general pretention to the whole, as far as the Rio del Norte which was abandoned by the treaty. I think the case too plain even for the pretense of claim. The boundary is the stream commonly known as the Sabine, lo the 31 deg. thence North to the Red river, up that river to the 100 deg.of:Iongitude, thence to the Arkansas, thence to its source. Thus, giving up a great extent of country between Red River and the Arkansas, some part of which, probably, includes a portion of the country intended for our Southern Indians. I considered the boundary at the time, as settled with Spain, highly objectionable, being of opinion that our peace and security, required that we should have at least all the streams which are tributary to the Mississippi. The Colorado ought to have been the boundary, to its source, thence along the mountains of Santa Fee, to include the sources of Red River. This error committed under the administration of Mr. Monroe, in the treaty with Spain, it was hoped might be remedied by a treaty with Mexico. But the same error has been committed by the present administration; there was, therefore, very little ground for the crimination and recimination which took place last winter. I do not entertain the least doubt that this boundary could have been obtained on both the occasions referred to. The importance of it, may yet be seen, if the Mexicans should be succes.5ful in expelling the present population of Texas. Nothing but the defeat of Santa Anna prevented this collision, and an open war between us would have been the necessary conse- quence. The boundary from the 31 deg. on the Sabine, and the point where it will touch the right bank of the Red river, has never been ascertained. There is a large American population, perhaps the most important in Texas, on the rich red lands of that river, above and below that unknown line; we have expended large sums in opening the great obstruction to the navigation, and in conse- quence, according to the statement of Capt. Shreve, who now superintends that work, the emigration has been immense for the last three years. These set1lements have been found chiefly under the supposed protection of the United Stales, a part of the population was actually under the jurisdiction of Arkansas; they have since found the Texians under the belief that they are beyond the boundary, but with a hope of being annexed to the United States. Now, I ask, would not a Mexican force flushed with victory, push on to the Red river, and would not this bring us directly in collision with their armies? Would such victorious armies be restrained from invading one of the most important districts represented in the Texian Convention, merely because this might possibly bring them in collision with us? From this statement, it
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