The Somerset herald and farmers' and mechanics' register. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 183?-1852, 1846-12-22
TUEsDAz, DECEMBER 22, 1896,

eighteenth Of December, 1915, copies OF
both OF which accompanied my message
to Congress Of the eleventh of May last
were received at the Department OF
State.
These communications rendered it
highly probable, if not absolutely certain.
that cur minister would not be received
by the government Of General Herrera.
Ii was also well known that bui little hope
could be entertIined of a different result
from General Paredcs. in case eethe revo-
l%utionarv movement which he was prose-
cutting should prove successful, as was
highly probable. The partisans Of Par
edes, as our minister in the despatch re-
ferred to states, breathed the ~firecsst hos
tllity against the United States, deaoun-
ced the proposed negotiations as treason,
and openly called upon the troops and the
people TO pat down the government of
Herrera by force. The ~reconquess Of
Texas, and war with the United States,
were openly threatened. These were
the circumstances existing when it was
deemed proper to order the army under
the command of Ganerai Taylor TO adj
vance TO the western frontier of Texas,
and occupy a position on or near the Rio
Grande.
The apprehenslons Of contemplated
Mexican invasion have been since fully
justified by the event. The determina-
lion OF Mexico 10 rush into Iiosiiiities
with the United States was afterwards
manifested from the whole tenor Of The
note of the Mexican Minister Of Foreign
Affairs TO oar minister, bearing date on
the l2ih OF March, 1916. Paroles had
then re~yo!utionizeJ the government & his
minister, after referring 10 the resolution
for the annexation Of Texas, which had
been adopted ny our Congress in March,
1915, proceeds 10 declare that ga fact
such as this, or, TO speak with greater ex-
artaesS, so notable an act Of usurpafion,
created an imperious necessity that Mex
leo, for her own honor, should repel it
with proper Grmness and dignity. The
Supreme Government beforehand de-
eiared that it would lock upon such an
act as a ca,3Hus deHi; and, as a ccnse-
quence OF this declaration, negotiation
was, by lis very nature, at an end, and
was the only recourse Of the Mexican
government.
1t appears, also, that or The fth Ct A.
prii following Gen. Paredes, through the
minister of war, issued orders to the Mex
lean general IL command Of the Texan
frontier to "attackn our army by every
means which war permits" To this
Gen. Paredes had been pledged 10 the
army and people Of Mexico during the
military revolution which had brought
him into power.
Or The eighteenth Of April. 1916, Cen
eraI Paroles addressed u Letter 10 the
commander on that frontier, in which he
stated to him " at the present date | sup
pose you at the head Of that yalian. ar
my, either fighting already, or preparing
for the operations OF a campaign :" and
surprising Won already OH the theare of
operations, and with al the forces as
sembled. il is indispensable that hostiii-
ties be commenced. yourself taking the
initiative against the enemy"
The movement of the enemy TO the
Rio Grande was made by the command
ing general under positive orders to alb
STAIN from all aggressive acts towards
Mexico, or Mexican citizens, and 10 re-
gard the relations between the Two coun-
tries as peaceful, unless Mexico should
declare wrr or commit ac:s OF hostility
indicative of q state of war; and these or
ders he faithfully executed. Whilst oc-
cupying his position on the east bank of
the Rio Gsande, within the limits OF
Texas. then %recentlv admitted as one of
the States Of our Union, the command
ing general of the Mexican forces, who,
in pursuance of the orders of his govern
meat, had collected a large army on the
opposite shore of the Rio Grande, cross
ell the river. invaded our territory, aud
commenced hostiiities by attacking our
forces.
Tins after oil the injuries which we
had received and borne from Mexico. and
and after she had insultingIy rejected a
minister sent TO her on a mission of peace
and whom she had solemrly agreed TO
receive, she consummated her long curse
of outrage against our country by COM
mencing an offensive war and shedding
The blood of our citizens on our own
soil.
The United States never attempted TO
acquireTexas by conquest. On the con
lrary, at an early period after the people
of Texas had achieved their independence
they sought to he annexed 10 the United
States. AT u general election i'll Septem-
Der, 1886. they decided with great una
nimiiv in favor of "~annexation;' aud in
November following. the Congress of the
republic authorized the appointment Of a
minister. to bear their request,o this gov
ernmppf