Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1850-09-04
TEXAS AND THE UNITED STATES.

Inc DelligeESut d!tttuUG dliQ ONtTOedrlug COUuuCb
Of Texas towards The people of New Mexico, con-
sidsred in connection with the declared position Of
the President entite that question TO our serious at
tention and invest it with unusual interest. The de-
lay of Congress to provide some acceptable remedy
for its difficulties increases our dread of collision
which, however trivial in the beginning, might pre-.
cipita,e the country at last into rreparable ruin In
the meantime i, becomes all who can appreciate the
case to make themselves familiar with its principal
features so that they may be prepared for any emer-
gency with minds made up for the crisis. We can
not pretend to throw any new light upon the sub
isct, but may be excused for taking brief review
Of its more important points, for the purpose of pro-
noting investigations and more decided and uniform
public opinion.
II will be remembered that when the war with
Mexico commenced, the country called New Mexico
was in the possession Of the former, inhabited by
her citizens and governed by her laws. Mexico and
Texas were then universally regarded as belg-
erent parties. Their attitudes were reciprocally hos
tile, and while Mexico claimed the whole of Texas
as revolted province the latter claimed New Mex
leo as belonging 10 her by virtue of treaty made
with Gen. SANTA ANNA when prisoner in her hands
This treaty had never been recognized BY the Next
can Congress, nor acted upon by Texas, so far as to
take possession Of the country she claimed New
Mexico remained in the possession of the central
government and her citizens continued to express an
unbroken attachment to the country to which they
were bound by the ties of a common origin The
&c. Of annexation adopted and ratified by the T.
States and Texas, with an express reservation of the
question OF boundary to be adjusted by the former,
with the Mexican Government When the war there
fore commenced, Mr. Polk Interpreted it, 'by the
act of the Republic Of Mexico" no one could fore
tell its issue, 1t could only be promised, on the part
OF the u S. Government, that in any future treaty of
peace with Mexico, the boundary between the two
nations should be adjusted in manner as favorable
20 ourselves as our success in arms should warrant
Al the conclusion of our last triumphant campaign,
treaty ratified and confirmed between the two
countries, by which large cession of Territory was
made to the U. S., nominay in consideration of a sum
ofmoney stipulated therefor but in reality by virtue of
conquest, in which the country called New Mexico
was included But it will be observed here that the
new line Of boundary between the IT, S. and Mexico.
defined by the treaty, does not continue up the Rio
Grande through New Mexico, thus to confirm the
claim Of Texas, but leaves that River near the South
ern limits Of New Mexico and runs Westward in the
direction OF the Pacific. Texas now claims New
Mexico as hers, the ground that her claim against
Mexico made good by the act of war on the part
OF the U. s., and finally confirmed by the treaty of
peace by which the Mexican title to that province
vas efectually extinguished. On the other hand
the people of New Mexico insisting that by that
treaty their allegiance transferred not to Texas
their old enemy, but to the American Union, claim
.AApro!ection Of the General Government, aud ask
organized as State Upon equal footing with
the other members of the Conlederacy. As these
people are foreigners whose country has been con-
qusred by arms, the territory has been constant
ly occupied by military force for security and pro-
lection, They have been allowed to govern them
selves, and are preparing for admission into the u
Mon. So long, however, as they remain out of The
Union, the claim of Texas to jurisdiction over the
territory which she threatens now to make good by
an appeal to arms, can only lie against the Govern
ment Of the U, s. under whose protection these peo
pie were placed by the treaty. The reatyiti is con-
ceded, is part OF the supreme law Of The u S., and
the Executive branch Of the Governments which has
been constituted BY that law the guardian of the
rights ane persons of those Mexicans whose allegi-
snee was transferred by she treaty, can have no al
tentative in any crisis which Texas, in her rashness
may create. Whatever may be said of the validity
of the claim Of Texas, it must be obvious to her and
TO all, that prosecution of her claim by an armed
force mus! necessarily bring her into bloody colIi
sion with the Federal Governments The party in
possession, and claiming, ir not an absolute title at
least title in trust for others, will of course main
tain that possession till expelled by some superior
power. In this state of thugs Texas had it in her
power either to submit her claim to fair adiudica-
ton, or to surrender to the u s. for liberal consid-
Grafton in money. But it would seem tha, she pre-
fers to either of these pacific remedies an attempt to
subdue BY military violence a community of Ameri-
can citizens who utterly averse to her jurisdic-
ton, and while they are peacefully reposing under
iina eaee ac no Americen Union Were she sincere
an this threat we could hold up before her but two
alternatives, equally disgracerl She must either
sink back into her original iulenesS crushed by the
strong arm of Federal power, or she will succeed in
dissolvlng tina! Union which was her refuge in the
hour oil adversely. 1t would be fixing fatal fang
in The very bosom that once warmed her into life
The "lone star" would be eclipsed forever by the
turpitude of the crime
But Texas is not sincere We are satisfied that
all this parade Of volunteers is only intended to in-
umida'eCongress-not to conquer New Mexico. But
IN this aspect we equally deplore it. We care not
what form moi may assume, whether organized
by state presumption, or merely encouraged by the
absence of sufficient police, we most cordially de-
test this meihnl Of enrnrcinn lnnisln, l. L.. H..