Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1846-12-16


prove successful, as was highly probable.
The partisans of Paredes, as our minister
in the despatch referred to states, breathed
the fiercest hostility against the United
States; denounced the proposed negotia-
ton as treason, and openly called upon
the troops and the people to put down the
government of Herrera by force. The re-
conquest of Texas, and war with the Uni
ted States were openly threatened. These
were the circunmstaces existing, when it
when it was deemed proper to order the
army under the command Of Gen. Taylor
to advance to the western frontier Of Tex
as, and occupy position on or near the
Rio Grande.
The approximations Of contemplated
Mexican invasion have been since fully
justified by the event. The determination
Of Mexico 10 rush into hostilities with the
United States was afterwards manifested
from the whole tenor of the note of the
Mexican Minister of Foreign Affairs to our
minister, bearing date on the l2th of
March, ls46. Parades had then revolu-
tionized the government, and his minister,
after referring to the resolution for the an
nexation of Texas, which had been adopt
ed by our Congress in March, 1s45, pro-
ceeds to declare that ga fact such as this
| or 10 speak with greater exactness, so no
table an act of usurpation, created an i'm
porous necessity that Mexico, for her own
honor, should repel it with proper frmness
and dignity. The Supreme Government
had beforehand declared that it would look
upon such an act as casus belH; and, as
a consequence Of this declaration, negotia-
ton was, by its very nature, at an END,
and war was the only recourse Of the Mex
lean government ....
l. appears, also, that on the 4th of April
following, Gen. Parades, through his min
, lister Of war, issued orders TO the Mexican
, General in command on the Texan from
| tier to "attack" our army ''bv every means
which wal permits" Tc this Gen. Pare
l des had been pledged to the army and peo-
I pie of Mexico during the military revolu-
tions which had brought HIN into power
On the 18th of April, 1846, General Par
! edes addressed letter TO the commander
on that frontier, in which he stated to him,
sat the present date l suppose you at the
head IF that valiant army, either fighting
t already, or preparing for the operations
of campaign" and 'supposing you al
{ ready on the theatre Operations and with
oil the forces assembled, it is indispensable
that hostilities be commenced, yourself ia
king the initiative against the enemy.
The movement Of the army to the Rio
Grande, was made by tho commanding
General under positive orders to abstain
from all aggressive acts towards Mexico,
or Mexican citizens, and to regard the re-
lations between the two countries as peace
full, unless Mexico should declare war, or
commit acts of hostility indicative Of state
of war; and these orders he faithfully ex-
ecuted. 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 o f our Union, the COM
mandmg General of The Mexican forces,
who in. pursuance of the orders of his 60
vernment, had collected large army on
the opposite shore of the Rio Grande,
crossed the river, invaded our territory, and
commenced hostilties by attacking our
forces.
Thus after all the injuries we had re-
ceived and borne from Mexico, and after
she had lnsultingly rejected a minister sent
10 her on mission Of peace. and whom
she had solemnly agreed to receive. she
consumated her long course of outrage o.
galnst our country by commencing an Of
fensive war, and shedding the blood of our
citizens on our own soil. ...-
The United States meyer attempted to
acquire Texas by conquest On the con-
trary, at an early period after the people
Of Texas had achieved their independence
they desired TO be annexed 10 the United
States. At n general election in Septem-
ber, 1886, they decided with great unami-
ty in favor of '!annexation," and in No
vember following, the Congress Of the re-
public authorised the appointment Of u min
lister, 10 bear their request to this govern
ment. This Government, however, having
remained neutral between Texas and Mex
leo during the war between them, and con-
sidering it due 10 the honor of our country
and our fair fame among the nations of the
earth, that we should not al this e9rly pc.
riod, consent to annexation, nor until it
should be manifest 10 the whole world that
the reconquest Of Texas by Mexico was
impossible, refused to accede to the over
lures madasby Texas. On the I1th of A.
i pril, 1914, and after more than seven years
had elapsed since Texas had established
her independence, q treaty was concluded
for the annexation Of that republic to the
j United States, which was rejected by the
4 Senate.
Finally, on the first Of March, 1645,
i Congress passed join. resolution for an
nexing her 10 the United States, upon cer-
4 tain preliminary conditions to which her
assent was required. The solemnities
i which characterized the deliberations and
4 conduct Of the government and people Of
II Texas. on the deeply interesting questions
4 presented by these resolutions are known