The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1848-01-06

tract the following passages, showing whit.
was tho fact as to the limits Of the territory
actual. occupied by Texas, even ut tina,
time:
"Corpus Christi is said TO be as healthy
as Pcnsacola,a convenient place for sup.
plies, aud THE MOST WESTERN POINT VOW
OCCUPIED py TExAs."-Letfer to Secretary
Of State, June 30, 1915.
.'The occupation Of the country between
the Nuecss and the Rio Grande, YOU IRE
nwarc, Is a disputed question. Texas holds
Corpus Christi. MExlco HOLDS rmE BRA.
EOS DE SANTIAoo.--Lciser to Gen. Taylor,
June %, 1916.
"Thc proclamation Of truce between
the two nations, founded on propositions
mutually acceptable to them, earring the
question Of boundary not only an open ono,
out MEXICO IN POSSESSION OF THE EAST BANK
or THE RIO GRANDE, seemed to me incon-
sistent with the expectation that in defence
Of the claim Of Texas our troops should
march Immediately to that river. What
the Executive Of Texas had determined no,
TO light for, but 10 settle BY negotiation, 10
say the lens, of il, could rs well be left 10
the United States on the same conditions :"
"Yonr purpose will be the defence Of
Texas, il she is invaded by Mexico, and you
riH be in position at Corpus Christi, San
Antonio, AND OTHER POINTS ON THE Nue.
cEs, ready TO act according to circun,stan-
ces."--Io Gen. Tdylo., July Z, ls15.
These extracts taken together est ablish,
upon the evidence Of our Government it,
self, through its Diplomatic Representative
in Texas, that Mexico was in possession of
the territory rest Of the Nucccs Except the
county ofPatricio) and Texas Of the terri
tory east Of the Nucces, with the addition
Of Patricio; that Mexico was admitted by
our own Envoy to DO in possession of the
cast bank Of Rio Grande, and that Corpus
Christi was the most iresfcrn point then &C.
cupied by 7eras. These admissions from
source SO well-informcd, so free from bins
in tnvor ofany intcrcs, but that Of the Uni
ted States, (including Tcxas,) are fatal to
every prctension Of territorial right on the
part OF Texas between the Rio Grnnde and
the Nucccs, the small county Of Patricio
perhaps excepted.
All that remains, therefore. to sustain
the pretension of our Administration that
the boundary OF Texas extended 10 the Rio
Grande, and that by her annexation the
Rio Grande became the boundary Of the
United Stntes, is the net Of the Legislature
Of Texas declaring its boundary TO extend
TO the Rio Grnnde. II that act could be
considered Of uny effect Whatever, il would
ut most leave ground Enr controversy and
negotiation, MS was assumed by Mr.. Donel-
son. But that oct itself was q mere nul.
lity.
To that effect we hive tho opinion Of
Senator WOODBURY., (now an Associate
Judge ofthe Supreme Cour, Of the United
Siatcs,) in his Speech in favor Of ratiy ing
the Treaty Of Annexation:
"Texas, BY mere Iaw," said he, "could
acquire no title but what she conquered
from Mexico, and actually gnverncd.-
Hence, though her law includes more than
the ancient Texas, she could hold and con-
reg only that, or, at the ntiermost, onIs
what she exercised clear Jurisdiction orcr.r
Texas never had exercised jurisdiction
IT any sort over any territory on the Rio
Grandc, and could not therefore by posi-
biiity convey to tho United States any title
TO il.
To the same effect we have the authoti-
~ Of Mr.. GALLArIN, which saves Us and
our readers the trouble of searching further
on the subject:
"The Republic Of Texas did, BY nm net
Of December, 1896, declare the Rio del
Norte to DO its boundary. Il will not be
seriously contcnded that q nation has a
right, by law Of its own, to determine
what i or shall he The boundary between
il and another country. The net was moth
ing more than the expression Of the rishes
or pretensions of the Government. As re-
g6rds right, the act Of Icrds Is a perfect
NULLIrY."
il is thus conclusiveIy demonstrated that
the territory between the Nucccs and the
Rio Grandc never had passed out Of the
possession or right Of Mexico, md WINS in
no sense ssAmcrican soil" or territory oil
the United States. The fact il, moreover,
too notorious 10 need 10 he here dwclt upon.
that the army Of the United States, when
il ncared the Rio Grande, chased the Mex.
lean custom-oiiiccrs out III their houses,
and, when it cncamped on the bank Of the
river, found itself in the midst Of a Mcx.
can population, and occupying the corn and
cotton-ficlds which they had fed from in
dismay. The flag Of the United States was
planted by our army, rs in deiancc, under
the guns Of Mexican fort, and ut the
same time tho vessels Of our Navy blocka-
ded the mouth Of the Rio Grande--a river
running, from its source to the ocean, alto
gcther between Mexican banks, without .
C