Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1846-12-17

ready, or preparing for the operations of cam
paign;" and "supposing you already on the thea
tre of operations, and with all the forces assem-
bled, it is indispensable that hostilties be COM
menced, yourself taking the initiative against the
enemy.
The movement of our army to the Rio Grande
was made by the Commanding General, under
positive orders to abstain from all aggressive acts
towards Mexico, or Mexican citizens, and to re-
| gard the relations between the two countries as
peaceful, unless Mexico should declare war; or
commit Gets Of hostility Indicative of safe of war;
and these orders he faithfully executed While
occupying his position on the east hank of the
Rio Grande, within the limits of Texas, then, re-
Gently admitted as one of the States of our Union
the Commanding General of the Mexican forces,
who in pursuance of the orders of his Govern
ment, had collected large army on the opposite
shore of the Rio Grande, crossed the river, inva-
ded our territory, and commenced hostties by
attacking our forces.
Thus, after all the injuries which we had re-
ceived and borne from Mexico. and after she had
insultingly rejected minister sent to her on
mission of peace, and whom she had Soemnly
agreed to receive, she consummated her long
course of outrage against our country by COM
mencng an offensive war and shedding the blood
of our citizens on our own SOIL
| The United States never attempted to acquire
Texas by conquest. On the contrary, at an early
period after the people of Texas had achieved
their independence, they sought to be annexed to
the United States At general election in Sep
tember, 1886, they decided with great manimity
in favor OF 'annexation ;" and IN November fol-
lowing the Congress of the Republic authorized
the appointment of minister to bear their re-
quest to this Government. The Government,
however, having remained neutral between Texas
and Mexico during the war between them, and
considering it due to the honor OF our country,
and our fair fame among the nations OF the earth,
that we should not at this earl y period consent to
annexation nor until it should be manifest to the
whole world that the re-conquest of Texas by
i. Mexico was impossible, refused to accede to the
overtures made by Texas. On the 18th of April,
1874, and after more than seven years had elapsed
since Texas had established her independence, a
treaty was concluded for the annexation of that
Republic to the United States, which was reject
ed by the Senate. Finally, on the first of March,
lS45, Congress passed joint resolution for an
nexing her to the United States, upon certain
preliminary conditions to which her assent was
required The solemnities which characterized
the deliberations and conduct of the government
and people of Texas on the deeply interesting
questions presented by these resolutions, are
known to the world. The Congress- the Execu-
tive, and the people of Texas, in Convention
elected Tor that purpose, accepted with great
unanlmity the proposed terms of annexation; and
thus consummated on her part the great act of
restoring to our Federal Union a vast territory
which had been ceded to Spain by the Florida
treaty more than quarter ofa century befor.
After the joint resolution for the annexation of
Texas to the United States had been passed by
our Congress, the Mexican Minister at Washing
ton addressed note to the Secretary Of State,
bearing date on the 9th of March, 1915, protest
ing against it as San act of aggression, the most
unjust which can be found recorded in the annals
Of modern history; namely, that of despoiling
friendly nation, like Mexico, of considerable
portion of her territory" and protesting against
the resolution of annexation, as being an act
whereby the province of Texas, an integral por-
ton of the Mexican territory, is agreed and ad-
mltted into the American Union;'' and he an
nounced, that as a consequence, his mission to
the United States had terminated and deman-
ded his passports, which were granted 1t was
upon the assurd pretext, made by Mexico, Cher
self indebted for her independence to successful
revoutlon,) that the Republic of Texas still con-
tlnued to be, Notwithstanding all that had passed,
province OF Mexico, that this step was taken
by the Mexican Minister
/ Every honorable effort has been used BY me to
avoid the war which followed, but all have proved
vain. All our attempts to preserve peace have
been met by insult and resistance on the part of
Mexico My efforts to this end commenced in
the note of the Secretary of State of the 10th of
March, 1915, in answer to that of the Mexican
Minister. While declining to reopen discus
sion which had already been exhausted, and
proving again what was known to the whole
world, that Texas had long since achieved her
independence, the Secretary of State expressed
the regret OF this Government that Mexico should
have taken offence at the resolution of annexa-
ton passed by Congress, and gave assurance that
our "most strenuous efforts shall be devoted to the
amlcable adjustment OF every cause of complaint
between the two Governments, and to the culti-
vatlon OF the klndest and most friendly relations
between the sister Republics"
That have acted spirit of this assurance will ap
pear from the events which have since occurred Notwit
standing Mexico had abruptly terminated all diplomatic
tercourse with the United States and ought therefore,
have been the first to ask for its resumption yet waving all
ceremony, embraced the earliest favorable opportunity
ascertain from the Mexican Government whether they
would receive envoy from the United States entrusted
with full to adjust all the questions dispute between
the two Governments In September 1916 believed
Propous moment for such an overture had aveo Texas
by the enthusiastic and almost unanimous will people,
had pronounced III favor of annexation Mexico herself had
agreed To acknowledge the independence of Texas subject
condition. is true, which she had right impose and
no power to enforce The last lingering hope of Mexico if
she siIl could have retained any that Texas would
again become one OF her Provinces have been aban
doned.
The consul OF the United States the city of Mexico
therefore instructed by Secretary of State the 18th of
September lS5 to make the nquiry of the MEXICAN govern
meh lhe inquiry was made and the 18th OF October
i43 tn Minister OF Foreign Affairs of the Mexican Gov
cnmen in note addressed consul gave favorable
response requesting, at the time, that naval force
mght be Withdrawn from Vera Cruz while negotiations
should DC pending Upon the receipt of this note our naval
ioce was promptly withdrawn from Vera Cruz minister
was immediately appointed and departed Mexico Every
g pore promising aspect for speedy and peaceful ad