Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-01-15

OF na0ns VINO holds ulInient opinion mere
propositions plain that they admit Of lusationthey
furnish their best illustration, and this of them We
had clear undeniabe right to meet Mexico al the very
ermost limits OF Texas and iepe her heIe or If deemed
advisable, equally clear and undenabe right anc
pate her by striking the first blow her admitted ter
rtory But il is said that the place OF conflict Mex
territory If it the argument in our behalf would
be in the least eDfeebed She there intending 60
further She there 10 drive army back to the Sa
bine she there to re-conquer Texas the whole and
every part of Texas. and not TO retain portion only upon
the ground that such portion was not Texas,
But the fact is alleged Whether this portion Of
the territory right(uy part Of Texas
least matter dispute Texas claimed ii Texas,
portion of il exercised jurisdiction Citizens residing on it
claimed to be citizens Of that Government Mexico had in
vain attempted to recover III the constitution OF Texas In
Guided it. The United States had exercised after the adms
sion Of Texas into the Union, sovereignty part Of it,
the highest act Of sovereignty, the taxing power She had
received Texas the Union without any other definition
boundary resevng the right only between themselves,
Texas and any other Power who might question the justice
of the boundary, TO settle il by negotiation Without breach
of honor to Texas the United States could have
rendered. without inquiry and negotiation, to absolute and
armed demand this portion of the territory than they could
have surrendered to such demand the entire State.
All, them that be said is that the title Of Texas this
part Of her territory open to dispute Such dispute is
be settled but by two meansby negotiation by force
II the negotiation refused if Mexico elected the other alter
native, force she complain if meet her with force
But suppose her design actual force but to get posses
sion only OF the disputed ground had not the United States
the right TO take possession and bold whatever they
sessed until the question of title decided by negotiation
The very question title might have been affected by the fact
Of possession. Mexico might have relied upon conclu
sive of the inability Of Texas and the United States their
successors to prevent il and demonstrating that the og
nal sovereignty had not been lost by the revolution This the
United States had right guard against their honor
babe them guard against it. If possession by Mexico
could weaken the title Of Texas, their duty strength
by also taking possession Pending question of disputed
territory actually possessed by either who conended
that the duty of Of the parties suffer the other
take possession and then try the title No, sir, lawyer
would give suci aa'i.s M statesman would 50 act Things
should in such case be suffered to remain ie'
Neither should seek 10 get advantage of the other If
right in this and Mexico designed taking possession then
complain if also take possession and especially
she knew that notwithstanding such possession, we were
willing at any time to negotiate the question Of title
Sir it has been said that to march the disputed terrific
ry act Of hostility concede it. But then to threaten
to march, TO prepare march, to muster army to march,
and with the avowed purpose of taking ocbe possession and
holding, is also act Of hostility This Mexico did rs
and had then clear right to anticipate her, upon every
principle of the national law by marching ourselves and plac
ing ourselves in condition successfully meet and repe her.
Between nations, between individuals, aggression may lie
by aggression assault may be met by battery But it is
said revolution gives title unaccompaned by actual and
disturbed possession and jurisdiction As general principle
the proposition il but what is actual and undsurbed
possession Does it that the revolutionary Government
is have soldier on each foot of her asserted domain
Does il that every nhabant within her territory is to
acknowledge and submit to her sovereignty Or does not
only that such Government to have possession claim
ing exclusive title the whole of her asserted bounds and
possess the power and determination make that title good
by force against the original sovereignty say means this
and nothing more
See the result of different doctrine We declared our in
dependence in '76 the continued years. Sup
pose treaty of peace had been made recognising limits
but England had simply retired from the contest disgust
with the Struggle she might well have done would not our
title at that moment have been good TO every foot OF
glorious Thirteen the very battle fields of Sara
toga and Yorktown And vet how nconsderable part of
country troddcn BY the American soldier with
in actual reach of his arm And yet how many hearts
throughout the contest beat high with true loyalty to England
and were striking or were burning to strike Tor her standard
No. sir the proposition is true, il is sometimes under
stood II only the ability to make the usurpaton good
BY force of arms when the usupcrs title is by force of
asaed Subject TO this test who doubt that Texas had
the ability TO maintain her title part of The territory
claimed by her between the Nueces and the Rio Gande Let
the the After her declaration ofindependence
and after she had by force driven the Mexican troops the
latter river, they afterwards returned but twice, ard
each driven back and, from the period of the last in
curson in si3 Mexican soldier crossed the and
civil officer of Mexico over exercised jurisdiction over it.
Texas then clmed the territory Texas drove Mexico from
If Texas had apparently the power and certainly the WILL
to drive her FRONT whenever she invaded it, II these
the facs-and appeal the honorable Senator from Texas
for their uwhat doubt there that to that part OF her
constitutional limits, she has perfect title Sir, word or
two more, and upon this point have done What Senator
what American would be content to abandon the terri
tory make the Nueces the boundary and fight only for that
boundary For peace put end TO the to spare the
further eusion Of blood, might be found who would
by negotiation agree that limit of Mexico-would surren
der all title the of Texas But who is there who would
propose fall back the Nueces and abandon at
the intermediate territory the very fields of Palo Alto and
Ressca de Ia Palma Mexico and only the banks
of the Nueces believe, hope for the honor of common
allegiance, that there is not have said that trusted
for the sake Of heretofore stainless character that the opn
ion have thus fully endeavored to maintain corectthat
the war is part just one.
II not sir why is it is because without just6ca
ton we invaded Mexican SOIL II is because without jus-
cation caused Mexican blood be spilled upon Mexican
ground II is because they met at their own homes,
which invaded upon their fields, dear TO them
love OF country is to them by all the
cations which bind 10 the soil Of his birth in the hottest
Of oil dues-she defence Of home and country and have
without right without excuse, without palliaton, given them
the sword slaughtered them by hundreds and thousands
and driven the survivors away Sir would such tale Of
wrong of itself cover country with ignominy But Is
vet half told. What else have done We have seiz
ed upon pretext for other and possible, yet deeper
enormties We have published TO the world asehood.
We have conceal the true character Of out
rage We have stated that the contest of their seek
ing AMI upon this degrading pcrversion have pur
sued them with still ghtul outrage. We at call
ed into the field so 600 soldiers placed the whole naval pow
Of the Government at the disposition OF the Executive
trusted him with millions of dollars and carried the
thus begun took possession Of their towns bombarded Mon
erey, carried it almost by storm, slaughterng and
by hundreds and thousands Sill, the story is not told.
The damning dishonor is not yet dark the truth Ano
her Congress assembled Of the Senate composing it in
part. We authorized additional troops be raised
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