The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1848-04-20


their rights and liberties.
d. That Texas is no longer morally bound by the
compact of union.
3D. That they do not acknowledge that the pres
ent authorities of the present nominal Mexican re-
public, have the right to govern within the limits OIL
Texas"
This was considered an absolute separation
from Mexico, and on the 2d OF March, 1850,
delegates of the people from all the DISTRICTS
declared Texas free, sovereign, ana IN
denendent State" Under the constitution
of 1924, New Mexico, Tamaulipas, Coahulla,
and Texas were States Of the Mex can re-
public each having its fixed and well-defined
boundary-the Nueces being the southeastern
boundary of Texas. But Texas, as have
said, not having sufficient population for a
sepuratc State, was Professionally united with
Coahuila, and called the State of Coahulla
and Texas. After the abolition of the State
Governments Texas acted for herself as Il
separate power. She had no connection with
Coahuila or the other Mexican States She
declared that the authorities Of the nominal
the limits of Teas What, Mr.. PRESIDENT at
Mary Austin Holley, in her History Of Texas,
published in 1886, says:
"Texas is situated between 81 deg. 80 min. and
80 deg, 30 min. north latitude, and SO deg 80 min
and 90 deg. IS min. west longitude. Its boundaries
are the Red river, separating it from Arkansas, on
the north the Gulf of Mexico the south the
Sabine river and Louisiana, on the east; and the
river Nueces, separating it from Tamau!ipas and
Coahuila on the west.
Mr. Murray in his Encyclopedias of Geo
graphy, published in 1888, gives the NueceS
as the western boundary of Texas. MIR.
Morft, an agent sent by General jackson to
Texas, in 1886, to ascertain its political, mill
tary, and civil condition, says, in his report,
that
"The political limits of Texas proper, previous to
the last revolution, were the Nueces river on the
west; along the Red river on the northi the Sabine
on the east; and the Gulf of Mexico on the south"
Mr.. Morit, in speaking Of the Texan Gov
crnment formed by convention, further says
"Ths convention took place by writ, of election
issued by the provisional government and it is SAID
that all parts Of Texas were represented in it, from
the extreme western settlement at San Patrico, on
the Nueces to the Sabine and Red rivers"
The "extreme western settlement of Tex
as was at San Patricio on the Nueccs." Now,
sir, by what authority did Texas, at the time
she became one of the States of this Union,
claim the Rio Grande as her western bound
arv? Had she conquered the Mexican States
of Coahuila. Tamaulipas, and New Mexico,
and subjected them to her jurisdiction and
laws? No, sir, she had done no such thing
Her extreme western settlement was San
Patrico on the right bank of the Nueces.
Mexico, as I will show from our own docu-
ments, was, at the time of annexation, in the
quiet and peaceful possession of the left bank
of the Rio Grande, claiming it as part OF
her republic. Mr. Donelson, our Charge
dAfaires in Texas, in his letter to our Sec
rotary of State, Mr.. Buchanan, under date OF
June 23, 1915, says:
at is the policy of those who are on the side of
Mexico in the present crisis, to throw upon the Uni
ted States the responsibility "f n war for the country
between the Nueces and the RIO Grandc. Theterri-
torv YOU are aware has been IN the possession of
both parties. Texas has held in peace Corpus
Christi Mexico has held Santiago Both parties
have had occasional possession oil Loredo and other
higher points
All that Texas held in peace west of the
Nuercs was Corpus Christi.
On the Goth of June, 1915, Mr.. Donelson,
in a despatch to General Taylor, says:
"Corpus Christi is said to be as healthy as Pen
sacolt-a convenient place for supplies, and is the
most western point now occupied by Texas"
Again, in the same despatch, he says:
"Texas holds Corpus Christ Mexico holds San
tiago, near the mouth Of the Rio G ande."
Again, sir; on the 9th of July, 1915, Mr..
Doneson, in another letter to Mir Buchanan,
says:
"You are already advised of my letter to General
Taylor, of the 2Sth ultimo, i'll which | leave the
question of marching to the Rio Grande to be deci-
ded by developments yet to be made. If Mexico
passes that stream, menacing Texas, or otherwise
threatening TO disturb the territory of Texas, il
Dli1sib
repel her commences, and we my force her to re-
tire west of the Rio Grande"
Crossing the river without menacing Tex
as, or threatening to invade her Territory
would be- no cause of complaint. Pray, sir,
it Texas extended to the left bank of the Rio
Grande, would not passing that river be an
invasion of her territory? Most certainly it
would. But no force was to be used unless
she attempted to 90 further, threatening to
disturb the territory Of Tex;s
But to proceed. Mr. Donelson, on the
18th of July, 1915, in a despatch to Mr. Blu
chanan, says:
"The proclamation of truce between the two
nations founded on pr positions equally acceptable
to them, leaving the question Of boundary not only
an open one, but Mexico in possession of the east
bank of the Rio Grlnde, seemed to me Inconsistent
with the expectation that in defence of the claim
Texas our troops should march Immediately to that
river"
Here, sir, is the express declaration Of our
Charge d'At1aires in Texas, that Mexico was
in the actual possession Of the left bank Of
the RIO Grande, and that Texas had never
been able to hold the country by the force OF
her arms. Mr.. Donclson proceeds TO argue
the question as follows:
THE grounds which the claim Ito the Ric
Grande) would appear to defensible, after the
admission of TeX,s into the Union, if there be M
declaration Of war or invasion by Mexico, may be
generally stated MS follows:
1st The revolutionary right to the people Of
Texas to resist oppression and enforce such polit
cal organization as they deem necessary to the en-
inyment of their happiness. The destruction of the
Constitution of 1874, and the despOtsm which fol.