Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1848-03-30
TTE TEXAN BOUNDARY.

speeches Of our opponents are filed.
Regarding the boundary question
as one Of vital importance to them,
they have prosured the services of
the Hon. sam Houston, who is en-
deavoring to enlighten the benighted
democrats of this region on the SUI
periority of Texan politics and NOR
ais ! But we will come at once to the
point and we will quote only from
sound democratic authorities. Fl st,
we will introduce the testimony OF
the III on. Levi Woodbury.
"Ttxas by mere law, could ac-
ouire NO TITLE but what she conquer
ed from Mexico, and actually gov
erned. Hence, though that law in
cIudes more than the ancient Texas,
~she could hold and convey Only
that, or. at the utmost, only what che
exercised clear jurisdiction over"
Judge Woodbury's authority no
democrat will dare dispute. The
; next question which naturally sug-
! gests itself, is, What WERE the linn
its CT ancient Texas Heretofore
we have brought forward the concur
rent testimony of Major Donelson
and Mr.. Poinsett, mboth Ministers
to Mexico under Jackson and Van
Buren,, Calhoun, Butler and Benton.
all good democrats and allof whom
declare the NuEcEs to be the west
ern boundary of Texas. Let us here
add the testimony Of Henry M Mor6t
Esq, an agent sent out by Cen Jack
son in 1916, to ascertain the civil,
political and military condition Oh
Texas" In his communication, MIR.
Mor6t says:
s'The political limits OF Texas pro-
per, previous to the last revolution.
were, n=the river Nueces on the
west," &c. s'The boundaries CLAIM
ID by Texas, since the reputation
of the treaty with Santa Ana, will
extend from the mouth of the Rio
sGrande on the east side, up to its
head waters" &c. -.. go.
Lest our readers may not recollect
the strong language used by sena-
tor Benton on this subject, we re-
quote the words of this wisest states
man in the ranks Of our opponents.
We would commend them to the
careful and candid attention of those
who have been taught by the will
fulness of partizan presses, to believe
that Texas had won the territory ly-
ing between the Nueces and the Rio
Grande by conquest.
These parts oflour Mexican de-
pa,tments, OFnow under Mexican
governors and governments, is per-
manently re-annexed to this Union,
if this treaty is ratified. This slice
of the territory of Mexico, 1900
miles leag, end some hundreds broad,
all this, our President has cut off
from its mother empire. and presents
to US and declares it ours, till the
Senate rejects it He calls it Tex.
as and the cutting off he calls re-
annexation. Will the re prefxed to
annexation, legitlmatize the seizure
of two thousand miles of a neighbor's
dominions, with whom We have trea-
ties of peace and friendship and com
merce :? Will it legitimatizr this
| seizure by virtue of treaty with
Texas, lfwhen no Te9ian force
witness the disastrous expeditions to
Mier and to Santa Fe - have been
seen NEAR it, 0p~without being killed
or taken to the last man." /!
I =
Compare this last sentence, with
Judge Woodbury's doctrine. that
:" Texas could acquire no title. but
what she had conquered from Mex
leo, and actually governed ;" and
that " she could only. convey what
she exercised clear jurisdiction over.'
and how does the matter stand E.
We leave ii for HONEST men to
decide.
But MIR. Benton continues:
eel wash nv. hands of all attempts
| to, dismember the Mexican republic,
| by siezing her doninions in New Next
4 ico, Chihuahua, Coahuila and Tamauli.
pas The Treaty. 10 all tina. relates to
| the boundary OF the Rio Grande. is AN
| .ct of TINpARALLEisEDO OUTRAGE on