The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-08-08

the message, II Ia precisely this determination
which is expressed Congress are informed
what are the existing relations between the in
habitants Of New Mexico and the governments
Of Texas and of the Union, as understood by the
Executive; and further, that il is deemed duty
to maintain them. 1t would be manitesting
disregard, and not respect, for existing rela-
tons, TO suffer them to be changed by armed
violence. "Why," asks the Union, g should
the sword, at such critical and exciting mo-
ment as this, DO brandished with something
like menace over Stste2" The message
assumes to answer no such question Ii does
not seek to defend proposition nowhere made
except In quarters where, for party purposes,
defence is changed into offence. The question
which the message discusses is, how can the
Executive escape the obligation Of extending
| shield over peaceable citizens DESTROYS of pre-
serving their existing relations with the Fed
eral Government until those relations shall be
changed by the legislative authorities, or the
decision of the judicial tribunals, when they
are menaced with the sword, with view
to anticipate such determinations What is the
compact on this subject made with them by the
| treaty, to which Texas is equally party with
| other States, and by which, as the supreme law
| of the land, all are equally bound, whether
States, civil and military officers, or private in
dividuals2 There are certain citizens of the
| United States occupying Territory, of which
Texas has never had possession, and to which,
as they claim and very large portion of the
people of the other States believe, Texas never
had any color of title. Neither Congress nor
the courts have decided the question. In this
condition of affairs, it is proclaimed that the au-
thorities Of Texas propose taking forcible pos
session of the Territory. As we understand
the message and the letter of the Secretary of
State, they import that the treaty of Guadalupe
Hidalgo renders it imperative on the Executive
to protectthe New Mexicans against such a
proceeding on the part of Texas. In this view
of his daty, we doubt not an overwhelming ma
jority of the people of the United States will
concur with the PRESIDENT.
But, says the Union, ''the President and the
Secretary do not seem to appreciate the danger
to which the South is subjected" We appre-
fhend even worse state Of things, that the
South itself is not sensible of being subjected to
any peculiar danger, by the preservation of the
public peace in New Mexico. Here is 4
question of physical geography of history, of
! the construction Of treaties and laws. 1t is
| by them that the boundaries of New Mexico
are to be determined, pending the action
of Congress. Texas takes one side of the ques
ton. Does the Union mean TO say that the
South is in danger unless it is Immediately de-
cided in favor Of Texas, even if Texas is in
| the wrong, and that decision forthwith car
ried into execution? This is all that the de
cared opinions Oft the President have the slight
| est tendency to arrest or avert.
| The South will esteem no man its friend who
suggests that her safety is connected with any
injustice. Or does the Union mean to say that
the South is in danger because Texas being in
| the right in respect to her entire claim in its
| full length and breadth, there is chance that
she may be induced, during the delay, TO waive
some part of it for what she may deem an ade-
quate consideration? If so, then the Union has
4 been doing its utmost 10 bring that danger upon
! the South by the enactment Of the Compromise
/ Dill, and even now refuses 10 be c0mfOTted be-
cause the danger has been escaped. These que
ries respect only decision irrespective of an
arrangement by Congress, for there is nothing
in the message or Secretary's letter to initiate
| against that mode of avoiding the difficulty;
on the contrary, it is recommended. No;
the Union talks of the danger of the South,
| without any definite idea except that Of ex-
| citing sectional bitterness against the Admin
istration, which, in the same breath, it hypo-
critically pretends it would have been more
| gratifed to praise than to censure. Whatever
ideas may be entertained as TO a sectional in
i terest in the determination Of the boundary
question, the North and the South are alike in
terested in the mode Of its determination
alike concerned that il should be accomplished
by peaceful agencies, and not by military force.
If the Executive, which we cannot feel that
there is reason to apprehend, should be com
| PEELED to act upon the doctrines of his message,
the rights Of Texas will remain unimpaired,
and the territory held like property in the Gus
| tody of the law for those who shall ultimately
prove its Legitimate proprietors, whether by ad-
judication or by cession. This the country de-
mands as due to its peace and harmony, the
majesty of lis laws and the protection to which
its subjects are entitled az a right corelative
to their allegiance.