Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-08-31
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M;Rzs|mI
Mexican Documents.


o Gen. Arsa, after hs defeat the sh OF May
tracts from tive letters which have been recently publish
ed, by authority presume. in the Washington Union.
The fret Ia from the instructions OF Gen. Tor
nel Minister OF War in Mexico TO Gen. Arista dated
April T. 1885, and puports be directions for the plan OF
the campaign. IL is ss follows;
EScKtIKsr sk--Your sxcellcncy having meriied from
HE excelency, the President that he should you
venersnchefo the division OF operations the north
err Of the republic he has been pleased order
the plan OF campaign recommended TO your talents,
valo energy and patriotism the follow ing bssis should be
followed aud which 10 developed in oil its Details be-
cause these belong to the general who commands who
find. himself view OF oil the circumstances which may
and which, from distance, cannot be foreseen.
Isl. The supreme government desires and orders that
the city Of Maiamoras be protected at oil hazards and
sustained by your entire dvision-since 1t very impor
by its situation by its resources by the number OF its
Inhabitants and by every Of consideration military
moral, and political.
80. Having in view that the American army,
with having occupied the department Of Texas has nvad
ed the territories Of those Of Tamaulpas and Nuevo lie.
on, must be treated enemy Of the nation. and at
lacked by every which permits, and which will
be suggested by your military skill and knowledge OF the
ground which is the theatre OF operations
The second from letter OF President Pa
Tedes to Con. Arsta
"MExico, April Is, 1886.
"Comrade and esteemed frend At the present date |
suppose you the bead OF that valiant army either fight
ing already preparing for the operations OF campaign
IN which we are about to put every thing at sake-ou
cla stence itself. Much good do pessge from your
presence the head Of valiant sodies nasmuch
from 1t promise myself victories upon victories 10 gain
which you may count upon thousand elements OF
the constant protection OF the gOvernment upon
the enthusiasm Of the soldery; and upon the rising
of the population OF the neighborhood against
enemy. II political reasons did not forbid me- | would
fly share with my companions IN the tolls and IN the
glory which this war must yield TO us.
by the same post important orders will be communi-
Gated 10 you concerning the military operations SupPo-
already the theatre OF operations and with all
the forces assembled il is indispensable that hostes be
commenced, yourself taking the initiative against the
my.
The notification necessarily be peremptory, and
Immediately after fall upon him, and don't until he
u annihla ed This deeply the honor OF the
nation under existing circumstances Our enemy is
with fear, and there is doubt that they will all
become prisoners. Advance then, with the cry Of
Live the Republic " and your brow with impersh-
abe surels."
The Union accompanies the publication of these
by brief commentary, the design of which
show, by reference the dates that the Mexican auiho
rites had already determined upon against the L.
States prior to the action Of government-and
consequently that the preamble Of the passed by Con-
gress declaring that existed, by the Of Mereo
literally true. Il will be sufficient reply this
sumption say that it is scarcely allowable nfoma
ton obtained after the assertion Of fact, and which
unknown the party making il the time order
vndicaie It's truth. These instructions Arsa in
his own possession, aud their unknown to
government when II assumed, the basis of its
ton the existence Of VI things Of which then had
evidence. Bot 60 farther and say that these
documents had been in Mr. Folks possession the time,
and had by him laid before Congress- though they
might have justified declaration Of oar, they would
have authorized the language Of the preamble, that
eTisS by the act Of Mexico" In Mexico, in the Unit
ed States CoNGREss constitutes department OF the go
vernment; and there. here the power TO make is
expressly withheld from the Executive and vested in that
body. Nc declaration Of had emanated from the only
department Of the government Of Mexico authorized 10
and hence, did exist, by the act Of Mex
icO," since it proclaimed by that branch OF the
Mexican government which could alone authorize The
Mexican government might with much truth, have
epaied by declaring tina, exists by the
United States and that, indeed the position yirtus
assumed IN the foregoing instructions TO General Aris
Ia-because President Polk had directed the Anne.
ucan forces take armed possession Of a territory
the title to which was in dispute between the countries,
hut which had been previously in the actual and exclusive
occupation Of Mexican citizens who, far from believing
they and the soil they cultivated had been transferred
the United Siates by the annexation Of Texas without
solitary exception that ", fled at the ap
pToach Of army abandoning their homes, and sought
shelter under the ag which they supposed they owed al
legiance. But such declaration had made BY the
Mexican government, would have been destitute Of oun-
daon ruth that made by Congress because
the Rio Grande occupied by army, does in truth be-
long MEXICO, its invasion the Of the EEeeutpe
department OF government alone, and OF the war
making power which, although in session at the time the
President did not deign consult when he
shat unnecessary movement which tho existence Of hoe
tnes without declaration Of by either party sole
~ a,trbut,Ble IL Is an EXECUTIVE WAR whether
tne responsibility Of commencing really upon Pre-
sdeut Polk upon President Paredesa war entered into
a.6 NJ ths
countries, wisely withhods from the Executive the war
making power.
IL appears, however from the foregoing documents that
the President OF Mexico did, early April contem.
plate akng the initiative IN actual hosfiiihss Gen Ans
instructed TO act the offensive. But obvious
shat Paroles fegarded-whethe truly not not our
purpose present enqurs-he advance Of the Amer
army the Rio Grnnde iHpssion Of the Mexican
coll ard he consequently, regarding it, bound by
his POSITION without waiting for the conyocaton Of the
Me1csn Congress- TO repe IT, Let reverse the positions
Of the parties, for better understanding Of the
Suppose after the annexation Of Texas the United States
aud while Congress not in session, Mexican
my Iad invaded thst State, and seized upon portion
~ territory the title to which in dispute but which
occupied exclusively by American eitizens-no one
will deny that would have been the duty Of President
Polk TO rtpel tho once without waiting fOr
authority from Congress and he would doubtless have
performed that duty His Instructions the sup
posed officer In command Of the American foces
would have been dssimlar 10 those Of the Mexican
President and Secretary VI War 10 Asn. III would have
ordered prompt attack upon the invaders even though
they had sued their Manifesto in advance laying cgim IA
she county invaded part Of the Mexican eonfederucy
and promising protection 10 is inhabitants. And yet
would not that have existed " s act Of the Uni
fsi States and such assumption the part Of MeIo,
would have been secuted, ako unjust and proposot
AnJ YET a not the supposed precisely similar Il
that which has occurred upon the MoEiesn frontier oGoep
that the invade Of territory in dispute, but
pied exclusively by MsTieans. aud they Of section
oupied by AmericaHs1
We havc made these remarks now. fof the purpose o
keeping before the view Of the country tho true position Of
parties and 10 check the obvious desgn Of the Executive
Ochn, by creating impression the public
,nad shield The President from The Of HI,
rashne's Convinced, sre, that, bot Tor the
meni IT army 70 hs Rio Grando, for which have
urVrr GOOD rrsaou the