The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-02-23
tn F UNION.

far as my information extends, was
never after eontroyeried Such the explanations
based as ! believe upon truth, that | have thought
proper give upon the nature and description of those
two settlements to which reference has been made
In lSI3 when Texas and Mexico were induced,
through the medium OF the representatives OF France
and England, TO agree upon armistce, nothing was
said upon the subject of boundary between those
publcs But in the proclamation of General Vol, then
at the head OF the Mexican orces that general pro-
claiming the termination OF the armstce notified every
one not to approach the east side of the Rio Gande
within one league OF that river or they would be regarded
enemies and treated accordingly That general that
occasion said nothing about the Nueces the ''supend
Gus desert"
These, sir, the evidences | adduce against the
clam OF Mexico TO any part of the territory lying be-
tween the Nueces and the Rio Grande, and below New
Mexico.
On the part of Texas urge the fact of her expulsion
oi the civil and military authority of Mexico from the|
east to the west side OF the Rio Grande and of her hay
Ing kept it there. urge'the fact of her congressional
declaration of December, 1885, of the Rio Grande he'll
boundary. urge the fact OF her military establishment
at Corpus Christi convenient TO her settlements, and IA
vorabe for the reception of suppliesfrom which POSI-
he army of Texas, at pleasure first under Gen. Rusk
and afterwards under Gen. Felix Huston traversed over
he whole OF this country without molestation urge|
the fact that Texas had organized this country ino|
Counties, and appointed civil officers in it to adminsteI|
her laws that she sent her public surveyors into and
surveyed it, and appropriated these lands TO her own
use urge the fact that Texas had established an cleo
on precinct at Corpus Christi, at which the citizens re
Siding between the two rivers, il they chose TO do so
could vote What better claim than this, founded upon|
conquest and continuous possession, any country
have for her territory? 1t is the title by which, If no|
al the majority OF the civilized powers okthe world hold
their possessions.
It is true sir that within this territory the settlements
were detached and sparse and from the nature OF their
situation in such times those, that law and usce
nay have been but eebly administered and that the fran
chses of freeman may have been but scany enjoyed
The senator from Mary land [Mr PEARcE has rdicued
cinct having been established at Corpus Christi for the
accommodation of all the settlers residing between the
wo rivers What! he asks, esabsha precinct for these
poor fellows to vote at hundred and fifty miles FROM
THE residences of of them! Sir, that senator was
born in Maryland in an old and tho settled country
where to be had not only all the comforts which
Imam desire but also all the political accommodations
(which the most intirm or ndoent could hope for. ln
new countries, these things otherwise. AT one
time, in the history OF my own State which, IN point
of territory, Is among the largest IN the Union. the
Territory which forms that State-then part of
Missouri, belonged to the county of New Madrid and
he county seat of which at the vilage%f New Mad
rid, the Mississippi seventy or seventy
five miles below the mouth of the Ohio; and to this
county the settlers the Red river had often to come
Ito attend to their suits and to grand jurors In
1.-The discharge OF this duty these people had to travel II
lby water, to their county seat eight hundred or thou
sand miles; and if by land four five hundred miles,
Through country nearly destitute OF inhabitants. and
streams and impossible creeks. As late 1919, the
county of Arkansas bounded the south by
Louisiana, and on the north by the State of Mis-
1souri and, measured by the mcanders Of the Misss-
lspp river, which was its eastern front, distance
of about six hundred miles The county seat for this
county at the "Old Post of Arkansas" a village
according to the tradition OF the country, cotem,
4pomneously with 81. Louis Kaskaskia Vncennes, and
philadelphia which was | believe, according to our
2chronicers in the year 1855 This county sea-whlch
has seen better days, and has been of late years be-
coming ''smaller by degrees and more beautifully less
was selected all county seats in all new counties are
selected, in reference to population and not territorial
centres 1t the edge of one side OF the county
land the remoter settlers in getting TO It, had to travel two
Tor three hundred miles These nconvenences but OF
common occurrence in all new countries, as senator's
afrom the new States will testify When the senator
from Maryland shall hereafter dwell upon this subject
Ghope we shall have his sympathy instead OF his rdicue
and that he will content himself by thanking his stars
hat he born Maryland, and not IN the wilder
mess. hope he will to wonder that the poor TEL
ows the Rio Grandc had TO travel to San Pa,rco or
Corpus Christi to vote transact their business Upon
he whole, then, urge this fact also important, and
not trivial, in behalf Of the claim of Texas;
tits probably true that the greater number of the set
ItIers the Rio Grande OF Spanish orgln and Ia
1vorably inclined to the cause of Mexico But no matter
(what their origin feeling, they were too nconsdeable
numbers to be the object of special attention to either
4of the belligerents They took part generally in the
conflict between Texas and Mexico and, through the
double motives OF policy and humanity neither OF the
parties disturbed them They were LETT TO- the ENJOYMENT
3of their neutrality-ther focks, and little patches OF
corn, and cotton and red pepper The only instance to
The contrary the order of Gen. Rusk In 1896, TO
those settlers to retire to his rear on the Guadalupe or
ito the west side of the Rio Grande; which order all OF
gthem obeyed and continued to obey until 1885, when they
again permitted to return and did return and there
1they have remained ever since.
These facts urge in behalf of the claim of Texas to
THE territory between the Nueces and Rio Grande and
adverse to the pretensons of Mexico 1t is true that
AIexco during all this me claimed not only the terri
aory in controversy, but the whole of Texas not to the
Nueces, the desert, which she mentioned, but to
1.-THE Sabine and that she clustered and buled, and talk
led loudly of invasion, and BLOOD and thunder, and all
THAT Thus stood the claim of the respective parties
when the treaty OF annexation was made IN 1874. And
this brings to the action of the United States upon this
Question of title and boundary The United States
of Texas and TO whom this settlement OF
her boundary had been committed could not consistent
ly with her fidelity and honor to Texas give up part
1of it, without friendly discussion, by which the United
States should be satisfied that the claim OF Texas was
The United States would have regarded il
discussion, at that time and ever since, the United
States anxious to have, and also most
anxious TO settle it speedily and upon the most liberal
|terms OF which there is in our archives the most
abundant proof This discussion the government OF Mex
Ico most peremptory refused; and In consequence OF
THAT refusal, the United States unwilling to give
!up any part of the boundary claimed by Texas This
lority of the Senate in 1914, The main opposition
Ito the treaty of that day rested upon the question OF
boundary; and that part OF the boundary mainly, which
included the Santa Fe country, New Mexico, with Its
8orty villages which had been settled by Spain hun
red years before La Sale had the Mississippi
river and which Texas had never invaded, much less
conquered To show that this country was included IN
1.-The claim of Texas, the senator from Missouri, Mr.
benton, in April 1884, introduced resolution calling
upon President Tyler for the boundary claimed by
|Texas The response to this call map, in large
|red lines, describing that boundary from the mouth
Ito the source of the Rio Grande Accompanying this
|nap memoir of valuable information which had
Hal 1,,t tho. Av11cn rIrt