State journal & flag., 1846-12-18


took place. In both the Congress and con.
yeuton Of Texas, which gave their assent
to the TO fhe terms of annexation to the
United States, proposed by our Congress
were representatives, residing west OF the
Nueces. who took part in the annexation it.
self. This was the Texas which, by the
act of our Congress OF the 29th of Deem
Der, 1915, was admitted as one ofthe States
OF our Union. That the Congress ofthe Uni.
ted States understood the State of Texas
which they admitted into the Union to ex-
tend beyond the Nueces is apparent from
the fact, that on the 3lst day of December,
1915, only two days after the act OF ad.
mission, they passed law "to establish a
collection district in the State of Texas" by
which they created port of delivery at
Corpus Christi, situated west OF the Nueces,
and being the same point at which the Tex
as custom house, under the laws of that
republic, had been located, and directed
that a surveyor 10 collect the revenue
should be appointed for that port by the
President. by and with the advice and con-
sent of the Senate. A surveyor was ac-
cordiugly nominated and confirmed by the
Senate. and has been ever since in the per.
Torrance Of his duties. All these acts oil
the republic of Texas, AMI OF our Con
gress. preceded the orders of the advance
Of our army 10 the east bank of the Rio
Grsnde. Subsequently,, Congress passed
an act establishing certain post routes. u
extending west of the Nueces. The coun-
try west of that river now constitutes a
part Of one OF the congressional districts oil
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 the river were repre-
scented. In view OF all these facts, it is diff.
ficult TO conceive upon what ground il can
be maintained that, in occupying the coun
try west of the Nueces with our army, with
in view solely to its security and defence.
we invaded the territory of Mexico. But
it would have been still more difficult to
Justify the Executive. whose duty it is 10
see that the laws be faithfully executed, if
in the face of all these proceedings, both of
The Congress of Texas and of the United
States, he had assumed the responsibility OF
Welding up the territory west of the Nueces
TO Mexico, or Of refusing TO protect md de.
fend this territory and its inhabitants, in-
GLIDING Corpus Christi. as well as the re-
mainder of Texas, against the threatened
Mexican invasion.
But Mexico herself has never placed the
war which she has waged upon the ground
that our army occupied the Intermediate ter
Iitory between the Neuces and the Rio
Grandc. Her refuled pretcntion that Texas
was not in fact an independent State, but
rebellious province, was obstlnate!y perse.
vered in; and her avowed purpose in COM
mencing a war with the Uniled States was
to re-conquer Texas, and TO restore Mex
lean authority over the whole territory
not to the Neuces only, but TO the Sabine
In view of the proclaimed menaces of Mex
leo to this effect, deemed it my duty, as a
measure Of precaution and defence, to Or.
der our army to occupy position on our
frontier as military post, from which our
troops could best resist and repel any at
tempted invasion, which Mexico might
make"
OF the immediate causes which lead 10
hostilities, the message says
"On the fourth of April
(le45) General Paroles, through his min.
lister of war, issued orders TO the Mexican
general in command on the Texan frontier
to attack" our army "by every means
which war permits" To this General Pa
redes. had been pledged 10 the army and
people of Mexico during the military reyo-
luton which had brought him into power.
On the eighteenth OF April, 1886; General
Paroles addressed letter to the comman-
der on that frontier, in which he state to
him sat the present date suppose you at
the head Of that valant,army, either fighting
already, or preparing for The operations OF
a campaign" and surprising you already
on the theatre OF operations, and with all
the forces assembled, il is indispensable that
hostilitles be commenced, yourself taking
The initiative against the enemy"
The movement Of our army TO the Rio
Grande was made by the commanding gen.
eral under positive orders to abstain from
all aggressive acts towards Mexico, or Mex
lean citizens, and 10 regard The relations
Mexico should declare war, or commit acts
of hostility indicative Of state ofwar and
these orders he faithfully executed. Whilst
occupying his position on the east bank OF
the RIO Grande. within the limits Of Texas,
then recently admitted as one OF the States
Of our Union, the commanding general Of
the Mexican forces, who, in pursuance Of
the orders of his government, had collected
a large army on the opposite shore Of the
Rio Grande, crossed the river, invaded our
territory, and commenced hoslilities by at
lacking our forces.
Thus, after all the injuries which we had
received and borne from Mexico, and after
ste had insuItingly rejected minister sent
to her on mission Of peace, and whom she
had solemniy agreed to receive. she consnm-
mated her long course Of outrage against our
country by commencing an offensive war
aud shedding the blood of our citizens on
our own SOIL"
Olihe efforts ofour government 10 "avoid
the war" the message says:
"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 tenth Of Marcn.
l645, in answer to that Of the Mexican