Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-03-18

selves any the world Mexican gasconade intend
ell by their leaders operate upon the Ignorant their
own populations and produce political effect at home
Paredes no doubt thought he would make himself popular and
get up pronacaenfo his behalf by assuming TO be the
devoted advocate of the honor and Interests Of Mexico and
deludng his counrymen through their pudces against US
He succeeded overturned Bustamente and rode power
That was all he wanted and we have not few among
selves who like Paroles, pretend to be perfectly devoted
the honor and interests of their country, but who sorry
i, think are lust as willing Paede for their own adyan-
tage 10 play apon the preudces and ae the martial tastes
of people Ibeeve they want and expectpewer and OIL
cal emoumens from it. There Is danger that they will
ceed and force US upon the mad Of foreign
The President and his defenders, fully sensible that the
march Of Gen. Taylor the Rio Grande, bokadng the mouth
the river and taking possession OF the country, Of
war per s as Mr. would say the country on the Rio
rande belonged TO Mexico have been driven necessity
claiming all the land east Of that river from its mouth
source part of territory through the annexation
of Texas and being ours the President had the right march
army and hence 1t Is contended Mexico the
invader and shed the blood Of citizens upon our SOIL
Well, sir will punish any nation that nvades soil and
sheds the blood of citizens and hence 1t Is with inn
poan inquiry ascertain whether we did the land up
the Rio Grande where Porter and Thornton killed.
To satisfy my own mind and to enable take such
Senator which truth and patriotism required, have
ainned the question of title well as could, and my
searches have resulted in the conviction that we do not own
the soil where the first blood was shed III this will
state the grounds Of my opinion briefly possible. By
the treaty with Spain, in lsl9 we relnquished to her all
claim which heretofore may have had to the territory
revolution had thrown off the Spanish yoke and established
their independence we, by treaty made in April 1885,
ceded Mexico the boundary as before that time
had agreed upon with Spain Thus by two treaties have
renqushed all title and claim to land west OF the Sabine
river the boundary Of Texas Have any
subsequent time acquired title 1t is conended that
have through the Texan revolution and the annexation of
Texas to the United States BY concedng the same territory
Mexico whch acknowledged in 1918 belonged to Span
and when Mexico had other title to 1t than that which
founded revolution and conquest we have admitted
the principle that Texas may acquire title in the same
and consequently, il she did acquire it, that 1t be-
by concentrating the contract OF annexation The
whole question turns therefore, upon TACT Did
the country up the Rio Grande opposite Matamoros As
the declarations of Texas that the Rio Grande her
boundary they too idle TO require notice. II
tons could by assertions acquire property territory
there would be end to their wealth and dominion. In
fortunately for the honest reputation of individuals and
TONS the society within Governments and the relations Of Gov
ernnents kept in perpetual turmoil by unjust assertions and
claims We must have facts then, and not assertions
The Senator from Illinois mr. DoUGLAss insisted that the
revolution in Texas commenced in consequence the desuc
ton of the Mexican federal constitution Of 1924 and the
alton of central consolidated Government which Texas
unwilling 10 submit, and that Texas successfully resisted
the efforts of Mexico bring her into subsection to the Cen
trail Government That Ibeeye, all true, audi could per-
ceve very clearly that these facts constituted just foundation
upon which Texas could ghtuly title all the lands
within her acknowledged limits before the revolution
ed Up these limits she possessed before she asserted
her Independence and that possession, coupled with right,
would until Mexico succeeded dispossessng her.
which done therefore agree that Texas had title
to all the land within her proper limits and that acquired
her title by annexation although must believe it bad
policy part trade with Texas for that title which she
had secured by revolution not ten years old when made
the bargain We ought at least to have waited until she had
enjoyed peaceabe and adverse possession long enough bar
ejectment before purchasing the property.
Mexico 10 doubt whether there be any international
statute Of limitations which bars her right in short time
Texas and the United States have agreed But let that
Concedng that Texas by her successful defence,
cured title to all the land within her proper limits does that
defence equally avail to give her title TO part Of the Mexican
States of Tamaupas and New Mexico Certainly How
then Texas under the circumstances enlarge her original
boundaries She could only do by conquest and the perma
nent occupation Of the conquered district.
must be borne in mind that the original western boundary
of Texas the river Nueces; that the territories Of Coahu
10 and Texas united formed of the Mexican States that
Coahuia lay both sides Of the Rio Grande having coter
mnous boundary with Texas formed by the river Nueces
that the Mexican State Of Tamaupas covered the country
both sides the Rio Gande, extending from the Nueces west
along the Gulf coast and bounded the north by Coahua
and that New Mexico lay above both sides Of the Rio
Grande. Il must also be kept in mind that Taylors army
into the State of Tamaulpas, according to the ogi
nal boundaries of these Mexican Provinces and that the first
battles occurred in what at time part of Tamaupas
beyond all question Now, did Texas any time conquer
and hold permanently that part Of Tamaupas in which the
first blood she'd Did she garrison her conquests
and keep any military force in that part Of the country II
she ever did have knowledge Of the fact If the fact
exists is passing strange that it cannot be proved do
believe such fact did exist, and will present the
grounds of my belief as rapidly possible.
In the first place. the evidence furnished by Captain Henry
conclusive prove that the Mcxcans had possession fact
othe country the LEFT bank of the Rio Grande the time
General Taylor invaded it under the orders Of the President
On the 2ih OF March, 1885, Taylor approached the Next
Point Isabel except one burn their houses and fly be-
fore the army. page 62 Of Henry's book.
AT page SO Captain Henry says: "The country around
Pao Alto is really beautiful and not surprised the Mexi
cans are 10th to part with it."
On pages ga and 65 he speaks OF the Mexican settle
ment large fields being enclosed passing through long
line OF Mexican huts stopped at and there was
gular rush for eggs and chickens y the floor paved with
bricks and covered with beds "the poor devils mexican
popuaton at their cottage doors appeared pleased at
rival, and sauted passed." Our army camped in
corn6eld reaching the Rio Grande the about
six inches high !; General Taylor for the owner
and told him he would pay him what he thought the value
Of the crop" page 6s.)
AT page 81 Captain Henry describes the country and IFS
richness speaks Of the army occupying cotton and com6eds
mentions the remains Of beautiful garden, in which the
"oange lemon, fig banana plainain peach and cocoanu
grew, and says "This rich body Of land is between thirty
FIVE and foryve miles in width and hundred and
fifty in length"
Captain Thornton attacked when he and his
at house in "large plantation" page s3 In all this
ncontcstabe proofs that the Mexicans had possession
Of the country When and how did the Texans have
possession Of If they had single settler in il west
Of the Nueces give his name tell US who he was and
where he settled.
Here Mr.. HOUSTON informed Mr.. USpEnwoop that a
named Powers had settled west Of the Nueces in 1892