Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-06-17

among us voted to carry boundary to the Rio Gande
and the Mexcans will such amendment, TO make
that the line between US.
take this, Mr. President, TO be decided expression Of
opinion that rather than continue The war we will take terri
toynot few make straight or convenient Dne
but enough in extent TO make republic and the acquisition
beyond the limits of Texas by establishing this boundary,
would be about bundled and fifty thousand square miles
equal in extent twenty such States as massachusetts
be said that Texas preenslons 10 inns the answer Is
obvious that Texas in its geographical limits EN-
braced IT, nor was il ever subdued held in subsection by
her. or ceded to her by Mexico She therefore, had
shadow Of title This admitted by the President as TO
large portion of this territory In his instructions to Mr.
Sdel dated November TO- ls45 which is antecedent 10
the of the war; he says, while speaking OF
Texas this Government he United Saies) has reserved
the adjustment of all questions Of boundary Again, he
says, in speaking Of New Mexico "Santa Fe Its capital
settled by the Spaniards than two centuries ago.
and that province New Mexicol has been since
their possession and that Of the republic Of Mexico The
Texans have conquered or taken possession OF IT nor
have its people been represented IN any OF their egs
atve assemblies or conventions After this admission of
title in Mexico the province Of New Mexico and denial
of the claim of Texas pposerous, the despatch says
The President desires deal literally with Mexico, and
the Minister is authorized to oie for boundary The Del
Nore from the up the line of New Mexico thence
westerly and nothey, bv the line, of that province till it
comes to the river again thence up the principal branch to
the and thence due north to the boundary Of the Uni
ted States and therefor he proposes to assume and pay all the
dollarsin addition" By the despatch Appeals that
the amount Of such claims allowed against Mexico by the
joint commission is two millions, and the amount re-
naming to be adjusted three millions three hundred and thr-
ysx thousand dollars that the whole offered, if these
claims Valid nearly ten and half millions OF
dollars. Another offer is then made for so much OF New
Mexico lies of the Del Norte which is for this terri
tory the assumption and payment of all the claims of CT
items upon Mexico After making this last proposal the de-
spatch proceeds cit scarcely TO be supposed, however
that Mexico would elnqush five millions Of dollars for the
sake Of retaining the strip OF territory in the valley
Of New Mexico of the Rio GraDde II thus appears
that the territory of New Mexico is chiefly of the Rio
Grande and inspection of the map will fully verify this
statement.
It is also well known that far the larger portion of the in
habants of all the territory coded by the treaty settled
and live east Of the Rio Grande del Norte.
We have nevertheless. this side Of the chamber made
effort fix the river the boundary though should
thereby acquire 900 square miles Of territory, there
abouts and this of heterogeneous population consisting
chiefly either of Indians mixture of Indians and Spanish
Having failed in this to decide whether we will
add the territory west lying between New Mexico and the
Pacific ocean, containing from four to five hundred thousand
square miles OF broken, mountainous unsettled and for the
part unproducive country, with very little population
upon it, reject the treaty. For the whole to pay
fifteen millions Of dollars, and assume addition, the claims
to which have referred have stated what will be the
posure Of things if the treaty be rejected, and may add
that the Administration will find in the rejection fresh
for renewing the to acquire further Conquest II will
avail itself Of such expression OF opinion to indulge In this
ambitious scheme OF policy which is now checked by the
power of public sentiment 1t will insist that it has made
great and serious effort peace which has failed be-
the Mexcan insist terms which the Senate cannot
conceie and alternative is left but TO conquer peace
by subecng power and dominion the whole country
In this dilemma placed and depore utter ina
by to extcate ourselves from it, When, sir, consider
the alternative presented and the further fact that consider
able portion Of Upper California has perhaps by most parts
of the country been thought desirable because of its ports
upon the Pacific the enjoyment Of which will be very
useful to trade And further when consider that the
territory is wild uncultvaed broken land, almost destitute
of population, the force of the objections 10 acquisition Is
greatly diminished compared with what it would be if we pro-
posed the annexation of populous region II is, after all
question of degree and not OF principle None OF us anti
cpate treaty without coming 10 the Rio Grande del Norte,
which will give 100000 square miles and, what inf
nely objectionable nearly oil the crude Of popu
lation in the whole territory The question H. shall we reject
tie treaty because cannot stop with our line at the river
and on this point doubt that is clearly duty to
take the additional territory rather than incur the hazards and
responsibilities upon which shall be cast by the rejection
feel that great embarssmens surround this question in oil
its aspects that are by the policy which has favor
rushing upon experiments which full Of peril but know
that have in this Senate power TO stay the progress
to check it, the opportunity presented
OF this have resolved avail myself under the belief that
better consult the interests Of my constituents
ought, perhaps, romak that, in the confused state Of
Mexico, If the treaty is ratified, which is very improbable
feel strong that any authority which does or
is likely exist there will be able TO IL though the
payment annually Of three millions, while it lasts will do
something towards it, But however is may be- we shall es
cape from the war, and posture afterwards viii he deen
sive instead Of aggressive. This viii be great point
gained, as It will give time for sober reflection.
NorE-Mr. DAVIS moved 10 strike out that part Of the
preamble which falsely that the Penpoteniaes made
reciprocal communication Of their respective and full powers
but the motion neGatv.d by twothrds having failed to
give TO il their support.