The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-03-11

no disposition 10 trouble the Senate with any remarks
but the discussion has taken much wider fahge lha
MISUNDERSTANDING gone into the causes and conSe-
ouences of the existing with Mexico. III mas oeen
assumed ON one side that the not begun by
Mexico, but that il commenced by the unauthorized
and unconstitutional act of the President of the United
States With view TO maintain this position, new
boundary line has been assigned to Texas, the State
which have the honor in part to represent, which is
said not to extend TO the Rio Grandets true boundary
as am prepared to provebut only to the river Nueces
The assumption, sir, of this position renders it due to
and orphans of some of the brave who fell in our
struggle with Mexico for independence, that should
address the Senate particularly this branch of the sub
ject Now, sr venture to assert that when all the
facts shall have been made known to the country, no
clearer question ever existed than that the Rio Grande
the true boundary OF Texas
Before, however, | commence the discussion of the
question OF bouTIary, it may not perhaps, be improper
for to ade briefly to the causes which led to the
Texan re ouon and the subsequent struggle between
that Country and Mexico. aware sir, that the peo
lie of Texas have been illuminated band OF dssas
ns androbbers, and set OF God torsdken, reckless
desperadoe and it seemed, the other day. to afford the
honorable senator from Vermont no small degree OF
pleasure rake up old newspaper articles published ten
or twelve years ago. vamg, il they do not surpass, the
plentiful abuse heaped upon us by the Mexicans them
Mr. UPHAM | certainly did not read those papers
Tor the purpose OF rejecting upon the character OF the
Texans It was for the purpose of showing the views OF
the democracy of the north at the time when annexation
was first announced to the country.
Mr. RUSK did not understand the senator as en-
the satemenlS SILL tney prove TACT
such abuse has been lavished upon Texas and is per-
haps present circulated Now, it ls not necessary
that should rise in my place for the purpose OF defend
ing the character of the people of Texas from newspaper
SANDERS, Their conduct sir, is sufficient vindcaton
of them against such assaults and the more their true
character is known, the will it be that they
are entitled to respect and confidence. | will further
venture TO assert that when the whole of the circum
connected with her revolution and separation
from Mexico shall be known, 1t will be admitted by
every disinterested Individual that people the face
of the earth had a lust OF revolution
than had the people of Texas. Whatever may have
been said in regard being land robbers there were,
and are still many, very many, Texas, who dare be-
eve that indebted for our final success to the
benefcent providence OF just and righteous God And,
Mr. President, think 1t may be safely SAID, that we
manifested no small degree OF confidence in the justice
Of our cause, when, with population of less than thirty
thousand, dared to appeal to arms in contest With
nation of eight millions. But, sir, proceed
might here go back and array names that would COM
mand Tespect-and among them the names OF such men
Mr. Monroe, Mr. Madison, Mr. jefferson, and D.. Mr..
extended originally to the Rio Grande But it is unne-
cessary for my present purpose do The boundary
of Texas, as now CLAIMED IS NE boundary established oy
Mexico, after having adopted constitutions State and
federal conforming very nearly to those of the United
States passed liberal laws, and held out strong induce
snents to the people of every cline to encourage the set
Element OF Texas This was done, not so much for the
benefit OF those who might take up their abode within
that valuable portion Of her territory from the dominion
Of the savage which Mexico had struggled TO accom-
plish, but without success for centuries past.
Before Austin went into Texas with his colonlsts
hostile Indians roamed in bands throughout the country
unreshained They were constantly committing depre
dations robhng the people OF their property and carry
ing into abect bondage the and children OF the
frontier settlements For the purpose, then, Of driving
out this ruthless foe were inducements held out TO the
colonists TO settle there Until the year 1884, with but
eness nthat year Santa Anna, at the head OF the mill
ary power, overthrow the constitution of 1924 abolished
the State governments, and established one OF the most
tyrannica and absolute governments that ever existed
The government thus established by Santa Anna Is ms
understood here; it absolute government 1t is
true that there was the name of Congress, but it was
the name alone The President was reality the su-
preme dictator He called Congress OF Noabes around
him; but that Congress entirely subservient to his
that the President had the power to appoint at his pleas
ure, executive council from the different portions Of
the communicable industrial classes the priesthood,
the military the commercial, and others They were,
however from the very nature of the tenure of their Off
ces, his creatures and, if they not subservent
his views he could them at his pleasure. Again
ernmen that the President with the advice of his
Gil might suspend the action OF any other department of
the government so that in reality, absolute power
The people of Texas unwilling to commence the
revolution; they were anxious to avoid collision with
Mexico They sent Austin to Mexico to represent their
be disturbed in the enjoyment of their rights Without
any cause, and even without charges having been pre-
lered against hl ne was seized and lncarceaed the
loathsOme dungeons of Mexico where fact, he
tracted the disease which terminated his honorable and
useful hfe In order to carry out the establishment of
this central government it became necessary for Santa
Anna to possess himself of all the physical power in
Mexico. With view to this, he procured the passage
OF decree requiring the States as well as individuals
surrender up all the which they had in their pos
session. This law enforced throughout Mexico
State constitutions were destroyed States declared
10 be mere departments deprived of all Legislative
authority, and their governors appointed by the
central This law was asI have said on
forced all over Mexico, although there States
which held out for some time against it. The State Of
Lacatecas after sharp contest yelded and other States
made but feeble resistance. Texas could not yield &c
1t: she could not yield to such decree. We sur
rounded by hostile Indians, (the Cumanches and various
other tribesl who were committing depredations ou
frontiers The Indians settled among us greatly exceed
ed our own population in point of numbers and il
knownthat Mexican agents had been among them urging
them TO take up the tomahawk and scalpns- knife, ant
extermnate the Texans IL we had submitted to have GU
arms taken IRON u.s. the result would have been inds
cnminae massacre. Under such circumstances there il
scarcely any one, presume who would have asked MS Il
our arms, even to avoid the charge of being land
robbers An attempt made by Santa Anna IN forc
this law in Texas. The legislature OF Coahuila was at
tackled, for merely protesting against the action Of tn
central government and its members were seized an,
imprisoned.
In this state of confusion, the people of the varou
municipalities had elected delegates to meet in genera
consultation at San Felipe, TO determine whether W.
would submit to the central government and to agre
upon some definite of combined action IN;
convention was to assemble in October, 1885
About this time, however Gen Co.'S at the head of a
army OF central troops, crossed the Rio rande left gar
rison at Lipanan the west side OF the Nueces an
at GOad and marched with his main force 20 &,