The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-08-10


and rsdepa and duly Empowered 70 Jake and
subscriptions required BY His receipts win be
regarded payments His oce me-bos'on CONGRESS street
New York. Tribune buildings Pbadeipha northwest corner Of
Third Chestnut streets. 1900
WnlAa GouLpls Richmond Virginia. general agent for
virginia assisted BY travelling A. D, PuILER and JAMES
THOMAS. fs aa NH ~
Tss Presidents Message aud mr.. wsbsssr's letter.
.PossEssIos" AND oocupAscY.
We commenced yesterday an examination Of the
positions assumed by Mr. Fillmore in his message to
Congress, and by Mr. Webster in hsle,er to The COVER
OF Texas But the space disposal did not per-
nit to exhaust the subject. to discuss it's most
important and interesting feature. We will now attempt
to make amends for deficiency by presenting. as
briefly may be, the real question involved in the
troversy between Texas and the United States
In article Of yesterday examined briefly the I.
extent Of the authority of the President to call out the
militia and the forces OF the United States and, If
we succeeded in making ourselves understood. we de-
monstrated that he had right to endeavor, without the
sanction OF Congress- to carry out and sustain the opera
tons Of the United States forces in New Mexico. But
however this may be- we have nothing to add to the
gument which we presented yesterday; nor do we in
tend to consume our time BY presenting again the afgu
ments which we have already advanced. &1
The real question involved is the title Of Mexico to
the east bank Of the Rio Grande During the war, we
heard much Of the disputed territory between the Nueces
and the Rio Grande yet candor compes us to confess
that the republic OF Mexico never made any distinction
between Texas east OF the Nueces and the county west
Of that river The idea Of disputed territory on the
Lower Rio Gande gotten up in the United States by
the enemies OF the wars and at no time previous 10 Gen.
SCOTS entrance into the valley OF Mexico did the Mex
can government pretend TO make any distinction between
the country east and the country west of the Nueces river
Mexico coatended from the beginning that the whole of
Texas up TO the borders Of Louisiana, belonged her.
and she refused to the justification which the wing
party sought 10 place in her mouth. She refused to
make any distinction between the country west OF the
Nueces and the country east Of that river and took up
arms for the purpose of wrestling the whole of Texas
from the United States. She failed in that attempt and
instead of reconqueHg Texas, she consented bound
airy which gave TO the United States much more territory
than what was claimed by Texas at the commencement
Of the war
Now, it should be bered that Texas at the time
the annexation surrendered as she was Obliged to sur
ader to tho federal government the right to protect her
y ntoal rights against the claim OF Mexico--ase only
d srss elamant Mexico refused perempory to enter
Ito any negotiation whereby peacable adjustment could
fected. and actually invaded the east bank of the Rio
ran ,de, which was claimed by Texas as portion OF her
Tt DRY. both houses of Congress- with unexampled
nam nifty supported that claim, and declared that the
iex ian forces by passing to the bank of the Rio
rand had invaded the soil of the United Sates Thus
e TEL Jtory opposite Matamoras declared by Con-
Iess be portion OF Texas, and that declaration was
adeg God at the point OF the bayonet But il should be re-
embe red that Texas bad always claimed the Rio Grande
ON mouth 10 its her boundary and that in
ind ependent condition, she had made every effort to
ainai that boz indary We submit therefore, that al
u the annexatio Of Texas, the government OF the Uni
ID Sta es was hound BY the constitution a. well a by
he art cles Of nnnexaiion 10 and maintain the
ghtful territorial claim Of Texas and that when the
,rcesof the Unite States had exnguished the claim Of
fexco 1.-The only adverse clam-the title OF Texas was
endereol perfect $780,
But both the sage Of Mr. Fillmore and the letter
Mr. Webster seem to rely upon the fact that the Santa
e country was in the possession" Of Mexico at the
ommene emen OF the war. and that the Mexican 'pos
on" has SINCE been vested in the United States tits
Ny to perceive tha the effect Of this statement ID to de-
rive Texas OF her nights by misspplcaiion Of legal
hrase. AS we have before said. TexAs claimed (rom
be time Of her nderendence the whole eastern bank OF
ie Rio Grande. Her soldiers defeated the ,roops of
fexco and succeeded in diving than from grsa, por
on OF the country. On several occasions the Texans
rossed the Rio Grande, and marched into the snsmys
ountry; and on than one occasion the Mexicans
staiaied, and made predatory excursions into Tsxas
wen after the battle Of San Jaco. this border warfare
gas not ended. When Gen. Iaylor's army passed the
colorado, be found himself confronted by Msxiean
oops. Even Point Isabel was occupied by Mexican
,rce when Gen. Taylor apr cached il Under ths state
rent Of facts Il is clear ID at the Argument Of the mes
we, as well as that cont aimed in Mr. webssers letter.
Ais to the ground. unless they willing 10 that
he east bank Of the Lou as well As of the Upper Rio
rande belongs to the United States But another idea
advanced by Mr.. ebs,er; and il IL the which
e seems to base liis whole superstructure Hecon-
,nds that the Sar.ta Fe country in the 'possss-
ION" OF the Mexican Authorities at the commencement OF
be Mexican war and that the troops OF the United sstes
vres,ed that possession" from the Mexicsns. From
hese data he argues that the United States authority
ow in ..possessonT OF Santa Fe, and may righuully
,aniain that ''possesaon" But Mr.. Webster iorges
urey be does to say that when The troops Of
he United States drive the enemy from any district Of
ounny. the United States acquire at once the "is-
al yessession' Of that district although il may be
aimed BY sovereign State portion Of her domain.
- far.