The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-08-11

meklco uuIibk the war, blr Ifist, the commissioner
was instructed to make that utinatum 10 any treaty
which be might form with Mexico. What an ultima
tum?. Why, this boundary, which, twelve months be-
mol only the boundary OF Texas he had traced IT,
as proylncs from 1903, but was the boundary which
United Saes was bound to make good 10 the State q
President Polk says:
Tue territorial limits Of the State Of Texas, TOO as de-
faed by her laws beore her ad on into tbs Union,
firande willis Mexico s.l claims Is hold his territory
part Of her domnions The adjustment OF this question Of
boundary is important
The war with Mexico was then going on--a war waged
because Of the disputed boundary OF The Rio Grande
the boundary asserted by Texas denied by Mexico, and
insisted on even TO a war by the United States,
These messages Of the President were intended to set
forth and enforce before Congress and the country the
right OF Texas 70 the kpnndary as claimed, Whether
present question Yet. notwithstanding that being he
view Of The boundary taken by the Executive years be-
fSrs AM pending s Msxca hs present @ PIssten
Try has " hefetoofe been regarded as an essential and
integral part Of the department Of New Mexico"
Now SIR IN tracing this matter little further, we find
that General Kearny was ordered with body Of troops
to march into and take possession OF New Mexico on
both sides o the Rio Grsnde, and he did So Now, in
order TO understand the spirit in which that order
given pending The war, il Is necessary look to the in
strncion given 10 the commanding officer IN New Mexi
co after the peace. It will be found in letter from
Secretary Marcy to the commanding officer Of the United
States forces at Santa Fe, dated October II, 1s4S from
which read the following extract:
Texas claims part Of that State all the territory lying
contested ,aa M CLAIM Whether il i or NOT part Of Texas
since the peace il Is essentially part Of the United States
!chaadlse any kind OF productions coming into
New Mexico from any part Of tbs Uned States Ia regard
east Of the Rio Gande, civil authority which Texas has
established establish there 70 be respected and IN
no manner whatever inerieed with BY the military force
n that department, oterwise than to lend aid occa
sioas IN sustaining e.
sustaining WHAT Sustaining the authority Of Texas
her limits. The instruction there given to the comman
der OF the United States forces after the peace that
he should not only not interfere with the authority Of
Texas but that he should If necessary, sustain it by the
military power Of the United States Now. sir, how far
the late Executive (Gen. Taylo) who is now no more
disposed TO interfere with the status given TO the
subject under the administration Of Mr. Polk, is rather
dmy Swallowed forth than clearly indicated in anything
that came from his administration but have here letter
from Secretary Crawford tothe commanding officer at
Santa Fdaed in March, ls49. in which he reviews the
orders 6n by Secretary Marcy to the commanding oi
Ger in 1s4s After citing them verbatim, and reviewing
them he rensructs the commander OF the forces there
as to his duty. He says
With respec, portion the instructions which is
in thc following words In regard that part Of what the
the civil authority which Texas established may
abshed there is be respected, and In inter
than lend aid proper sustaining ~
have to remark that 10 not expected Texas will under
des snaled but should she do so, you viii conne Your
acion, under the clause above cited to arranging your
he auihori,l.s 50 constituted On the claim Of Texas
any the whole Of New Mexico Of The Rio Grande i
j. TO give opinion, Congress and that
State alone have the power of adjusting IT,
Now, sir here order is distinctly given by Secretary
Crawford 10 the commanding officer at Santa Fe, winch
differs IRON the order given by Secretary Marcy only in
this: Under the administration OF Mr. Polk, ihe com
manding officer at Santa Fe instructed should Texas
attempt 10 establish her authority within these limits to
Crawford was, that should Texas attempt to establish
her authority within these limits, he was not 70 interfere
with her. Almost equvalent-indeed entirely equiva-
lent for apprehend, ii Texas were not ntefiered with,
none could doubt her power to establish her Authority
within these limits. Now, sir, change has come over
the spirit OF this administration What led to Here
is the title oil Texas, as set out by the administration
which conducted the war TO glorious and successful
issnea war waged 10 establish the boundary OF Texas
What led TO this changei will not assume right TO
90 into the motives Of the administration n changing the
whole complexion of this is done by tho MESSAGE
delivered 10 us within the last few days. The whole
complexion OF il has, however, been changed for the
ground distinctly taken here that during the war with
Mexico, and mp 10 the termination OF that war all this
territory, extending from the mouth OF the Rio Gande 10
its source, was Ia the possession o the government OF
Mexico and not OF Texas.
have already stated that, far as the province Of
New Mexico was concerned, il was the department OF
New Mexlco"-a description known only 10 the govern.
men oil Mexico. and meaning Thereby that IT was one
OF the provinces States OF the confederation OF Mexi
CO. There another thing which strikes OF great
force Ia looking al this message OF the President Not
withsiandng the facts spread upon the records OF onr
government both executive and legislative. that this ter
was Witnn tne nnitn Oh tDe olaf VI
Texas; Notwithstanding il had been recognised and
acted upon such BY the existence of the war with
Mexico, and ia all the government papers that proclaimed
the with Mexico; and notwithstanding the fact that
Texas is now State of this Union the message oil the
President is SILENT ominousy silent throughout, that Tex
has assorted any clam FAR less that this boundary rests
the laws and constitution OF the State of Texas, and
had been recognised BY this government The whole OF
these facts treated though Texas for this purpose
was not 10 existence The Executive, after admitting
that The executive government had power authority
determine what the trne line OF the boundary be-
tween New Mexico and the United States before the
treaty OF Guadalupe Hldalgo. any such power now
since the question has become between the State OF
Texas and the United States, goes on TO say:
And he regard only the actual Of things ss h
existed at the date of the treaty, and bound TO protect all
inha btans who ihen established, aud who now
ain north and Of the line OF deuafcaton, Ia ts Toll
provisions Of the 9th artcle of treaty, other words
that Al must be now regarded as New Mexico which wa
possessed and occupied as New Mexico by citizens ol
Mexico at the date OF the treaty. un deiinte 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 is al once
put naught by the subsequent part and is not worth
the paper which IL IL written for, IN this subsequent
part. The position is distinctly taken that all must now be
regarded as New Mexico which was possessed and occu
pied by citizens of Mexico the date OF the treaty SIR,
Is competent 10 the President to determine the sfaas
and TO dcduce from that duty 10 defend BY foce does
he not determine the question o boundary, and has he
done it He determines the status al the time OF the
treaty. by deciding who Is in possession and IN his Ian
guage, "all in possession OF the Mexicans" must be
treated as a part Of the Territory OF New Mexico Why
not the status the regard 10 all the country
the greater portion of lying between the Nueces ana
ilio Bravof When Iaylor ched his