The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-02-12

nation which shall be satisfactory and honorable TO the
country. With my thanks for the honor the committee
have done me, In asking me to address the meetings
am, very respectfully your fellow citizen,
JOHN A. DIX.
To VIM S. CoNELY, esq, and Committee.
From Hon E. H. Hunnegan
WASHINGTON, JAN %, 1913.
GENTLEMEN: regret very much that the nature of my
engagements will prevent my compliance with your re-
quest TO attend and address democratic meeting
the city of New York. Tanmany Hail. on Saturday. the
to attend democratic meeting in the city OF New York,
but my obligations such that cannot on the present
occasion. Very respectfully and truly,
To VIM. s. CoNELY, esq, and others, committee.
From Hon. Vim. B. Maclay.
WASHINGTON, JAM Is, ls4S.
GENTLEMEN: have DELAYED replying to your invita-
ton to attend meeting Saturday evening, the Doth
instant, at Tammany Hail. for the purpose of approving
and sustaining the patriotic of the administration
of the general government in conducting the with
Mexico, in the hope of being able unite my with
yours in the proceedings OF that important and interesting
occasion This expectation has been disappointed BY the
demands of public duty and constrained, therefore,
to communicate my sentiments and sympathes in this
form.
do propose, at this late day. to enter upon dis
cusson OF the merits of the question through which the
war between the United States and Mexico originated
The country is already possessed of the facts, and little
new light can be shed upon subject which has been SO
often and so deliberately discussed, and which is well
understood There are, however, some general refec
TONS recalling historical events which are necessary
my present purpose
The battle of San Jacnto terminated the arduous
struggle Tor independence which the gallant Texans
had made against the government of Mexico BY the
organic law OF 1896, the republic of Texas fixed her
boundary at the Rio del Norte, and with this boundary
her Independence was recognised by the United States
and by Great Britain France, and Holland The Atex
cans vacated, with the exception of few scattering
hus, the territory between the Nueces and the Rio del
Norte which was regularly organized into county, and
represented in the Congress of Texas and in its conven
ton.
The Rio del Norte was always regarded as the bound
AIRY G OF ancient Texas after the Louisiana purchase in
Adams, Mr. Pinckney Mr. Clay and other distinguished
statesmen, not only recognised but CLAIMED this limit
Whatever, therefore, was the rightu line OF ancieat
Texas, hecame such, the boundary of modern Texas
and if her title had been established by these high
and current authorities the laws of nations would have
confirmed it through her revolution by conquest and oc
United States sovereign and independent of the mother
country, and released Mexico from the bondage of old
SPAN How did i'd she h originally acquire e to the
became independent of Spain, did Texas become indie
pendent of Mexico More than this; she had recognised
by solemn treaty the boundary asserted and held by
Texas after the battle of San Jacnto.
1t is not necessary to my object to show that during
the nine years that Texas remained republic she exer
and territory between the Nueces and the Rio del Norte
that she extended her judicial systemtha she estab
lished post offices and post routes land Offices and Gus
tom houses and collected duties These familiar
facts, which cannot be refuted.
But suppose Texas had never exercised her just
thory in these acts would that have vitiated her title
acquired by conquest and maintained by arms'
Did Mexico ever make even respectable attempt to
this revoed State Texas asserted her rights in
the face of the world, and her citizens at all times
prepared TO vndcae them by the that had
secured her independence Is the title of the United
States to Oregon impaired because we have not estab
lished territorial government and extended laws
over it, any part of the intermediate territory, be-
cause have not supplied it with population The
cases are analogous in principle and our title westward
to the Pacific is better than the title of Texas
westward to the Rio del Norte at the breaking out of the
Having thus established that the boundary of Texas,
Departmental Mexico and republic extended to
the Rio del Norte, pass on to the act of annexation
which consummated on the st March, 1s45.
In few days after the adoption OF the resolutions an
nexng the republic of Texas to the United States M
Amone, the Mexican minister addressed letter to
Secretary OF State, characerzng the act as one o
gression, the unjust that be found recorded in
the annals of modern history" and soemny protested in
the name OF his government
''That the said law in nowise invadne the rights
on which Mexico relies to recover the aforementioned
province of Texas of which herself nustly
despoied; and that she will uphold and maintain these
rights at all times by every means which may be in her
power"
He concluded by declaring his mission at end, and
demanded his passports.
Such was the ground taken by Mexico from the day OF
the annexation OF Texas We were charged with hav ing
despoed her territory and with having robbed her of her
rights. Proclamations and nanestoes were scattered
abroad with these denuncatons and with the declarations
that she would employ to redress her imagined nlu-
RES This just for part not resent
ed with all these exasperang circumstances to excite
hoses preferred peace, and sought an amicabe ad-
usment.
NJ Almonte returned to Mexico, and our minister was
officially notified that all diplomatic intercourse between
! the two governments terminated Were all these
demonstrations pacihc Did they threaten nothing
What more could nation do to indicate purpose OF
war? Mexico Immediately proceeded with extensive
military preparations She increased and organized heI
army and insutngly avowed it's destination to be the
banks of the Rio del Noe, and its object the reconques
of Texas.
Still we forborc until Texas then on the eve of enter
ing our confedeacy became alarmed at the threatening
movements of Mexico applied TO the government a
Washington for sufficient force to protect her against IN
vason 1t was under these circumstances that Genera
Taylor ordered TO Corpus Christi, precautionary
measure The Chief Executive would have failed IL
duty had he done less honor him, both for the sagac
ty and the courage of the act need not recapitulat'
the subsequent evens-o the march to the Rio Gande-
of the shedding of American blood upon American soil
Of the glorious victories that followed and of the dscov
cry after the battles of the sth and 9th of May, 1916.
the original orders of the Mexican government. directing
their commanding general to attack army, bearnl
q General Taylor from Corpus Christi could have beer
, known to the authorities OF Mexico.
: Ibave now established that Texas, as department
land az a republic entitled and held the Rio de
Norte az her boundary. II this be true, and lbeleve
cannot be successfully controversial the whole argumen
of the oppositionthat the march OF Gen Taylor occa
" stoned the warts utterly allacious and absurd Ha
we not the right to march where pleased on our ow