Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1848-01-05

Ocii tHeTc was III Tue pOStton
had taken, Indicative Of any danger Of actual no
tiliies
But our Government seems 10 have considers
the refusal, the part Of Mexico, to receive M
Sli1el as resident Envoy of the United States
as necessarily leading to war. The Secretary {
State. in his letter 10 Mr.. Sl;dcll Of January e
1876, says:
,s'Shoud The Mexican Government finally reftis,
TO receive you, The cup of forbearance will ther
have been exhausted. Nothing can remain but e
take the redress of the injuries to our citizens ana
the insults TO our Government into our own hands,
And again:
"Should the Mexican Government finally refuse
to receive you, then demand passports from the pro
per authority and return to the United States. II
VIII then become the duty of the President to sub
init The whole case TO Congress, and call upon the
nation to assert its jus: rights and avenge its injured
honor"
Nilt the same object in view, the Secretary Of
war did. by his letter dated January Is, 1916,
instruct Gen. Taylor
'tIo advance and occupy, with the troops under
MS command. positions near the east bank Of
the Rio del N0rIe. . = = Ii is presumed
Point Isabel will be considered by you an eligible
/ position This point, some one near it, and
points opposite Matamoras and Mier, and in the vi
emily OF Loredo, arc suggested for your considera
uon.~ Should you attempt to eXer-
else the right which the United States have. in
common with Mexico. to the free navigation of this
river 1t is posSible that Mexico would nterpose re-
ISSUANCE You VIII noiatteGlpt to enforce this right
without further Instructions. p. 3. - Ii is
nat designed, IN our present relations with Mexico,
that you should treat her as an enemy hut should
she assume that character bv declaration of war,
or any open act of hostility towards us, you will
not act merely on the defensive, if your relative
means enable you to do otherwise"
The Administration was therefore oPopinion that
thus military occupation of the territory in question
was not an act of hostility towards Mexico or treat
ing her as an enemy. Now, do aver, without
fear OF contradiction, that whenever n territory
claimed by two Powers is and has been for a length
OF Time IN the possession OF one Of them if the O.
Their should invade aud. take possession Of it by
military force, such act is an open act of hostli
ty according 10 the acknowledged and practical law
OF nations In this case the law ofnatons only re-
cognlses clear and positive fact.
The sequel is well known. Gen. TAYLOR, with
his troops, left Corpus Christi March Sih to llth,
1910, and entered the desert which separates that
place from the vicinity of the Del Nor,e On the
2lst he was encamped three miles south ofthe Ar
royo, or lhtile Colorado, having by the route ne
look marched one hundred and thirty five miles
and being nearly north of Niatamoras about thirty
miles distant. He had on the 10Th met party of
irregular Mexican cavalry. who informed him that
they had pcrempiory orders if he passed the rive-
TO fire upon his troops, and that it would be con,d-
I 4
ever, crossed. without single shot having been
fired. In a proclamation issued on the 10Th. Gen
eral Mega, who commanded the forces of the de-
partment of Tamaulipas, asserts that the limits OF
Texas are certain and recognised and never had
extended beyond the river Nueces; that the Cabi-
net OF tie Cnited States coveted The regions on tho
left bank OF the Rio Bravo, and that the American
army was row advancing to take possession of y
large part of i amaupas. On, the 24th day OF
March. Gen Taylor reached 4 point on the route
from Nlatamuras 10 Point Isabel, eighteen miles
from the former and from the latter place.
where deputatiOn sent him formal protest of tho
Project Of the northern district of the department.
of TamauIipas, declaring. in behalf of the citizens
OF The district. that hey never will consent to sep
ara!e themselves from the Mexican Republic and
10 unite themselves with the United States On
The I'm OF April, the Mexican General tn,puaia
required General Taylor To break up his canp
within twenty four hours, and to retire TO the other
Dark or the NueceS river, and notified him that If
he INSISTED on remaining upon The soil of the depart
ment OF Ianaul!paS, it would clearly result; that
arms alone must decide the question in which case
he declared that the MeXicaas would accent the
war to which they had been provoked On tho
23th Of April, Gen. Arista arrived i'm Mata,noras
and on the same day informed Gen. Taylor that no
considered hoSiliiieS commenced, and would prose
cute them. On The same day party OF siXiy-,hree
American dragons, who had been sent some dis
lance up the Left bank oilhe river became engaged
WIN very large force OF the enemy, and after
short affair." IN which about sixteen were killed mr.
wounded, were surrounded and compelled TO sur
render. These facts were laid before Congress by
the President III lis message Of the 18th Of Nav
F.-THE CLAIM OF TEXAS TO THE
RIO DEL NORTE AS IT'S BOUN-
DAIRY EXAMINED.
rom what precedes it appears that the Govern
Heht oil The Umted States considered the refusal of
Mexico TO receive resident envoy or minister 40
sufficient cause for war, and the Rio Del Norte
as me legitimate boundary of Texas. The first o.
Pinon is now OF no importance but the question oF
boundary, which was the immediate cause of hoe.
t!!IlIes, has to this day been the greatest imped
Inent TO the restoration Of peace. | feel satisfied
mat II tins was settled there would be no nsuner
able difficulty in arranging other professions.
me Uniied States claim other portion Of the
4heN'cai dOiiini0nS, unless il be by rinht Of con-
quest. line tract of country between tie Rio Nne
ceS and the del Nurte is the ONLY one which baa
been claimed by both parties as respectively LclonSr
ing either 10 Texas or 10 Mexico As regards eve
~ "iher part o! the Mexican possessions, The Uni
yea yea States never had claimed any portion Of it
ne iniqdlly CT acquiring any portion oft other
wise than by fair compact, freely consented TO he
Mexico, is seifcvdent. 1t is in every respec.
most important TO examine the grounds on which
The claim OF The United States 20 the only territory
GAINED by both nations Is founded. 1t Is the main
question at issue '''
The Republic Of Texas did. by an act of Decer,-
Der, 1886. declare The Rio del Nore 10 be its bon
dairy 1t VIII not be seriously commended that ma.
ton has Il right, by law of its own. 10 deterr;na
what is or shall be the boundary between IL ,,,d
another country. The act was nohiug tnore- ,b,,
the expression Of the wishes or prciensions NJ ,ba
Government. lis only practical effect was tla4
enlnatng from It's Congress or legislative body -
f,,f i,n