Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1848-02-03

pIished revolution with the smord =
consisting of ,he people ofthe depart
ment of Texas, and portions Of the
people of Tamaulipas and Coahuila-
who, after driving The Mexican armies
beyond the Rio Grande, and at once
organising government, declared that
river 10 be their western boundary; and,
from that time 70 the present, main
tanned complete and undisturbed pos
session Of the soil west TO the Rio
Grande. So far as concerned their
intercourse with the United States and
the nations of the earth who had recog-
! Missed their national independence
England, France, and other great pow
ers inclusive within these limits Of
boundary, they exercised in their inter
, course with these nations all the rights
of sovereignty; and even in their rela-
tons with Mexico, actually making
peace on the recognition of such boun-
diaries, STIMULATING for the withdrawal
of the Mexican armies 10 the west of
Rio Gfande, and the release Of the
Mexican comm ander-in- chief, and fur
! ther maintaining such boundary agains.
all subsequent efforts of Mexico to OBJ
tain permanent footing on that soil
from which her armies had been driven
in the war of the revolution. While
the people who continued to inhabit
such territory were recognised as citi-
zens of Texas, tende.ing their allegi
ance, and being represented in the
Congress 0: Texas-and, believe, in
the very convention TIA: accepted our
terms Of admission-these acts Of SOW.
ereignty have been often referred to in
this House. As one act Of such SOW
ereignty, Texas became State of our
federal Union, bringing with her the
old quarrel with .Merico, which, at the
time of annexation, was the Mexican
claim to all of Texas; and this quarrel,
and more, cleerfully assume as the
price Of Texas.
Sir, observe the conduct Of the two
governments in their intercourse now
that the act of annexation has trans
ferred this intercourse to the federal adj
mnistration; see the insolence of Mex
leo and forbearance Of the United
States; see the declaration of Almonte,
Withdrawing from our country on the
passage of an act Of annexation; see
every subsequent stage Of The contro-
versy between Mexico and the United
States, and every despatch of every
minister, in every change of a chang
ing government. The offence was the
act of annexation. That act was the
act Of Congress, and the occupation OF
any part ofTexas was an offence in
the eyes Of Mexico; bat the occupation
Of any and every part was the duty of
the President, and had necessarily the
concurrence Of Congress,in virtue alone
of the original act of annexation, which
was just, wise, constitutional act,
and in advance sanctioned by the will
of the people of the United States, and
ratified by the people of a free and SOW
ereign republic, holding dominion from
the Sabine west to the Rio Grande.-
See the subsequent and subordinate
ground of complaint, arising out of the
disputed boundary question-suppo-
sing the major offence Enumeration re-
conciled; and, in this connexion, OBJ
serve the cautions, forbearing, concili-
a,ing course Of the American Execu-
rive, holding the American forces OF.
the extreme western border of the dis
puted territory until every effort for a
peaceful adjustment Of differences
seemed hopeless; and further observe
the cautious, defensive policy adopted
in occupying and defending the soil of
this new State.
| On the other hand, see the offensive,
! hostile, aggressive spirit with which
the Mexican army was ordered to take
1orcible possession, not only Of that
! territory which, in some collateral is
sues of the negotiation, had been styled
disputed, but also of the territory of
Texas all the way to the Sabine. Sur
rendering then, sir, all the advantage
which results from the acknowledged
sovereignty Of Texas to the Rio Gran
de, and the transfer ofthat sovereignty
to the federal government. we can at.
ford TO stand upon the issue of opposi-
ton, now very naturally adopted by
our beaten and desperate enemy, and
acknowledge, for the moment, that
Texas, to the Nueces, was legally and
rightfully occupied by our troops, and
that all beyond, TO the Rio Grande,
was disputed territory. For, sir, the
American government took defensive
possession, and the Mexican govern
ment offensive possession of this tern
tory, con,emporaneously-- hostili'ies
occurring at moment when the Amer.
lean general was ordered to act defen-
sively, and the Mexican to invade and
act Extensively.
What can be more conclusive TO es-