The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-06-24

Mexico is the narrop strip. According to Blacks
| translation, Humboldt says Of New Mexico: ''This
province is from south to north IT'S leagues in
length, and from east to west from 30 to 80 leagues
in brradb and in its territorial extent therefore.
rs much less than people OF no great information in
| Geographical matters are apt to suppose even in
that country" And he might have added, much
lss than persons in this country ofgreat pre-
tensions TO geographical knowledge care apt 10
suppose"
IL g but Justice To Humboldt to saw that as 10 lati
tude and longitude. he followed the Spanish grog.
eaphers, whom our own engineers Of the army
observation found TO be extremely inaccurate. For
instance, they place Santa FL on their maps north
# 800 3O, whereas Colonel Emory shows that it is
nearly degree south
Muehenport, German who was eight years in
Mexico. ami published his work in Hanover in 1874,
aives the 1862 81 as the eastern boundary of New
Mexico. This would extend lar beyond the actu.
| lily inhabited part in the prosperous days oi
the province; and il it is well know that the Span
r,is, a general thing, did extend the bCund-
III their provinces much beyond the line Of their set
elements. Although the authors disagree about the
latitude and longitude OF the boundaries of this pro
vince, they all concur that il was narrow terri
tory, confned 10 the valleys of thr Rio Grande and
the Pecos. But the Missouri Senator seeIDs to
ject superhous all law since fuckers blackstone.
which he produced, 1ourisbed aoft, and read the
| title to the Senate, and all geography since Hum
poldt which he said he had in French, but would
not exhibit in open Senate out of pure mercy to Mr.
Clay.
The objects of Col. Benton, in this msrrpresen.
|
parent. He wishes To recommend himself to his
new allies, the Free soilers, by proving, against
the fact that this slave territoryis within what
at the close OF the war, free province, and urge
upon the Government to retain the possession in OPP
position 10 Texas He also desires To deprive Texas
of the Ell Paso country for another motive. The
attitudes returned by Colonel Fremont, in his
vey OF railroad by the way of the frozen regions
To the Pacific, prove that by that route the station
airy power will be great that his favorite route Is
altogether imPracticable. The road must come
p,.,( irt tba aifrhb
hood of Bl Paso, which is in the United States the
overland key to the Pacifc-a southern key which
Texas will never place in Free soil hands,
IN the grasp of the Senator from Missouri. The
truth H. that SO long as Texas holds to her terri
tory, she dictate the locality Of the railroad to
the Pacific. This Colonel Benton sees clear enough,
and therefore offers fifteen millions for the terrific
| ry embracing Ei Paso But this road is worth
more TO Texas, not only than fifteen, but fifty mil
hons If properly located il will be her road to
wealth, greatness, and power
THE TITLE OF TEXAS.
Ii is not my purpose enter again into the argu
ment as To the title of Texas to the of the
Rio Grande. ] shall content myself with repeating,
briefly some OF the most prominent fac in The his
tory of the title. IL rests, i. On the treaty with
Santa Anna, in 1886, which is a good treaty, be-
cause ratified by his generals, who were not prs-
oners of war; and Fisoa had power to treat by
cx press authority of his government; and Mexico
having taken the benefits of the treaty, could not,
under the law of nations, repudiate il.
Der, 1886, under which her independence was ac-
knowlcdgcd by the United States and the other pow
ers, all of which are, by that recognition, estopped
from denying her boundary. IL was an essential
| element OF her nationality
g. The convention between this Government and
the Republic of Texas of 1888, carried out by the
act of the United States Congress Of 1889, makes
the former boundary between the United States md
! Mexico the future boundary between the United
states and Texas, which is the very boundary oi
the Texas act of 1886 and the treaty with SAINTS
Anna. The convention declares:
"The treaty of limits, made and concluded on
4 the 18th day OF January, lo25, between the United
y States of America the part, and the United
e Mexi States ON the other, is binding upon the
Republic OF Texas, the same having bsen entered
into at n time when Texas formed part OF saiS
United States; and whereas IL is deemed proper
expedlent, in order 10 prevent future disputes
collisions between the nted states and Texas, Ia
regard 10 the boundary between the two countries
as DESIGNATED by that SAID TREATY, that PoR.
rIoN of the sam, should be run and marked with
cut unnecessary delay" &c.
