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giving them the power Lo lay clown that line, the faculty of resolving all doubts, and removing all difficullies. With them, therfore, rests the decision; and it is only after such decision, Lhal the present in slatu quo can justly terminate. This was doubtless the understanding of Mr. Butler, the charge d'affaires of the Unites Stales, when urging the MinisLer of Relations of Mexico, on the 21st of December, 1834, respecting the necessity of speedily carrying into effect the said third article of Lhe treay of limits, he added, "he would only observe, that Mexico was actually occupying a large territory which the Government of the undersigned considered as justly belonging lo the citizens of the United Slates, according to the rational construction of all the treaties concluded on the subject; and as it was well known, that not only the Government of Mexico, but that of the United States, had aJready granted a large part of this territory to various natives and foreigners, the prompt conclusion of this affair became every day more urgent." Can there be a more explicit confession than this of Mr. Bu tier's, respecting the possession by Mexico of the part which he considered to belong to the citizens of the United States, and of his conviction that the only means of legaJly terminating the state of things of which he complained, was, by carrying the treaty into full effect? That the measure in question would not only affect the rights of Mexico as an independent nation, but also injure its interests, it is most easy to prove. The presence of a body of neutral troops in the very theatre of the war, cannot fail to embarrass the operations of the Mexican army, to favor the Texians indirectly, and to create a constant risk of collision. The further GeneraJ Gaines advances, the more restricted will be the circle within which the belligerants can move, and the greater will be the necessiLy for approaching the cordon formed by the troops of the United Stales. And in a country so vast and unpeopled as Texas, how impossible will it be to determine well the line of such a cordon by a chain of military posts linked together. Who can then prevent the Texians, if they find themselves pusued at any Lime by Mexican detachments, from taking refuge behind the troops of the United Stales, by passing a line which is unguarded"? How can the Mexicans know where they are to stop, so as nol lo violate the said line? And what wilJ the troops of the United States
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