Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1848-01-13


To that effect we have The opinion Of Senator
Woodbury., (now Associate Judge Of the Supreme
Court of the U. s.. in his speech in favor OF ratl-
Tying the Treaty Of Annexation;
Texas, by mere lap," said he, "could dc-
gl,ire no tile but what she conquered from Mex
leo, and actually governed. Hence, though her
law includes more than ancient Texas, she could
hold and conpey oniy hat, or at the utmost, only
what she exercised clear jurisdiction ouer."
Texas never had exercised clear jurisdiction
of any sort over any territory on the Rio Grande,
and could not therefore by possibility convey to
the United States any title to it,
To the same effect we have the authority of
Mr.. Gallatin, which saves us ard our readers the
trouble of searching further on the subject
"The Republic of Texas, cid, by an act of
December, 1886 declare the Rio Del Norte to
be its boundary. L. will not be seriously con-
tended that nation has Ri ht by law Of its
own, to determine what is or what shall be the
boundary between 1t and another country. The
act was nothing more than the expression of the
toishes or prctenSionS of the Government. as re.
CARDS The right, the act Of Teras is perfect NIL
LITY."
1t is thus concusively demonstrated that the
territory between the Nueccs and the Rio
Grande never had passed out of the possession or
right of Mexico, and was in no sense "Ameri-
can soil" or territory OF the United States. The
tact Is, moreover ton notorious to need to be here
dwelt upon, that the army of the United States,
when it neared the Rio Grande, chased the Mex
lean custom officers out Of their houses, aud,
when it encamped on The bank of the river,
found itself in the midst of Mexican popua-
ton, and occupying the corn and cotton fields
which they had fled from in dismay. The flag
of the United States was planted by our army,
as in defiance, under the guns ola Mexican fort,
and at the same time the vessels of our Navy
blockaded the mouth of the Rio Grnnde--a rv-
ef running from its source to the ocean, altogetb
err between Mexican banks without Texan set
Element Of any sort within a hundred miles of it.
Nay, Gen. Taylor himself, after literally obeying
the Executive orders by occupying position OPP.
posito Matanoras, thus reported to tho War De
partnent (under date OF April &, 1867 his pro-
ceedlngs:
"On our side battery OF four eighteen poun-
ders will be completed, and the guns placed in
battery tot day. These guns bear directly upon
The pubic square Of .Hliamords, and cith,n good
range for demo'isting The io,ca. Their OBJECT
CANNOT BE MISTAKEN BY THE ENEMY"
The Enemy Uhat enemy! Does not this
language prove that the brave old General un-
derstood very we'll what he was sent there for d?
OF guns bearing directly upon the public square
of Matamoras, the object of which, as he very
truly reports to Mr.. Marcy, could not be inista-
ken.
And by this invasion of Mexican territory, un-
der peremptury orders from WASHINGTON to the
Commanding General, was .he war begun by The
President Of The United States, without the knowl-
edge OF Congress, though then IN session. Not
then nor since has there been drop of Ameri-
can UNITED States blood shed by Mexico on A.
merlcan soil: nor then nor since has a Mexican
soldier or armed man set his foot upon American
soil, (Texas proper ncuded,)
The foundation of the Presidents first Sec
ond, and last War Maniestoes against Mexico
being thus Withdrawn from under him, what is
there left TO sustain any part Of the recommend
atoms, in the message before us. OF further
and more vlndlctive prosecution OF the war !?
But to proceed The ground upon which the
fresldcnt placed the War; when, having got in
to 1t, lie was obliged 10 call upon Congress to
sustain hun in 1t, is, as we have shown, 50 far
from being solid or tue, that it is directly the
reverse. SO far from Mexico having Invaded the
United States, our President invaded Mexico
and, SO far iron tho war having existed bv the
act Of Mexico it eXistcd-so far as it is possible
for the United States to he at tCar without the
consent of the war-naking poverty the act of
Mr., Polk alone. Nor, in our opinion, did it OK
list without premcditation. 1t had been contem-
plated as possible, at least, from the moment Of
his coming to the Presidency. The government
paper, as we have already remarked, had bot
been IN existence more than u week, before. in
that mirror OF the Presidential sentiment, the in
vason, and even the conquest of Mexico, were
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES may say predicted-in the
event of Mexico venturing 10 exercise any au-
thorl,y on the east bank of The Rio Grande. As
early as June, Ie44- mark the date the Com
mander of The Naval force of the United States
in the Pacific was directed to look out for war
with Mexico, and, on receipt of the news of it,
to possess himself Of the port Of San Francisco,
on the coast of California, and such other ports
as his force would permit. He had been So in
structed even earlier than this: for the letter TO
him begiLs: Your attention is still particularly
directed &C. to The contingency of war Con
gress was to meet in lhe December following
Early IN November, the message Of the Presi.
dent 10 Congress being in state ofLreparaton,
already contained, as we had every reason 10 be-
ieve, recommendation OF hostilles against
Mexico IN some form or other, on the ground 0.
unsatlshed claims Of our citizens, of unpaid in
demniy money, and other alledged grievances
On the 9th OF November how ever Just three
weeks before the session began, information hay
ing been received from our Consul at Mexico
that The Mexican Government was willing 10 re-
ceve Commissioner to negotiate concerning
the Texas boundary, the message was perforce
changed. The body of the indictment agains
that Government was indeed retained, as the rea
der will perceive if he will take the trouble t
refer to the message itself; the recommendation
of reprsals, or OF war In some form, being tn
only thing omitted. a Minister Plenipotenlia
was sent instead Of Commissioner our Gov
eminent refusing to treat on The boundary qnes
ton without mixing It up with matters witt
which il had no sort Of connexion and The cor
respondcuce between our minister and the Mex
con authorities was still going on when the ar
my Of General Taylor was, as if for the purpos
OF precIpltallng events, marched from Corpu
Christi 10 the Rio Grande. About the same time
as we know from the Presidents message of las
year, he was himself in secret negotiation wit
the exied Military Chjeitain, Santa Anna, fc
what precise purpose can only be inferred troI
the fact, that The day fter The loar was declare
10 exist, directions were given to our vessels
war TO allow him to pass into Mexico. III thes
concurln6 circumstances show thrt war was pre-
mediated by the President.
c That the war might have been averled b
Mexico's agreeing TO surrender to the Unite
States California aud boundary on the r
u Grande, we do not doubt; nor do we doubt tn
, the President and his Cabinet have been win
= ever since the war began, 10 end it whenev
Mexico would agree TO surrender to their d
> mand all of her territory that they have set the
n hearts on; and that this is what the Preside