Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1846-05-14
protecting force. OF the Government.

AA NNhhNs0
,o,h,rs occurred TO in tu-e this movement.
Among these are IN. facilities Afforded BY the
ports OF Braxps Santiago ana the mouth oil the
bel Norte for the reception ut supplies by sea,
the stronger and more healthy positions. the
convenience for obtaining a ready and more
abundant supply OF provisions, as water, fuel
and forage. and the advantages which are at
forlei By the Del Noric in forwarding sup
plies TO such posts as may Be established IN
ihcinictior and upon the Indian frontier.
fhe movement; OF troops TO Del Nor;e was
made by the commanding General, under pos
itive Instructions 10 abstain from all sgSres
,ive pets towards Mexico or Mexican citizens.
AMI to regard the relations between tina, Re-
public and the United States as peaceful, un-
less she should declare war or commit nets OF
hostility indicative ot a state OF war. lie was
especially directed 20 protect private property
and inspect personal rights.
The Army moved from Corpus Christi on
the llth OF March, and on the 2Sth of that
month arrived sn the left bank Of the Del
Not,e, opposite TO Maiamoras. where i; en-
campei OH a commanding position. which has
since been Strengthened By the erection of
field works. Adepoi has also been establish
cd a, Point Isabel. near the Btszos Santisgo.
30 miles in the rear of the %encompmcni. The
sci ,c,ion oi his position was necessarily con-
fued TO the judgement OF the General in ON
mand.
The Mexican forces a; Maxtnoras assumed
a bclli serent attitude on the 18th OF April
Gen. Ampudia, then IN command, notified
General Taylor 10 break up his camp within
~ hours, and TO retire beyond the Neucesriv-
or. and in the event Of hir failurs 10 comply
with these demands announced thai arms bnd
erns alone mus, decide The question. But
no open act OF hostility was committed until
| ,h. 9Th Anil n, - L.. g 49,
who had succeeded TO the command OF the
Mexican forces, communicated TO Genera
Taylor. that he considered hostilities com
menced, and should prosecute them. A par
~ OF dragons oil 60 men and ofhserswere on
the same day despatched from the American
camp, up the Rio del Noite' on It's left bank,
10 ascertain whether the Mexican troops. aud
after a shor,aifrsy in which some l6 were kill
ed and wounded. appear TO have been sur
rounded end compelled 10 surrender. The
eriesous wrongs perpetrated by Mexico upon
OH citizens throughout u long period OF years
remain unredressed; aud solemn treaties,
pledsing her public faith FOR this redress have
been disregaIded. A government either un-
ab'e or unwilling, TO iorce the execution OF
such treaties. fails TO perform one OF It's plain
est duties.
Our with Mexico has been al
most annihilated. IL was formerly highly
Beneficial TO both nations; but our merchants
have been deferred from prosecuting il By the
system oil outrage and ex,or,ion which the
Mexican authorities have pursued against
them; whilst their sppeals through their own
government for Indemnity have been made in
vain. Our iorbearance has gone TO such an
extreme as 10 be mistaken IN It's Character
Had we acted with vigor in repclling the in
suits aud rcdressing the injuries inflicted by
Mexico at the commencement, we should
doubtless have escaped all the difficulties in
which we are now involved.
Instead Of this, however, we have been ex-
eriing our best efforts TO propitiatc her good
will, upon The pretext that Texas, a nation as
independent as herself, thought proper TO u
mite Its destlnles with our own, she has af.
fected to believe that we have severed hvI
nghtiul territory. aud in official proclamation
and IN mlniiestos, has repeatedly threatened
TO make war upon usfor the purpose Of recon.
querng Texas. In the meantime we have
tried every effort al reconciliation. The cur
OF forbearance had been exhausted, even be.
lore the recent information from the frontier
OF the Del Nor'e. But now alter reiterated
menaces, Mexico has passed the boundary OF
the United States. has invaded our t~erriIoTy
and shed American blood upon the Americas
soil. She has proclaimed that hostiliiies have
commenced. and that the two nations orr
now at war. As war exists. and notwiih.
standing Efforts TO avoid il, exists by the &C,
! OF Mexico herself. we arc called upon by eve
~ consideration OF duty and patriotism 10 vim.
dicate with decision the honor, the rights and
) the Interests OF our country.
Anticipating a possibility of crisis like
that which has arrived, instructions were Civ,
en- in August last. as a precautionary measure
against invasion or threatened invasion, au
thorzing Gen Taylor, II the emergency re
quired, 10 except volunteers not from Texas
only, but from the States OF Louisiana, Ala.
bama, Mississippi, Tennessee and Kentucky
Aud corresponding letters were addressed tc
the respective Governors of those States
These Instructions wen repseted, and in Jan,
uary last, soon after the incorporation Of Tex.
? as into our Union Of States, Gen. TAYLOR wa,
further authorized by the President to make a
, requisition upon the Executive of that State
: Tor such OF its militia force as may BE- needed
! 10 repel invasion, or To secure the country a,
, gainst apprehended invasion.
' On the second day OF March he was again
reminded IN the event OF the approach OF any
y considerable Mexican force, promptly and eli.
hciently 10 use the authority with which he
4 was Clothed, to call TO him such auxiliary
force as he might need. War actually exist.
o ing. and our territory having been invaded
> Gen. Taylor, pursuant TO authority invested
IN him, by my directions. has called on the
GoYeTaor OF Texas for 4 regiments Of STATE
. troops, two TO be counted aud two 10 serve
> on foot; and on the Governor Of Louisiana for
! regiments Of infantry, to be sent to him as
: soon as practicable.
! In further viudication OF our rights, and the
defence OF our territory. | invoke the prompt
action oil Congress, 10 recognize the existence
OF The war, and 10 place at the disposition oi
the Executive the means OF prosecuting the
war with vigor, and thus hasten the TestoTa'
ton OF peace. To this end recommend tina,
, authority should b. given to call lnto the pub.
lie service a large body OF volunteers, TO serve
for not less than sir or twelve months. unles.
sooner discharged.
, a volunteer force, is, beyond question. more
efficient lhan any other descdpiion al citizen