Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1846-12-17


OF operations and with all the forces assembled, it
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 general under posi-
tive orders to abstain from all aggressive acts to-
wards Mexico, or Mexican citizens, and to regard
the relations between the two countries as peace
ful, unless Mexico should declare war, or commit
acts of bosltes indicative of state of war and
these orders he faithfully executed Whilst occu-
plying his position on the east bank of the Rio
Grande, within tho 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 large army on the opposite shore of the
Rio Granle crossed the river invaded our territory,
and commenced hostes by attacking our forces |
Thus, after all the injuries which we had receiv- |
ed and borne from Mexico, and after she had in |
sultngly rejected minister sent to her on q mis-.
sion OF peace, and whom she had solemnly agreed |
to receive, she consummated her long course of
outrage against our country by commencing an of. |
fensive war and shedding the blood Of our citizens
on our own soil.
The United States never attempted to acquire |
Texas by conquest. On the contrary. at an early |
period after the people of Texas had achieved their
independence, they sought to be annexed to the I
United States. At general election in Septem- !
Der, 1876, they decided with great unanimty in IA
vor OF annexation J" and in November following, |
the Congress of the republic authorized the APP
pontment of minister, to bear their request to this
government. This government however, having
remained neutral between Texas and Mexico dur !
ing the war between Them and considering it due
to the honor of our country, and our fair fame
among the nations of the earth that we should not
at this early period consent to aunexation nor I'M
I'll 1t should be manifest to the whole world that the
reconquest Of Texas by Mexico was impossible
refused to accede to The overtures made by Texas
On the 18th of April, 1914, and after IN IRE than
lqI oil cip r., IA
ed her independence, treaty was concluded for
the annexation Of that republic to the United
States, which rejected by The Senate Fiuallv
the first Of March, 1915, Congress passed iont
resolution Tor annexing her to the United States
upon certain preliminary conditions to which her
assent was required. The solemnites which char.
acterized the deliberations and conduct OF the gov
eminent and people of Texas, on the deeply utter
esting questions presented by these resolutions are
known to the world. The Congress, the Executive
and tue people Of Texas, in convention elected
for that purpose, accepted, with great unanlmity
the proposed terms Of annexation, and thus con.
sumnated on her part the great act Of restoring to
our federal Union vast territory which had been
coded to Spain, by the Florida treaty, more than
quarter of a century before.
Airer the JOLT resolution for the annexation of
Texas to the United States had been passed bv our
Congress the Mexican minister at Washington adj
dressed note to the Secretary of State, bearing
dati on the sixth Of March, lS45, protesting against
it as san act Of aggression, the most unjust which
can be found recorded in the annals OF modern his
tory, namely, that of despoiling friendly nation
like Mexico, OF q consderablcyportIon of her terri
tory" and protesting against the resolution Of an
nexatlon as being an act" whereby the province of
Texas, an integral portion of the Mexican territory
is agreed and admitted into the american Union y
and he announced that, as a consequence, his mis-.
sion to the United States had terminated, and de
manded his passports, which were granted. 1t was
upon the absurd pretcXt made by Mexico (herself
indebted for her independence to a successful rev.
olutIoH) that the Republic OF Texas sill continued
TO be, Notwithstanding all that had passed, pro.
vince of Mexico that this step was taken by the
Mexican minister.
Every honorable effort has been used by me to
avoid the 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
March, 1915, in answer to that of the Mexican
minister. Whilst declining to reopen discussion
which lad already been exhausted, and proving a.
gain what was known to the whole world, that Tex
as had long since achieved her independence, the
Secretary Of State expressed the regret Of this gov
eminent that Mexico should have taken offence at
the resolution of annexation passed by Congress-
and gave assurance that our "most strenuous eff
forts shall be devoted to the amicable adjustment
of every cause of complaint between the two gov.
ernments and to the cultivation of the kmdest and
most friendly relations between the sister republics"
That have acted in the spirit of this assurance
will appear from the events which have since oc-
cured. Notwithstanding Mexico had abruptly
Terminated all diplomatic intercourse with the U nj
ted States, and ought therefore, TO have been the
first to ask for its resumption yet, waving all
emony embraced the earliest favorable 'opporlu-
nifty 10 ascertain from the Mexican government
whether they would receive envoy from the Uni-
ted States, intrusted with full power to adjust all
the questions in dispute between the two govern
ments." In September, 1915, believed the pro-
,pitious moment for such overture had arrived
TEXAS, by the enthusiastic ard almost unanimous
will OF her people, had pronounced in favor Of
nexatlon. Mexico herself had agreed to acknow-
edge the independence of Texas, subject 20 Il con-
diton, ii is true, which she had no right to impose
and no power to enforce. The last lingering hope
of Mexico, if she still could have retained any
that Texas would ever again become Of her
provinces, must have been abandoned.
The consul OF the United States at the city Of
Mexico was, therefore, Instructed by the Secreta-
ry OF State on the fifteenth OF september, 1915, 10
make the inquiry of the Mexican governmcnt.-
The inquiry was made, and on the fifteenth of Oc-
tober, lo45, the Minister Of Foreign Affairs of the
Mexican government, IN note addressed TO our
consul, gave favorable response, requesting, at
the same time, that our naval force might be with
drawn from Vera'Cru while negotiations should
be pending. Upon the receipt OF this note, our ma
val force was prompt ! Withdrawn from Vera Cruz.
A minister immediately appointed and depsr-
ted to Mexico. Every thing bore promising as
poet for speedy and peaceful adjustment OF all our
difficulties. Al the date OF my annual message to
Congress, in December last, nc doubt was enter
tanned but that he would be received by the Next
can government, and the hope was cherished that
all cause of misunderstanding between the two
countries would be speedily removed. In the con-
fdent hope that such would be the result Of his
mission, informed Congress that | forbore at tina
time to recommend such Interior measures of re
dress for the wrongs and injuries we had so lone
borne, as 1t would have been proper TO make hat
no such negotiation been instituted" To my sur
prise and regret the Mexican government, though
soemniy pledged to do so upon the arrival of on