After this, Filsoa was superseded an com
mand by the appointment OF Gen Urea, who Immediate
Nv commenced raising army 10 Invade Texas Gen
Rusk who still at the head of the army Of Texas,
and stationed the Guadaoupe ordered the families be-
tween tina, part and the Rio Grande 10 retire 10 his rear
or 10 remove 10 the western bank OF the river. TIE
most of them did retire 10 his rear but many OF the Mex
elected to the river and settle ON the opposite
side For the purpose OF facilitating the removal OF those
occupying the country and of watching the ms vements
of the Mexican army and preparatory to ad vance upon
Matamoras he despatched General Felix Houston with
sufficient force 10 take possession Of Corpus Christi,
and that DONE General Houston exercised more
authority between the Nueces and the Rio Grande
than Urea did, who stationed at Matamoras with
force Of about ten thousand At period
Urea crossed The river with the greater part of his
mand and encamped few miles east OF the river but in
very short period he recrossed to the western side In
this condition things remained until ls43, the Mexicans
having army to the east of the river and the Texans
having few troops at Corpus Christi and San Antonio.
With these troops however the Texans frequently made
excursions to Laredo place upon the Rio Grande and
several times crossed it. The Mexican troops male two
incursions, crossing the river both times coming far
San Antonio, and upon each occasion were lmmedi-
aely driven back to the west bank In 1913, also,
aTmistce agreed upon, under which the Mexican
army was to remain the west and the Texans on the
year revoked and the declared to be renewed The
proclamation of General Vol, who was then in com
mand OF the Mexican force issued by direction OF Santa
leagues OF the river would be considered "favoring
the usurpers of that territory meaning BY the territory
the whole of Teyas be tried by court martial and capl
tally punished There during this PERIOD at
post called Laredo, on the east side OF the river,
some citizens under military organization, an organ
lied simply with view OF defence against the Indians
mustered only upon such occasions, but claiming to be
citizens when Hays Mccullough was there with the
Texan rangers. From the commencement of the revou
lion in 1891, the independence declared by Texas
s36-from that period the admission of Texas into
our Union in 1885, and from 1916 up the present hour
no Mexican document be found, military cvil-no
Mexican officer, military or civil, has ever been known
to contend that the territory lying between the Nueces
and the Rio Grande belonged to Mexico by any other
title than that which she maintained to the Whole terrific
nv between the Sabine and the Rio Grande. Under the
colony granted by Tamaupas the Settlers
election Texas in 1871 1912 of members of Con
gress voted at Corpus Christi claiming to be citizens of
Texas; and their votes received and recognised BIZ
the government The evidences to the title, too, the
lands so settled upon including all transfers from the
corded amongst the land records of Texas On the fir.
of March, 1915, the alternative resolutions Tor the All
mission of Texas into the Union passed On the
10th of December 1915, Texas admitted and on the
same day act passed to extend the laws OF the
United States the State of Texas On the 3lst De
cember, 1913, Texas constituted revenue district
and the city OF Galveston the only port of entry having
the port Corpus Christi port the west side OF the
Nueces Under that act, revenue ofncer OF the United
States has been appointed for Corpus Christi On the 81
February ls47 Congress. by an act establishing add
onal post roa s in The State OF Texas, established
amongst Others one from Brazos Santiago, via Point
Isabel 10 Fort Brown, opposite Matamoras and one from
orpus Christi 10 Bazos Santiago point south of Point
isabel. near the mouth OF the Rio Grsnde II no
Now as before stated, Texas was annexed under the
frat If the alternative resolutions of the AT March 1915