The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-08-29
THE TEXAN BOUNDARY BILL.

| THE TEAM DUUNDAhl DILL,
Much has been said by the Press in condemna
| ton of the Galphin claim, and its allowance anC
payment. 1t amounted to between one and two
hundred thousand dollars and the payment of il
was the most serious reproach brought against
the late Administration. Galphinsge, Galphin
ism, and Galphins, seemed likely to become cur
rent nouns substantive in our ordinary yocabu
larry.
II is q little remarkable that some Of those who
w Ie,s ~sosnos ..-se~ III
are now foremost in their urgency that the United
,S.ate$s-,,. rsJ slSIaat C.s:ey :: Texss'tks
cool sum of ten millions of dollars in satisfaction
Of a claim, compared with which that which has
been so justly denounced is valid as gold
Texas, in 1919, rightfully belonged to the
United States. At least our diplomatists and our
orators said that our title was clear and unques-
tionsble.
The United States claimed title, also, to the
country between Red River and the Arkansas, ex.
tending west from the Tooth meridian to the set
Elements, or near to the settlements, of New Mex
leo. But this country was not part of Texas,
which was wholly south Of Red River
Well, the United States wanted Florida the
title Of which was without contest, in Spain and
Spain wanted to get rid of the claim Of the United
States to Texas and the Santa Fe country Ac-
cordingly the treaty of 1919 was entered into ;
coded all claim to the country west of the Sabine
and all west of the Tooth meridian west of Red
River.
Not long after, Mexico became independent
Texas, conjoned with Coahuila, became one of the
States of Mexico New Mexico was Territory
embracing all the country north of Texas, Goa.
hula, and chihuahua, and extending from the
Tooth meridian westward across the Rio Grande
and beyond the Sierra Msdre range
Texas revoted in 1885, and declared her indie
pendence in $780, At this time, her western lin
it was the Nueces, and an irregular line running
northeastwardly from that river to the boundary
Of New Mexico. Between that river and line and
the Rio Grande, lay parts Of Tamaulipas, Goa.
hula, and chihuahua. The Texans invaded
Tamaulipas, and established some sort of posses.
sion at one or two points within its borders, on
the western bank of the Nueces The Texans
invaded New Mexico, also, but the invasion was
disastrous, and the invaders made prisoners Nc
Texan possession was established in Coahuila
chihuahua, or New Mexico. Hardly any Texan
ever saw the soil of either. Yet Texas claimed
the whole She might as well have claimed to the
Pacific, and, indeed thought seriously of doing it.
but her native modesty would not quite allow
that.
What title, then, has Texas to parts of Goa
hula, chihuahua, and New Mexico cast of the
Rio Grande2 Grant that she had some color OF
title to part of Tamaulipas west of the Nueces,
and tina, the act of Congress declaring the exist
ence of the war with Mexico estops the United
States from denying that the title Of Texas ex-
tended to the Rio Grande, still the concession af.
fects no foot of land beyond the limits of Tamau-
lipas Texas could only claim under this evidence
that part of Tamaulipas lying between the Lower
Rio Grande and the Nueces Neither her DOS
session, nor her title nor the estoppel of the
United States, then, extended to any part of Goa
hula, chihuahua, or New Mexico The parts of
these States lying on this side the river, consti
tuted, after the treaty with Mexico the territory
of the United States east of the Rio Grande and
as such should have always been regarded and
spoken of by the Administration and the people
In fact the title of the United States to the part
of Tamaulpas between the rivers was and is far
better than the title of Texas to any country on
the upper Rio Grande More fifty might the
United States demand of Texas pecuniary
equivalent for the country below, than Texas of
the United States for the country above.
Now, glance at the map will show that even
Colonel Benton's line does not include all that
properly belongs to the United States Colonel
Benton admits the title Of Texas between the
Tooth and lO3d meridian north of Red River
But we have seen no evidence which justiies this
admission. Colonel Benton, in none of his able
speeches, has adduced any. On the contrary, in
his speech on the Tyler Treaty, May i6, ls45
Mr.. Benton said: "The Province Of Texas laid
between the -sAbiux and the lew~ Rio del Norte
Trio Grande) and between the Gulf of Mexico
and the Red Riur. 1t was wholly a southern prov.
ince, ,he lanG Of vsrdure and of fowers--forever
warm with balmy sunshine and fresh with per-
petual spring"
Now, the Spanish Province OF Texas consttut-
cd the Mexican State of Texas. There can be no
dispute as to that. How, then, did the State Of
Texas acquire title north Of Red River7 No one
has undertaken TO show any special ground Of
claim applicable to this country; and, in the alb
sence of such evidence, we must conclude that
Colonel Benton has suffered his kindly feelings
towards Texas to admit a claim which will not
bear any rieor Of scrutiny.
Colonel Benton's line was nearly the right line ;
but Texas was not so well entitled to pecuniary
for yielding what was on one side, as
the United States for yielding what was on the
other
The Committees line surrendered to Texas
and Slavery seventy thousand square miles, which
Colonel Benton's line would have saved to the
Union and Freedom. And Pearce's line surren-
ders twenty thousand square miles more than the
ommittee's--ninety thousand square miles in
all. And yet, In addition to this surrender of
full half the Territory belonging to the United
States east of the Rio Grande, the Senats's bill
proposes to give Texas TEs MILLIONS Of dollars
We first yield to Texas all to which she has
shadow Of rightful claim, amounting to some forty
thousand square miles; and then II proposed to
make her present Of ninety thousand square miles
more, and ten millions Of dollars And this to
buy peace Buyers Of peace never lack vendors