The Somerset herald and farmers' and mechanics' register. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 183?-1852, 1846-12-22

Oh the republic Ot 4cA1o, dEU oul Suh'
gress, preceded the orders for the advance
of our army to the cast bank Of the Rio
Grande. Subsequently,, Congress poss-
ed an act establishing certain pos
routes" extending west OF the Nueeos.
The country west Of that river now con-
stitltcs a part Of one of the Congressional
districts of Texas, and is represented In
the House Of Representatives.
The Senators from that State were
chosen by a Legislature in which the
country west Of that river was represent
ed. In view OF all these facts, II is diff
cult 70 conceive upon what ground it can
be maintained that. in occupying the
country west of the Nueces with onr
army, with a view solely to its defence,
we invaded the territory of Mexicn.-
But il would have been still more difficult
TO Justify the Executive. whose duty it is
to see that the laws be faithfully executed
if in the face Of ali these proceedings both
Of the Congress of Texas and OF the u
niie.I States, he had assumed the respon-
sibility of Welding up the territory west
of the Nueces to Mexico, or of refusing
10 protect and defend this territory and its
inhabitants, including Corpus Christi, as
well as the remainder of Texas, against
the threatened Mexican invasion.
But Mexico herself has never placed
the war which she has waged upon the
ground that our ARM occupied the inter-
mediate territory between the Nueces and
the Rio Grancie. Her re(uted pretension
that Texas was not in fact m independent
State, but a rebeliious province, was OBJ
stinately preserved in; and her avowed
purpose in commencing 4 war with the
United States was TO recoEquer Texas,
and 10 restore Mexican authority over the
whole territory-not to the Nueces only,
but 10 the Sabine. In view of the pro-
{ claimed menaces Of Mexico 10 this effect
| deemed it my duty, as a measure OF
precaution and defence, to order our arTnv
to occupy a position on our frontier as a
military post, from which our troops
could hest resist and repel any al
tempted invasion which Mexico might
make.
Our army had occupied a position at
/ Corpus Christi. west of the Nueces, as
early as August. lS45, without complaint
from any quarter. Had the Nueces been
regarded as the true western Boundary Of
Texas, that boundary had been passed by
our army many months before II advanced
to the eastern bank of The Rio Grande.-
In my annual message of December last
Informed Congress. that upon the invita-
ton of both the Congress and Convention
Of Texas, | had deemed it proper TO order
a strong squadron TO the coasts CT Mexi-
co, and to concentrate an efficient militia
nv force on the western frontier Of Texas,
20 protect aud defend the inhabitants a.
gainst the menaced Invasion Of Mexico.
IN that message / informed Congress that
the One the terms of annexation Of
fered by the the United States were ac-
cepted bv Texas, the latter became so far
4 part of or own country as to make it
our July 10 afford such protection and ie-
fence: aud that for that purpose our
squadron had been ordered 10 the Gulf,
and our army TO "take a position between
the Nueces and the Del Norie," or Rio
Grande, ana Ito repel n INVASION Of the
Texan territory which might be attempt
ed bv the Mexican forces"
1t was deemed proper 10 issue this or
der. because, soon after the President of
Texas, in April. 1915, had issued his
proclamation commencing the Congress OF
that republic, for the purpose Of submit
ting 10 that body the terms OF annexation
proposed bv the United States, the gov
erumeni Of Mexico made serious threats
of invading the Texan teTretory. These
threats become more imposing as il be-
came more apparent, il the progress Of
question. that the people OF Texas would
decide in favor of accepting The terms Of
annexation; and, finally, they had assum-
ed such a formidable character, as IN
dueed both the Congress and Convention
of Texas TO request that a military force
should be sent bv the United Estates into
her territory for the purpose of protecting
and defending her against the threatened
invasion. Itwould have been a violation
of good faith towards the people of Tex
as TO have refused 10 afford the aid which
they desired against a threatened INVASION.
10 which they had heen exposed by their
free determination TO annex themselves to
our Union, iii compliance with the over
tare made to them by the joint resolution
of our Congress.
Accordingly, a portion Of the army was
ordered 10 advance into Texas. Corpus
Christi was the position selected by Gen
eral Taylor. He cncamped at that place
in August, IS45, and the army remained
in that position until the llth OF March,
1916, when IT moved westward, and ON
the 2slh Of that month reached the east
bank Of The Rio Grandc, opposite 10 Mat
/ amoras. This moyement ,vas made in