The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1846-08-11

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provision he made for sustaining our military
force. and furnishing 1t with supplies and mu
ntons of war
| The most energetic and prompt measures. and
4" the immediate appearance in arms Of large
"and overpowering force recommended To
4" Congress Us the must certain and efficient
Z" means of bringing the existing collision with
Mexico to speedy and successful termina-
" ton.
"In making these recommendations deem
lit proper to declare that it is my anxious
desire not only To terminate hOstlities speedily,
" hut to bring all matters in dispute between this
Government and Mexico To an early and ami
"cabe adjustment, and in this view shall he
| " prepared To renew negotiations whenever Mex
leo shall be ready TO receive propositions, To
g make propositions of her own.
| transmit herewith copy Of the correspnn
" dence between onr Envoy To Mexicu, and The
Mexican Minister for Foreign Affairs, and so
- much OF the correspondence between the Envoy
and the Secretary of State, and between the
Secretary OF War, and the General in mand
con the Del Nur,e, as are necessary TO full
" understanding of the snhJec,''
(Signed) JAMES X. POLK.
And why did General Taylor hesitate SD long
to comply with the discretionary power given him
to call fur Volunteers? Mi having the benefir
OF General Taylor's testimony upon this point,
will take leave here to express, what have often
that the peculiar character of the delicate trust
confided To General Taylor rendered il probable
that he 'could not see--because he could not see
precisely The proper time to call far Volunteers,
until The actual commencement Of hosfiiities.
He could not feel disposed tn incur the censure of
calling out 5000, or 10000 Volunteers. at an ex
pense of some millions of dollars. without being
previously assured that war would he s,on com
menced He was always ready and willing 10
meet the first shuck of war with whatever force
the Government might see fit to place under his
command There are, apprehend, sumo few party
Presses. and party Men who would not he disposed
to act upnn the principle that he york of prepare.
lion for the defence of the frontier should always
take place. before the ,cork Of destruction ol,ai
have begun--or may have heen completed. These
| votaries of Parties tactics might assa the WISDOM
or question the chivalry of an Officer. who would
not be satisfied to 90 any phere with whatever
f"rce his Government might fit to place under
him. That was an error under which labored
until after | had arrived al the age of General
| Taylor. But have since been convinced Of the
proprlety of an Officer charged with any enter
prize heing furnished with ample means for its &C
complishment; and, in case like that of General
Taylor, being required, at all times to have an
Army fully equal to the estimated numerical
forces opposed tn him, such urces il is pruba
bile may speedily be concentrated upon the threat
ened frontier.
on hearing of the outbreak Of The war, and the
critical situation Of General Taylur's Army in the
beginning of May, 1916, the patriotic and talented
Governors of Louisiana, Kentucky Missouri and
Alabama, and the chivalric Legislature Of Louis
ana, cordially co-operated with me in doing every
thing which fervent patriutism military mind and
high moral courage could accomplish, under the
adverse circumstances of the busy season of plant
ing, not only to comply with General Tayors
Reqnsiton, but to make assurance doubly sure by
anticipating the regular acquisitions confidently
expected from the Department of war to hasten
on to the seat Of war to enable General Taylor to
put down all opposition and not only TO conquer
The Army by which he was surrounded under the
able Mexican General Arisa hut also to meet and
heat the rumoured forces Fastening TO the Rio
Grande, under the immediate command of the new
President of Mexico, estimated at fifteen thousand
men.
Great numbers of the enterprsing young men of
the interior Constituting fair representation of
the military talent and chivary of fourteen States
OF the West and Souih.) estimated at from forty
thousand to sixty Thousand of the bruue and the
free, are generally 10 be found in the city of New
Orleans at all times between the middle of Novem
Der and the first of Apnl-but after this last men
toned period, most Of Them being engaged in agr-
culture and occasional tTade-probaby from eight
to nine tenths of The whole number usually return
to their homes by the 10Th of April. Had the war
that twenty thousand Oft these superior Volunteers
could have been obtained in the course of 4S hours
AS II was, however, most of these gallant rough
ana ready young men, including thousands who
soon fler returned prepared for action, had en-
parked on board The hundreds Of magnificent
steamer that had departed from the city in March
and the first week of April And nutwithsand-
ing the great exerlions of all the state and city
authorities, with the most respectable citizens of
all professions, and 0f all political parties, it was
found that during the first week or ten DAYS of
May, but two small Batalions had been enrolled
and made ready for service. Among these were
many OF the most talented men of Louisiana
Members OF The Legislature, and other respectable
Citizens, such had commanded Divisions Brio
AIDES, and Regiments. 1t was under these adverse
circumstances. while reports were daily arriving
from various parts of Mexico and Texas repre-.
sentIng Tie movement of at least fifteen thousand
brave Mexican troops TO Matamuras, that invited
The Governors of the great and patriotic States OF
Kentucky and Tennessee, Missouri, Alabama,
and MIsSlssppi-not indeed 10 order out or draft
any part OF the Militia of their respective States
(asl am sure might have done with perfect pro
Prley 1t not under positive orders to the contrary
but to anticipate regular call which | was cnn.
WINGED they would speedily receive from the De.
partment Of War, for furce more than equal to
that which had deemed it to he my duty to in.
uue into the u. ). Service, for the immediate
succour of General Taylor's Army.
IL was upon the same principle that invited
The gallant Judge Lafayette Sanders. with other
respectable citizens Of Louisiana and Mississippi
TO raise Regiments Of Mounted Gu, Men
with this formidable description Of force judge
Sanders had served with much distinction. when
youth. as Tennessee volunteer, agairs, the
British and their Red Allies in the Creek Nation
and in the defence Of New Orleans, under Jack
son, in 1914 and 1915 1t was obvious to me. and
had no doubt but it would be equally obvious to
the Military advisers Of the President rrnm ihe