The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-07-31

| We publish to-day, and commend TO the par
ticular attention Of our readers, Mr.. PEARcE's
speech in the Senate in defence of the late
President against the charge preferred against
him by General HoUsroN, of having, when in
command of the army in Mexico, traduced and
DETAINED the people OF Texas. Mr.. P's refuta-
ton of the charge is thorough and complete.
The latter part of the speech has reference
10 the demands made and the position assumed
by General HoUsroN, in regard TO that portion
Of the territory of New Mexico lying east OF
the Rio Grande The remarks of Mr.. Z. on
! this grave subject will be read with interest.
The tone Of them is admirable.
While he is not inclined tamely 10 yield to
impcrious demands, he is willing, indeed very
anxious, to effect an arrangement most liberal.
and one that shall be satisfactory to Texas
He shows that Texas had no occupancy, and
no such title as would authorize constructive
possession Of that portion Of New Mexico
which is cast Of the Rio Gpande.
He shows clearly that tho. Government Of
the United States has not recognised the right
of Texas TO that portion Of New Mexico:
and that il the former Executive has, at differ
ent times, expressed an opinion favorable to
that claim, it has also furnished evidence
against it.
lie shows that Mr.. Pork and his Admins
tration fully recognised all this territory on
both sides of the river as Mexican province.
having Santa Re for its capital, and that they
4 - 60
Texas, he believes, has never formally sub
mitted 10 Congress any demand for that portion
Of the territory Of New Mexico which she
claims Certainly 10 such demand has ever
been admitted by the Government Of the United
States.
lie was aware that letter on the subject
was written by Governor Of Texas to the
Prcsdentof the United States, which. by direc-
ton Of the President, was answered by the
Secretary Of State. who sud, the President
believed Texas justly asserted right TO the
whole territory this side Of the Rio Graude,
but that IL pas a subject ,ohich more properly
belonged 10 the Legislature than 10 the Ezeeu-
tire branch Of the Government.
il' fuuNt fFtclutdlt fbLs az Spying. by
the cessiop Of .Ne,o .herico, on both sides of
the Rio Grande, TO the United States. the
question Of boundary, 80 Ear as Mexico is con
cerncd, has been settled, iearing the question
as 10 The true limits u Itrds and .Ncc .Mez-
ico 10 be adjusted bef,oeen that State and the
United States"
That being the case, how could the opinion
Of the Executive, or the action of an admins
trative officer, be availed of TO make or prove
a title, and how could they be said 20 be a re-
cognition by the Government of the right Of
Texasl
II be Legislative question, it was rank
usurpation in. an administrative officer TO I'M
dertake to settle it by an order to military
commander.
He did not understand Governor Macy as
intending to do this, by the order of the 18th
of October, lS4S.
So far as that order authorized surrender of
the country 10 Texas, while the title was I'M
settled by the Legislature, il was, in his (Mr. |
P.'s) opinion, an abandonment Of duty.
The Government of the United States hold