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advance of G<'11cral Caines is lob<' founded 011 a claim of tcrriturv by the United Stales, and hence his anxiety Lo argue the qucl:lio~ of right to the possession of Nacogdoches and the territory in its vicinage. Contrary to his wish, Lhc President finds himsrlf compelled to require the undersigned to remind Mr. Corosliza that Mexico is not in possession of the territory bordering on the United Stales, wlwrever the true line may he. Whether the Government of Mexico will obtain and can m;1inlain possession of it, are 4ucstions now at i1:;suc by the most sanguinary arbitrament; until they are decided, the undersigned understands Mr. Gorostiza lo maintain that the possession of Texas is the possession of Mexico, and that any advance upon the territory claimed as a part of Texas by its self-constituted authorities is considered essentially, and in its effects, a positive violation of the known territory of Mexico. The Mexican Government must be aware that portions of the lerri lory ever admi lted to belong, as well as that claimed to belong, to the United States, is represented in the Texan Government. The known territory of the United States is then now violated by Mexico, since the Government of Mexico is, upon the principle involved, responsible for this usurpation of a right over the jurisdiction of the United States, and this attempt to limit the extent of their territorial possession. This fact of itself would justify an advance of General Gaines lo any point necessary to the vindication of the rights of the United States, or to retort an injury upon Mexico (or Texas, whichever is responsible) for the original wrong. But the President has not designed to vindicate a right or retort a wrong in the orders that have been given. He looks forward patiently to the period, which cannot be far distant, when the territorial rights of the United States will, according to long-existing stipulations, be authoritatively designated and marked by competent and trustworthy agents, so as to leave no room for further cavil and dispute; and in the meanwhile he desires to occupy no position by military force which the circumstances by which the general commanding the troops of the United States is surrounded do not justify. The undersigned is instructed further to reply to Mr. Corostiza, that the claims of the United States are founded upon the treaty of limits, and are to be maintained by the treaty of limits. If the true demarcation according to that treaty has not been fully made known to Mexico, it is because there has been on
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