The Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1834-184?, 1846-12-14

lean General in command on the Texan
frontier to s'attack our army by every
means which war permits To this Gen.
Paroles had been pledged to the army and
people OF Mexico during the revolution that
had brought him into power. On the 18th
of April. 1916, Gen. Paroles addressed
letter to the commander on that frontier, in
which he stated to him sat the present date
[ suppose you at the head Of that valiant
army, either fighting already, or preparing
for a campaign: and supposing you already
on the theatre of operations and with all the
forces assembled, it is indispensable that
hostllities be commenced, yourself taking
the initiative, against the enemy"
The movement of our army on the Rio
Grande was made by the commanding gen.
eral under positive orders to abstain from
all aggressive acts towards Mexico, or Mex
lean citizens, and 10 regard relations be-
tween the two countries as peaceful, unless
Mexico should declare war, or commit acts
of hostility Indicative ola state of war; and
these orders he faithfully executed. Whilst
occupying the east bank of the Rio Grande
within the 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 orders of his
government, had collected large army on
the opposite shore of the Rio Grande, cross
ed the river, invaded our territory, and
commenced hostilities by attacking our for
ces.
Thus, after all the injuries which we had
received and borne from Mexico, after she
had insutingIy rejected a minister sent to
her on a mission of peace. and whom she
had sOlemny agreed to receive. she consul
mated her long course of outrages against
our country, by commencing an ofencive
war, and shedding the blood of our citizens
on our own soil.
The U. s. 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 United States.
At general election in September 1886,
they decided with great unanimity, in fa-
vor of ''annexation, ;" and in November fol-
lowing, the Congress of the republic au-
thorlzed the appointment Of a minister to
bear their request to this government. The
government. however, having remained
neutral between Texas and Mexico during
the war between them, and considering it
due 10 the honor Of our country, and our
fair fame among tho nations Of The earth
that we should not at this early period, con-
sent to annexation, nor until it should be
manifoet 10 the whole world that the con-
quest of Texas by Mexico was impossible,
refuse to acceed to the overtures made by
Texas. On the 18th of April, 1914, and
after more than seven years had elapsed
since Texas had established her indepen-
| dence, a treaty was concluded for the an
nexation of that republic to the United
States, which was rejected by the Senate.
Finally, on the first Of March 1S45. Con-
gross passed joint resolution for annexing
her to the U. States upon certain prelimi.
nary conditions, to which her assent was
required. The solemnities, which char
acterzed the deliberations and conduct OF
the government and people of Texas, on
interesting questions presented by these
resolutions are known to the world. The
Congress, the Executive and the People oil
Texas. in convention elected for that pur.
pose accepted, with great unanimity, the
proposed terms of annexation: and thus
consummated, on her part, tho great act Of
restoring TO our Federal Union a vast terri.
tory; which had been cedeG to Spain by
the Florida treaty more than quarter of q
century before.
After the joint resolution for the annex.
alton of Texas to the United States had
been passed by our Congress, the Mexican
minister at Washington addressed a note
to the Secretary of State, bearing date on
the 9th of March 1915, protesting agains
it as an act of aggression, the most unjust
which can be found recorded in the annals
Of modern history; namely: that of despoil
ing a friendly nation, like Mexico, Of con
, siderable portion of her territory" and pro-
testing against the resolution of annexation
) as being an act, "whereby the province o.
Texas, an integral portion of the Mexican
, territory, is agreed and admitted into the
r American Union;" and he announced tina
: as consequence, his mission to the u. S
/ had terminated, and demanded his passport.
which were granted. 1t was upon the alb
: surd pretext, made by Mexico, herself in
debted for her independence 10 n successful
5 revolution that the republic of Texas still
continued to be, Notwithstanding all tina
had passed, a province of Mexico that this
step was taken by the Mexican ministry.
Every honorable effort has been used By
! me to avoid the war which followed, but al
: have proved vain. All our attempts to pre-
serve peace have been me: by insult and re
> sistance on the part of Mexico. My effort
t to this end commenced in the note to thu
r Secretary of State of the tenth ofMarcI
e 1915, in answer to that of the Mexican
: minister. Whilst designing to reopen