The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-08-12
From the Richmond JVhig.
The Prcsident's Message on Texas An,

Inc Hfcsiuent's Message on Texas Affairs.
President Fillmore'5 message appeared in yes
terday's Whig, and we publish to- day Mr.. Web
ster's reply, as Secretary Of State, to Gov. Bell.
letter of the 18th of June. Both documents de-
serve, and will attract general attention Az State
papers, they are calm, dignified, and able; and
whilst they firm in arre5ting the Obligations
imposed by the Constitution and laws upon the Ex-
ecutive of the United States, they exhibit as we
understand them, the entire absence of any other
spirit than sincere desire for the restoration of
peace and harmony. The President and Secretary
have shown with pencil of light, that under III
the existing circumstances, and in the present
state Of the controversy, it would be madness and
folly in Texas to cut for herself the gordian knot
undertake to arbitrate her own doubtful claims
upon the Territory of New Mexico. They eau
tiously avoid prejudging those claims, and whilst
they rest upon the fact that the disputed territory
now in the actual possession of the United States
both by conquest and treaty-they strongly
urge the creation of some competent and impartial
tribunal to settle the question of boundary and
title.
The remarks of Mr. Howard, of Texas made in
The House as soon as the Presidents message was
read, are reported I'M Washington paper, and, we
regret to say, manifest any thing but conciato-
y spirit The message, he says, SIS as unfortu-
nate il is extraordinary, and will have the ef-
feet in Mr. Howard's opinion, of defeating the bill
introduced in the Senate by Mr.. Pearce, of Mary
land, to bring about adjustment ofthe controvcr-
5y. How that consequence to arise is by no means
very clearly explained by Mr.. Howard; nor can
we possibly see any justice in the imputation upon
the President, "that he draws the sword upon Tex
as, and then calls upon her to cede her territory
1t is the misfortune of some persons, when under
the influence Of strong personal bias and excite
ment, never to more than one side Of a doubt
iul question, and it is almost impossible to make
them believe that the Chief Magistrate is bound, by
his oath Of office to rcspect the rights and interests
Of the whole country, az well the rights and in
Ierests of small fraction. II is very probable that
the Texas representatives are firmly persuaded
they have right their side, and we scarcely ever
knew litgant in court of justice who did not re-
gard his own cause with peculiar favor. We think
livery reasonable to suppose that the President and
Secretary OF State have the strongest inducements,
personal and political, to desire fair and liberal
adjustment OF the whole controversy; and we ask
candid aud impartial men to examine the message
attentively, and decide whether Mr.. Howard is
right in the opinion, that ait is an artful and stu
died misrepresentation Of the most material part OF
the history Of the subject" and that the course of
President Fillmore "is gross usurpaton and fraud
upon the rights Of Texas" This language uttered
in the heat Of the moment, without previous discus
sion investigation of the subject is, 10 say the
least oft, highly discourteotS