Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1848-01-05

the Pilgrims in New England. and twelve wears
before any permanent settlement had been made in
North America, on the shores Of the Atlantic, by
either England, France, Holland, Sweden. or any
'other Power, but that in Florida by Spain herself
have IN vain sough; for any document, emana-
ting from the Republic or State OF Texas, for the
purpose OF sustaining its claim either to New Mex
ico or to the country bordering the lower portion
OF the Del Norte. The only official papers within
my reach, IN which the claim of Texas is sustain
ca, are the Presidents Messages of May | and
December 3, 1876; and these refer only TO the
"sGunry bordering on the lower par: of the Del
Norte. The partition of the message cf Nav IL,
1910, relating to that subject, is as follows:
meantime Texas, by the firM action Of our
congress, had become an integral part of our I'm
-ion' Inc Congress of Texas, by its act Of Decem-
Der ~, 1886, had declared the Rio del Norte to be
the boundary of that Republic. Its jurisdiction had
been extended aud exercised beyond the Nueces-
Inc country between that river and the Del Norte
mad been represented in the Congress and in the
Convention OF Texas; had thus taken part in the
act OF annexation itself and is now included with
IN one oil our Congressional districts. Our own
congress had, moreover, with great unanmity by
the act approved December 81 1916 RECOGNISED
the country beyond the Nueces as part of our ter
rory. by Including it within our own revenue svs-
tenn and revenue officer, to reside within that
district, has been appointed, by and with the con-
sent Oh inc Nenate. 1t became therefore, of urgent
necessity to provide for the defence of that portion
OF our country. Accordingly. on the 9th of Janu-
airy last, instructions issued 10 the General in
ma oil these troops to occupy the left bank of
'The movement Of the troops 10 the Del Norte
was made by the commanding General under pos
tive instructions To abstain from all aggressive acts
toward MEXICO or Mexican citizens, and to regard
the relations between that Republic aud the United
otates as peaceful, unless she would declare war or
commit acts of hostility Indicative of state of war
IN
ty and respect individual rights''
In ms annual message of December 5, 1886 the
PRESIDENT states that Texas as ceded to the Uni
ted States by France in 1903, has been always
canned as extending west TO the Rio Grande that
this fact is established by declarations of orr Co
vernment during Mr.. Jefierson's and Mr.. Monroe's
administrations; and that the Texas which was &C.
ded to Spain by the Florida treaty of 1919 embrac-
ed all the country now claimed by the State of
Texas between the Nueces and the Rio Gr,nde.
lie then repeats the acts of Texas with reference
10 her boundaries, stating that
''Durng the period OF more than nine yesrs
which interviewed between the adoption of her Con-
6titnton and her annexation as orc of the States or
our Union, Texas asserted and exercised MANY acts
OF sovereignty and jurisdiction over the territory
and inhabitants west of the Nueces-such as or
ganizing and defining limits of counties extending
to the Rio Crande, establishing courts of Justice
and extending her judicial system over the terrific
~; establishing also custom house. post Offices
land office, Slc.''
The President designates by the name of Texas
sne cesson of Louisiana by France to the United
StateS; and he again calls fhe territory coded Tn
Spain by the Florida treaty Of the 1919 III. Terms
lie inmatcs that the claim of the United States TO
the territory between the Sabine and the Rio Norte
was derived from the boundaries Of TEXTS. and
that by claiming as far as this river. the Uni
ted States did recognise that ii was the boundary
OF The Teas. really do not understand what is
meant by this assertion.
lhe United States claimed the Rio Norte as he
ing the legislative boundary of louisiana and not
OF Texas Neither they France had ever been
IN possession of the country beyond the Sabine
spain had held possession and had divided the ter
fltory INTO provinces she pleased. One of these
was called Texas, and It's boundaries; had been de
slgnated and altered at her will With these the
United States had no concern. If tleir claim could
De sustained, 1t must be by proving that Louisiana
extended OF right thus far. This had no connexlon
with the boundaries which Spain might have as
signed TO her province Of Texas. These might
have extended beyond the Rio del Norte, or have
been east of the Rio Nueces. There is not the
slightest conneNion between the legitimate bounda-
ries OF Louisiana and those of the Spanish province
OF Texas. The presumed identity is mere suppo-
sition. TT
1t Is not necessary discuss the soundness Of the
pretenslons TO the Rio Norte asserted by Mr.. JEFF.
ferson and Mr. Monroe, since they were Welded in
exchange for Florida. and some other objects. bv
the treaty Of iol9-a treaty extremely popular at
the time. and the execution Of which was pressed
with great zeal and perseverance.
Whenever ultimately coded TO Mexico, that Re
public fixed It's boundaries as it thought proper
Texas and COahua were declared to form State
and the Rio Nueces was made the boundary of
Texas. When Texas declared itself independent.
1T the iEsurrection of only part of State. for
Coahua remaiaed united TO Mexico; but the Rio
Nueces was the boundary between the department
of Texas and the State Of Tamaulipas. The whole
contested territory lies within the limits Of Tamau-
. lpaS, which never was, under the Mexican Go
vernment, connected in any shape with Texas
The question under consideration is only
that between the United States and Mexico: and
In that view Of the subject it is quite imnaterial
whether the acts Of the United States emanated
from Congress or from the Executive. No act of
either recognising the country beyond the Nueces
as part Of the territory of the United States can
be alleged against Mexico as proof of their RIG Int
TO the country thus claimed. Any such act is only
an assertion, declaration, bat not an ARGUMENT
sustaining the right. II is, however, proper to OBJ
serve here that the pert of delivery west of the
Nueces, erected by the act OF Congress .to estab
fish collection district in the State ofTexas,' was
at Corpus Christi, place which was in the actual
possession OF that State.
1t must also be promised that the joint resolu-
ton for the annexation OF Texas, the question of
the boundary between it and Mexico was expressly
reserved as one which should be settled by treaty
between the United States and Mexico.
The oay arguments in the Presidents Message
which sustain the right of Texas to territory beyond
the Nueces, are contained in those pages which it
is asserted that the jurisdiction Of Texas had been
extended and exercised beyond the Nueces; that
the country between that river and the Del Nortc
Iol