Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1848-01-07

lof that kind took place 10 December, l84s, and
lcru luuled 10 their defeat at Micr.
4 That the country adjacent % the lei bank ol
she liver was exclusively in the possession ol
The Mexicans, was well known 20 our Govern.
,neHi.
When Gen. Taylor marched to the DEL More
he issued an order, No 80. translated iato Span.
lsh, ordering all under his command 10 observe
gllh The most scrupulUu3 respects she rights Oi
all the inhabitants who might be found in peace.
iul prosecution Of their respective occupations,
a. we'll on the left Us on the right side Of the Rio
GaBde. No interference, he adds, will be al
lowed with the civil rights or religious privileges
! Of the inhabitants.
In June, 1845. Gen. Taylor bad been direc.
ted 10 select aud occupy, on or near the Rio
Grande del Nonc, such site as would be best
adapted TO repel invasion and to protect our ives.
tern border. But, on The slh Of July following,
the Secretary Of War Mr.. Marcy addressed
the following letter TO bin:
"This Department is informed that Mexico
has some military establishments on the east
side of the Rio Grande, which are, and for
some time haye been, in the actual occupancy
/ Of her troops. 10 carrying out the instructions
heretofore received, you will be careful TO avoid
any acts Of aggression, unless an actual state Of
war should exist. The Mexican forces al the
posts in their possession, and which have been
so, will not be disturbed as long as the relations
Of peace between the United States and Mexico
continue"
Ga the 30lh July, lG45, the Secretary again
addresses Cen. Taylor as follows:
L 4
lcnd the territory Of Texas, to the extent that il
has been occupied by the people Of Texas. The
Rio Grandc is claimed TO be the boundary be-
tween the two countries; and up 10 this bounda-
Try you arc TO extend your protection, only er.
ceptiHg any posts on the eastern side thereof
which are in the actual occupancy Of Mexican
forces, or Merican settlements over which the
Republic of Texas did not exercise jurisdiction
at The period Of annexation, or shortly before
that event. Ii is expected, in selecting the es.
.tablshmen! for your troops, you will approach
as near the boundary line, the Rio Grande, as
prudence will dictate. With this view, the Pre-.
sident desires that your position, for a part oil
your forces al least, should be west of the river
Nueces."
The Mexican settlements, thus excepted, are
not those over which Texas did not claim lur5-
dcton, but those on the east bank Of the Rio
Grande over which Texas did not exercise juris
diction al the period mentioned. The Presden
7 had no authority to give up the territory claim
! ed by Texas: but il is clear that at that time
8 when war was not contemplated, the Admins
= traton was OF opinion that, I'LL the question wa
defnilively settled, the occupancy by the Men
: leans Of the territory adjacent 10 the left bank
n the del Norte ought not to be disturbed. n j
5 lher the subsequent refusal by Mexico to recciY
: residing envoy nor Ihe successes of the Amer
lean arms have affected the question Of right
The claim Of Texas, whether TO New Mexic,
: or TO the lower portion Of the Rio Norte, wa
: idenlcay the same; as invalid and groundes
; in one case as in the other. Why distinction
has been made by the Executive has not beef
stated. The fact is, that be has established
| temporary government for New Mexico, as
country conquered, and without any regard IL
, the claim of Texas; while, on the other hand
he has permitted that State TO extend its iurisdic
ton over the country lying on the left bank o
the del Norte, which like New Mexico, haC
been conquered by the arms ofthe United States
! Not shadow of proof has been adduced 10 sus
and justice imperiously requires that it should
by the treaty Of peace, be restored 10 Mexico.
1t so happens the boundary which may be ira
ced in conformity with this principle, is 4 natu
raj one, and that, as measure of expedlency
t none more eligible could have been devised.
/ desert Of one hundred and twenty miles sepa
rates the most southwesterly Texan settlement
, of Corpus Christi and San Palricio from lhos
of the Mexcans on the left bank Of the de
Nore, than which no boundary could be deyi
sed better calculated 10 prevent collisions here
after between the two nations. 1t will be sulfi
cent for that purpose TO draw a nominal lin
J through the desert, leaving all the waters tha
! empty into the Rio Norte TO Mexico, aud al
those that empty into the Rio Nueces to Texas
} together with such other provisions respecting
Notifications and military posts as may BE- neces
/ sary for the preservation of peace.
, The line Of the Rio Norte is one from whic
Mexico would be perpetually threatened, an
from which their adjacent town on The easter
bank may be bombarded, Such an intolerat
nuisance would perpetuate most hostile feeling;
With such narrow river as the del NorIe, an
with a joint right of navigation, repeated colll:
ions would be unavoidable.
Among these, when there was nothing but
(ordable river 10 cross slaves would perpetual
! escape from Texas; and where would be the It
= medyl Are the United States prepared 10 in
pose by treaty on Mexico, whete slavery
+ unknown, The obligation 10 surrender iugluV
: slavcsl
d Mexico is greatly the weaker Power and re
= = quires boundary which will give her as muci
security as is practicable. 1t is not fequlrea' el
> ,her for the preservation of peace for any 9th
er legitimate purpose, that the United State
should occupy threatening position. IL can
y not be nationally supposed that Mexico will eve
n ,. make an aggressive war against them; and eveI
q . in such case The desert would protect ther
against an invasion. lfawar should ever agai
lake place between the two countries, the over
! whelmng superiority Of the navy of the Unite
: States will enable them 10 carry on their opln
ions wherever they please. They would With
a month reoccupy the left bank OF the HI