The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-06-21
and wi,h nolles o he Ued Slatss 81 e srlsni 0f hu

al Texas would be considered by Mexico as an
unfriendy act and therefore desirous TO accomplish
il in such manner would be least offensive TO that
republic We did not consequently, agree in the resolu
ton OF annexation to guaranty the boundaries which
Texas had asserted in the various modes which have
advered but stipulated to receive her with her right
fu boundaries and ressrUd 10 ourselves the right 10 de-
terine those boundaries bya negotiation Nth MeIseo
thus showing that we had notice OF her claim OF bound.
Sir the reservation of that right and OF that right only
excludes the exercise by the United States OF any right
not incnded in that reservation. desire TO ask y,
without such reservation, Texas had been admitted
into this Union, with the declaration upon her statute
book that her boundary extended to the Rio Grande,
whether that would not have been held as her proper
boundary and whether, By force ot the resolution oil
annexation would not have been bound 10 guaranty
that boundary in its fullest extent How have we es-
capped from that liability The answer is by the reser-
walton OF the right 10 negotiate with Mexico in regard to
this boundary. a
Now. let us consider how this power has been ex.
ercised which had thus reserved 10 ourselves. We
did endeavor to enter into negotiation with Mexico.
minister plenipoteniary Mr. Sdell, was despatched to
that republic The Mexican government refused 10
ceive him. and the negotiation failed What was our
condition them The answer is. simply. that the United
States was tuncs otcio as 10 The power she had re-
served 1t was dependent upon The consent cf Mexico,
and that was withheld We had attempted to exercise
this reserved power and had failed The resolution of
anne xaion was then dvested OF that condition. and the
obligation of the United States under the constitution,
to protect OF the States OF this Unon TO the
full extent of her asserted boundary became single and
absolute. But, sir, we did not stop here When i was
ascertained that Mexico unwilling to enter into a
negotiation with or the purpose settling this bound
ary we marched an army the disputed territory,
settle the question by force OF arms
The Congress of the United States. in consequence OF
certain the banks OF the lower Rio ande,
proceeded to declare war against Mexico. We pro-
claimed that Mexico had brought that and recog
Missed the allegation Of the President that AmsT'can btood
had been shed upon ApaerTca,l soa Now desire to
ask by what right did occupy the country between
the Nueces and the Rio Gande, il it not part Of the
State OF Texas! The United States pretended 10
tha caun The NueCes and the RlO
Grande 1t was the claim OF Texas which asserted
and american ground, in the view OF this govern
mept because and only because il part OF the State
of Teras one o the States OF this Union. repeat, that,
when the power which had reserved 10 ourselves TO
settle this boundary by negotiation had failed, this gov-
enment, recognising its obligations to Texas as one
of the States of this Unionits constitutional obligation
TO defend herpoceeded to settle BY force by the i'm
mediate occupation OF portion oil the territory winch
was in contest and by declaration OF war against Mex.
leo for of aggression committed upon that territory,
alleging it TO be American soil. The war was entered
INTO, then, in afrmance Of the rights of Texas The
United States made claim 10 the possession OF that
territory, except in her right For its maintenance the
entered upon, and pro: eculed TO successful re-
suit BY our arms in struggle y whca Texas bore her
share as one OF the United States.
By the incorporation Of Texas into the Union we had
deprived her oil the oil asserting her own rights,
and had ourselves undertaken q assert ani 70 manan
them II was the constitutional duty which owed 10
her as one OF the States of this Union And now can II
be- when have thus divesed her OF the sword and oil
the privilege OF negotiation, when have assumed them
both to ourselves when we have Exercised them both in
the assertion OF her rghsat the termination oil such
contest can look the civilized world in the face, and
claim for ourselves that which have been battling for
as the right OF one of the States OF the Union put
this question the consideration OF gentlemen who deny
the right OF Texas. Suppose MIR. Side had been re-
ceyed and had negotiated treaty by which Texas had
been limited to the Nueces if ratified by u.s. Texas would
have been bound by it, for she had authorized this gov
eminent 10 settle her boundaries by negotiation with
Mexico Suppose now, that he had negotiated treaty
by which il had been declared that the Rio Grande from
It's mouth to its source, the boundary OF the United
Saes whose benefit oud the territory thus acquired
have Injured Certainly the United States, acting ~
virtue of the power which reserved TO them TO set
tie the boundaries Of Texas by negotiation with Mexico,
when they had in the OF that negotiation acquired
the territory which Texas had claimed. could have had
no pretence whatever 10 claim for themselves the terrific.
~ thus acquired Ii the treaty had cirunscibed the
boundary OF Texas, she would have been forced to sub
nit TO it, Surely, when territory obtained coerte.
siue ri her clam, she entitled TO the benefit OF IT,
II seems me- sir that this is proposition which can.
not be contested that II this territory had been acquired
by negotiation between Mr. Slidell and the Mexican
government anterior 10 the war, as that negotiation was
entered upon in virtue OF the power reserved to The Un-
ted States in the articles OF annexation TO settle the bound
aries OF Texas-it 10 unquestionabe that what
ever territory acquired would have been acquired
as part Of the territory OF that State Otherwise
Texas liable 10 lose, bpt could by no possibility
gain anything II her claim yielded 10 MeAco she
would lose il II il was yielded by Mexico, the
United States, not Texas, would gain IT. think, then,
will not be denied that IL Mr. Slidell had succeeded
10 negotiating a treaty by which the boundary of the
United States had been extended TO the Rio Gande the
territory ACQUIRED would have Injured 10 the benefit OF
Texas and this be admitted, advance step fur
ther and ask in what consists the difference between the
acquisition OF territory made IN pursuance OF the power
reserved by the articles oil annexation, and territory ac-
qured By treaty at the termination OF war entered into
IN the assertion OF the rights OF Texasf The United
States repeat, had claim 10 the territory o! Mexico
they made none, except they the representatives
oil the State OF Texas They determined 10 settle the
question which Mexico refused 10 adjust BY negotiation,
and 10 settle IL by force They occupied the disputed ter
riiory; they invaded Mexico they compelled her TO
cede not only the territory which claimed By Texas,
but large additional extent Can this vary the rights OF
the parties
advance, then, another step in this inquiry II this
territory having been acquired by treaty anterior 10 the
war, would have Injured 10 the benet OF Texas which
must be sdnitted il there il difference between terri
tory acquired by treaty, and territory acquired BY treaty
al The termination Of prosecuted 10 aihfmanfe oi
her rights, which il will be dticali TO deny then ask u
that question can Be in the slightest degree affected by
the fac: that the United States acquired BY that treaty,
not only the territory which was claimed by Texas but
additional territory IN jaxtapostion TO ~ Iad S me
tchoe frtn Of me controversy. ~ your acqdiston oil
territory had been limited TO the Rio Gfaade, and that &C.
cushion had beea made by treaty either before after
ha wac, would have been papablc that the ter
rory oi Texas the boundary OF Texas, which was es.
ablshei IN establishing the boundary OF the United
States Can change the inevitable conclusion resulting
om this fact, that you have acquired an additional Ter.
riory, for which you have paid consideration, and
oil Texas but under the influence OF your own desire to
extend your territory TO the Pacific and Tor which you
gave consideration which Mexico deemed an equisa-
| Ientl think not Judge II think rightly.
hope, then, Mr. President thah regards the terri.
tory east Of the Rio raude have succeeded in shovinV