Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1846-05-21
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THE WAR WITH MEXICO.

Grando by the Mexican army and collision in
which a company of U. S. cavalry was cut off. As
this is the first collision and is to establish the point
as to which nation actually commenced hosilites, it
is somewhat important to have all the facts in the
case. The territory between the Neuces and Rio
Grande was disputed terctory, as between Mexico
and Texas, when the latter was annexed TO the u
nited States: for although by the act of the Texan
Congress, in 1886, the Rio Grande was made the
boundary line between Texas and Mexico, still
Texas had never conquered and retained any por-
ton beyond the Ncucos, except Corpus Christi and
perhaps ono or two other places on the southern
bank Of the Neuccs Texas held Corpus Christi,
and Mexico held Santiago at the time Of annexa-
tion-and it was well understood by Texas by
Mexico and by the United States, that the terrific
ry beyond these two rivers was disputed the ques
ton of boundary was open question, and it was
that very question which Mr.. Slidell was charged
by our Government to settle with Mexico. We
gather these facts from the documents accompany
ing the Presidents Message of December last
where they are repeatedly stated by our Minister
to Texas Mr.. Donelson. Now we suppose that
the United States, by annexation, acquired all the
rights which Texas had, and no more; and there
fore took just such right as Texas possessed to
the territory between the Neucos and the Rio
Grande. We took disputabc territory and it seems
to us to follow clearly, that the crossing of the Rio
Grande by Mexican troops and taking position on
that disputed territory not aggressive not
IN itself declaration of war; certainly not one
whit more than was the fact that Gen. Taylor had
occupied the same ground with U. S. troops. We
see not why one party had not as good right there
as the other, and that the responsibility of com
mencing hostilitles therefore will attach to the par
ty which struck the first blow. The President in
deed tells us that Congress has recognized the ter
rtory between the Neuces and RID Grande, since
the annexation was consummated; that it has made
Corpus Christi port of entry, (which we had
right to do, since it in the possession of Texas
at the time Of anneXation,) and that this territory
forms part Of Texan Congressional District
On the strength of this he asserts also that Mexico
has "shed American blood upon American soll."-
But all this does not vary the case at all for this
same territory also forms part of .Ierican Con-
gTcsslonal District and is now represented in the
Mexican Congress, and moreover is under Mexican
revenue laws. Notwithstanding the facts stated by
'A''H'NN''
STILL leaving to each party all the rights which are
consistent with such state Of things. Mexico
may equally claim that our troops have she'd Mexi.
can blood upon Mexican soil. In order to fix the
responsibility for hosttcs 1t is still important to
know which army made the first attack Some Of
the accounts published in the Ncw-Or papers
unequivocally assert that the company of dragons
sent out by Gen. Taylor on the ith ut first charr
cd upon the MeXicans. If So the United States
actually commenced hostities. But on the other
hand other accounts that the Mexiclns made the
attack; and it is most remarkable that Gen. Taylor,
in his official despatch, which is quoted by the
President, seems pwposeiy to hare aroidcd The ia,-
poram Jact as to chch party commenced hostilities
lie says
81 regret to report that party of dragons sent
out by me on the 9th inst, to watch the course of
the river above on this bank, became engaged ,eih
| rry large force Of The enemy and after short af
fair, III which some sixteen were killed and wound
| ed, appear TO have been surrounded and compelled
| to surrender"
Here the General is very careful not to say ,rho
commenced hostilties though he is very ready to
declare that hostilities may now be considered as
commenced, and have this day deemed 1t neces.
sary to call upon the Governor of Texas for four
regiments Of volunteers" 1t is evident that Gen.
Taylor considers this attack as the opening of hos
tilities and it therefore becomes all-imporant to
! know iChO began the attack If it was the U. S.
troops, then this war was commenced on our part ;
| if it was the Mexican troops, then the American
people will at least have the consolation Of knowing
that Mexico was the first to commence hostilities.
! We have thus been somewhat particular in call.
ing attention 10 this point, because it is question
of no small interest, especially to those who make
an important distinction between offensive and de
fcnslve war. Probably, too, the fact that there is
doubt as to which party commenced hosiilities, &C
counts for the difference of opinion in both branch.
es of Congress as to the preamble to the War bill.
which difference alone probably prevented a
unanimous vote IN both Houses for the bills The
preamble is this
Whereas, by the act Of The Republic of Merico,
a state of war exists between that Government and
the United States; therefore, Be it enacted" &c.
For our life we cannot see on what authority it
is said that this state of war was the act of Mey
ico." The only official evidence in the case is
Gen. Taylor's despatch and he is careful mol to
state this fact, if fact it was. All the other ac-
counts are directly conflicting. 1t seems TO us that
those members of Congress who protested against
this preamble were most clearly in the right; and
it was unwiso as well as ungenerous for the admin
istration 10 force then either To vote for solemn
declaration, for which they had not the slightest Of
fetal evidence, or to incur the odlum of want of
patriotism by either voting against the bill, or with
holding their votes. We certainly hope that the
fact will turn out to be that Mexico was the ug-
| gressor for we would have our own country as
much in the right possible, at the best war
is a sore calamity.
We annex the news from the seat of war, COM
mencing with the official account of the first col
lision.
HEApQUARTERs ARMY OCCUPATION,
CAMr NEAR MArAMoRAs, (TeSas,) April 20, 1886