The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-08-13

C1tOry WIS tn4 d8s&k$eu ItmitS OF otAtc
Of Texas; observation-disclosures had been recognised
and acted upon as such by the existence Of the
j war with Mexio, andAali Tie government papers
that proclaimed the war With Mexico; and not
withstanding the fact thatTexas is now State Of
this Union, the message ofihe President is siIent
omnously silent throughout, that Texas has as
serted any claim, far less that this boundary rests
on the laws and constitution ofthe State of Texas
and had been recognized by this government
The whole of these facts treated as though
Texas, for this purpose, was not in existence
The Executive, after admitting that the executive
government had no power or authority to deter
mine what was the true line of the boundary be-
tween New Mexico and the United States before
the treaty Of Guadalupe Hidalgo, nor any such
power now, since the question has become one
between the State Of Texas and the United States
goes on to say: 1865 G ftqf
sand he can regard only the actual state of
things, il existed at the date of the treaty, and
is bound to protect all who were then established,
and who now remain north and east Of the line of
demarkation, in the full enjoyment of their liberty
and property, according to the provisions Of the
9th article of the treaty: in other words, that all
must be now regarded New Mexico which was
possessed and occupied New Mexico by citi-
zens of Mexico at the date of the treaty, until
definite line of boundary shall be established by
competent authority"
Sir, the declaration that there was no power in
the Executive to determine what the boundary
part, and is not worth the paper on which it is
written for, in this subsequent part, the posi-
| ton is distinctly taken that all must now be
garded as New Mexico which was possessed and
occupied by citizens of Mexico at the date of the
treaty. Sir, if it is competent to the President to
/ determine the status, and to deduce from that
duty to ,efend it by force, does he not determine
the question Of boundary, and has he not done 1t?
He determines the status at the time of the treaty,
by deciding who is in possession, and, in his lam
- lah
be treated as part Of the territory of New Mex
leo. Why was not the status, the same in regard
to all the country, or the great erportion of 1t lying
between the Nueces and the Rio Bravo When
General Taylor marched his army to the Rio
Grande under the authority Of the President, re-
cognzed by Congress-, his first position was at
the mouth Of the Rio Grande, at Point Isabel;
and his first despatch from thence informed the
Government that near that point he was met by
deputation from the Governor of Tanaulipas--of
which department it had once formed part, and
of which Mexico declared 1t then formed part
informing him that he was on Mexican territory,
| and that he must advance no further. He adj
vanced to Point Isabel, and found it in possession
of Mexico, and the Mexican officer in command
Qhe port captan) set fire to the vage-General
/ Taylor arriving there IN season to eXtingulsh It
and the Mexicans escaped across the river TO the
Mexican territory. The possession Of Point lsa-
bel, at the time of the war, was entirely within
the terms of the message, as discrimination of
! what the Executive held to be Mexican and what
II Texan territory. It was possessed and occupied
Eby citizens of Mexico, living under Mexican
laws; and such was the case, apprehend in re-
gard to the whole country between the Nueces
and the Rio Grande. | shall not now weary the
Senate nor myself by going into an argument
upon these papers; it is sufficient to adduce them,
to show that the Mexican war was entered into
by this Government for the purpose Of establish
| ing and enforcing the legitimate boundary of
Texas; that the Mexican war fixed the boundary,
at least so far as it could be determined by the
action Of the President, recognized by the Con-
gress Of the United States. And let it be left to
the American Senate and the American people to
determine whether it is to be tolerated that the
President of The United States, addressing himself
to the Senate at this day, should inform them that
it was his duty, under the Constitution and the
laws, to use the forces of the United States in
| expelling the government of the State of Texas,
If it should be established within this boundary.
Mr.. PRESIDENT. | do not know, and can
not pretend know, whether, lift the bill which is
Eproposed and for which offer this substitute,
shall pass it will or will not avert the danger Of
a collision between Texas and the troops Of the
| United States. But l know that the substitute /
have offered will. 1t must do it, because it Yields
to Texas what she claims, and what, in my judy
ment, she is entitled to and it must give peace
upon that whole border. But, unless Texas should
acquiesce in this proposition, made to dsmember
her terrtory--to take off from her aportion of
that which she has always claimed to be her ter
ritory, for which she engaged with us in war
against Mexico--unless she is prepared to do this
for moneyed consideration, i ask how the pub
| lie peace is likely to be preserved / do not know
| how the people Of Texas will be likely to view
this proposition but if they refuse to accept il,
| the result must inevitably be that it will not stay
for an hour the march Of her troops upon the ter
| ritory alleged to be disputed. On the other hand,
a recognition Of the claim Of Texas, asserted
on her tute-books, proposed by the substitute
which submit, would most certainly achieve
that desirable result, and settle the question.
81 " -
/ Mr.. BUTLER. will say few words in re-
lation to the amendment under consideration.
And as il is connected with the bill offered by the
senator from Maryland, so far as they are con-
nected, when we speak of one, we must necessa
rily refer to the other. wish to take STEP by
vote or word, which can impair in public estma-
ton Of the title Of Texas to the land east of the
/ Rio Gmnde. shall vote for no measure that |
will imply dstrust Of the goodness Of that title;
because believe that is great element, an essen
tally important element of Southern policy to
preserve what regard not only the rights of
Texas, bat the right of her Southern confederate
neighbors, therefore am free to say that cannot
vote for the bill of the senator from Maryland
because l see its obvious operation will be 10 m
terfere with the safety of Southern institutions.
see that it places Texas in position that may
tempt her to part with her title TO the land. And
justice to herself, justice to her neighboring con-
ieueraies require tnat she shouiu retain the iahu
| rather than accept the money. The bill now be-
fore you is about to place the Government of the
United States in peculiar attitude towards Texas
| And what is the attudei Holding out TO her a
purse of gold in the one hand, and a bayonet in
the other, saying to her, Accept these ten mill
lions Of dollars for your land, or your government
will be driven from your territory by the troops of
the United States ~ Sir that is the situation in
which she will be placed She is either to be
! tempted with that gold, or to be driven away with
the bayonet, lsay that the title of Texas is an
essential consideration, and / cannot forego any
opportunity to recognize or to maintain it: GER
tainiy will do nothing to impair it.
do not intend now to go into the title of Texas.
intend to sit down with very few words more.
But what is the obvious view in which that title
must be presented? When Texas came into the
Union, did not she come with title deed, setting
forth the Rio Grande as her western boundary
Did we now receive her into the Union under that
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