Il then provided that commissioners "should
proceed 10 run and mark that portion OF the SAID
boundary which extends from the mouth OF the Sa-
bine where that river enters the Gull OF Mexico, te
the Red river"
The convention further provided, among other
things, "and that the remaining portion ol the said
boundary line shall be and marked at such
time heTsaJtr as may suit the CON- enlenee oi th'
made with reference the act OF the Texas Con grcs,
Of 1886 IL is Gle and express recognition Of the
whole boundary Of TeSss Of equal dignity With q
treaty The opponents Of the Texas title always
rerInber 10 forget this compact ln the celebrated
OF Rhode Island and Massachusetts IL was helC
that where States once agreed line it was bind
ing. and VIII river was mentioned in a couipac
as boundary, IL was ruled - the river la ~
whole extent. The rule applies with much create
force ia this instance. lftbrre were nothing 10 h,
case but this convention, II would b. forever con
elusive against the United States.
4. Pending the ncgouztiOn for annexation, the
? Secretary OF War instructed General Taylor by
o,dcr Of the l5tb OF June, l545, which in sub
stance repeated ON the 30ui Of July:
: "The point OF your ultimate destination is ths
I western frontiers Of Texas, where you viii seec
and " cupy, on or the Rio Grande, such a s'ts
will consist with the health Of the troops, and vii
be beet adapted 10 repc u se-ion. and protect what
in the event Of annexation, will be our western bur
der"
Thus this government took possession Of the ri,
Grande country Ia the name VI Texas, asserting 4
c as the frontier Of that State.
9 S. IL l. we'll known that Mr.. Donaldson. pendin
the negotiation Vf annexation, and during the ses
Z siOn Of the Texas convention which consUmrnttec
a.. gave repeated assurances To the authorities o
{ Texas that the United States would not only rccog
misc, but maintain. the title Of Texas In his lctte
. to THE Government u the lith Of July. l5aS, h.
+ :sThe boundary Of Texas, as defined by her stat
> uies runs up the ko Grandc fron it's nOuth, IN tb
sea, 20 its source cutting Oh portions of Tsinaoii
n pas, COahuila, aud New Mexico. Alb We the Poin
ON the Rio g Crandc, where u enters New Mexico
j. there has been occupancy by Texas aud Il B
obvious, tar that region is concerned no mill
. tary movement could have taken IL cut II the cate
gVry in which it is left by the terms Of jOin
- resolution. So, whatever may have been the sue
n cess Of the attempt drive the Mexicans from Lo
q redo aud other lower points, the difficulty wOui'
e have remained the same in regard 10 the cstcnsiv
;, Santa re region abJve.
,f "But, while from such views ] encouraged M
+ aggressive movement the part Of Texas a. In X
,. fOrcibe possesson OF the Rio Grsnde, have nev
. crthcess omitted no opportunity m satisfying al
u parties here that the United States tcoud 10 gco'
tatfh maintain the claim aud thai had every
c 10 believe they tco,dd do succes.fpsiy"
Such were the solemn assurances and pledges q
: this Government through is accredited minister
J. pending the negotiation. They are part Of th
!, compact, and prove conclusiveiy its intent an
i meaning. Can this Government disregard then
7; now
e g. Il has been said that the United States cor
: Qnsd New Mexico, and held IL by title Of conques
), such is not the fact General Kesrncy, In hs fr,
y speech TO the people Of New Mexico, August II
e Lao. at Vegas. as found in Emory's report. d,
e clared