The Middlebury galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1848-1850, 1848-01-11

In the course of the war between Mexico
and Texas, incursions had been occasionally
made by each party into the territories of the
other. AMexican officer had, once or twice
obtained temporary occupation of San Anto-
MO, within the limits of Texas; and the Tex
ans had on one occasion taken Loredo itself,
and more than once had carried their arms not
only to the left bank ofthe del Norte, but even
beyond that river. In both cases the aggres-
sive parties had been repulsed and expelled.
The last Texan expedition of that kind took
place in December, 1912, and terminated in
their defeat at Mier
That the country adjacent to the left bank of
the river was exclusively in the possession of
the Mexicans, was well known to our Govern
ment.
When General TAYLOR marched to the del
Norte, he issued an order, No. 3O1 translated
into the Spanish, ordering all under his COM
mand to observe with the most scrupulous re-
spect the tights of all the inhabitants, who
might be found in peaceful prosecution of their
respective occupations, rs well on the right as
on the left side ofthe Rio Grande. No inter-
ference, he adds, will be allowed with the civ
il rights or religious privileges of the inhabi-
tants.
In June, 1915, General TAYLOR had been di-
rected to select and occupy, on or near the
Rio Grande del Norte, such site as would be
best adapted to repel invasion and to protect
our Western border. But on the Sth of July
following, the Secretary of War, addressed the
following letter to him:
1.-The Department is informed that Mexico
has some military establishments on the east
side of the Rio Grande, which are and for
some fine have been in the actual occupation
of her troops In carrying out the instruc-
tons heretofore received, YOU will be careful
to avoid any acts of aggression unless an actual
state of war should exist The Mexican for
ces at the posts in the possession and which
have been so, will not be disturbed rs long as
the relations ofpcace between the L. S. and
Mexico continue"
On the SOth July 1915, the Secretary of
War again addressed General TAYLOR, as fol-
lows:
"You are expected to occupy, protect and
defend the territory of Texas; to the extent
that it has been occupied by the people of
Texas. The Rio Grande is claimed to be the
boundary between the two countries, and up
to this boundary you are to extend your pro-
lection, only excepting any posts on the cas-
tern side thereof, which are in the actual &C.
cupancy of Mexican forces, or Mexican settle
ments over which the Republic of Texas did
not exercise jurisdiction at the period of an
nexation or shortly before that event. 1t is
expected, in selecting the establishment for
your troops, you will approach as near the
boundary line, the Rio Grande, as prudence
will dictate. With this view the President de-
srcs that your position, for part of your for
ces at least, should be west of the River Nue.
ces."
The Mexican settlements, thus excepted ARE
not those over which Texas did not claim jul
risdiction, but those on the east bank of the
Rio Grande over which Texas did not exer-
else jurisdiction at the period mentioned. The
President had no authority to give up the boun-
Diary claimed BY Texas; but it is clear that at
that time, when war was not contemplated; the
Administration was of the opinion that, till the
question was definitely settled, the occupancy
by the ucXicanS of the territory adjacent the
left bank of the del Norte ought not to be dis
turbed. Neither the subsequent refusal by
Mexico TO receive residing Envoy, nor the
successes of the American AIMS have not
affected the question of right. The claim of
Texas, whether to New-Mcxico or to the low
or portion of the RIO Nortc, was identicaly
the same, as invalid and groundless in one case
as in the other. Why a distinction has been
made by the Executive has not been stated.
The fact Is that he has established temporary
Government for New-Mcxicoasa country CON
quercd, and without any regard to the claim
ofTexas; while, on the other hand he has per-
mitted that State TO extend its jurisdiction O.
yer the country living on the left bank Of the
del Norte, which, like Ncw-M cxico had been
conquered by the arms of the United States.
Not 4 shadow of proof has been adduced TO
c,,stain tba rrntanSiouS of VexaS tO that dis
trict; and justice imperiously requires that it
should by treaty of peace be restored to Mex
leo.