The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1846-05-23

Ano diHJ mUFCu i'ouh WI pueOu III lSNi
on the llth Of March, and on the 2Sth
II that month arrived on the left bank
# the Del Norte, opposite toMatsmoras,
where it encsmped on commanding po
IsI,ion, which has since been strengthen
ed by the erection of field work "a depot
has also been established al Point Isabel
near the Brszos Santiago, thirty miles
ia rear Of the sncampment. The selec
tim Of his position was necessarily con
hdsd TO the judgmen, Of the general in
command.
The Mexican forces q, Matamorss as.
sumsd beligerent attitude, and on the
18th of .4priI, General .Anpudis then in
command, notified Gen. Taylor 10 break
up his camp within twenty four hours,
ard TO retire beyond the Nsuces river
and in the event OF his failure to com
lpIy with these demands, announced thai
arms, and arms alone, must decide the
question. But no opeu scl of hostility
was committed until the Gath of April.
On that day, Gen. Arista, who had sue
ceeded 10 the command Of ths Mexican
forces communicated 10 Gen. Tsy lor
hs, 'he considered hostlities had com
mencsd and should prosecute them A
party of dragons Of sixty three met
and officers were on the same day des
patched from lhe American camp up the
Rio delNor,e, ,on ls left bank, ssCerta n
whether the Mexican troops had cross
ed, or were preparing TO cross The riv-
er, became engaged with large hody
Of these troops, and after short affair,
in which some sixteen were killed and
Eonaasa d 'dpPeFfa e NtSYs 70 RsssH sur
The grievous wrongs perPe'raled by
Mexico upon our citizens throughout
ong period Of years, remain unredress
d.; and solemn treaties, pledging her
Jublic faith for this redress; have been
Iisrsgarded. II government, either
unable or unwilling to enforce the exc,
culion of such treaties, fails 10 perform
one OF its plainest duties.
Our commerce with Mexico has been
almost annihiated. 1t was formerly
nlgbly beneficial 10 both nStion; bu
our merchants hsvs been deferred from
prosecuting it by the system OF ou'rsgt
and exlorllon which the Mexican an
lhorilies have pursued against them =
whilst their appeals through their own
government for indemnity have been
made in vain. Our forbsarance has
gone TO such an extreme as TO be mIsla-
ken in it's character. Had wa scIeo
with vigor in repslliug the insults and
redressiug ths injuries inflicted by yMex-
co at the commencement, we should
doubtless have escaped oil the difficult
lies 10 which we ere now Involved.
Instead of this however, we nave
bssn exertlng our beN efforts to proplli'
ate her good will. Upon the pre'ex'
that Texas, a nations as independent as
herself, though proper to unite It's deSll'
nies with our own, she was Affected to
believe that we have severed her right"
luI territory, and in official procl'manon'
and manifestos, has repeatedly threaten
Cd 10 make war upon US for the pur-
pose Of reconqusring Texas.-lo 'hs
Emesn time, we have tried every ehor'
bat reconciliation. the cup Of for bear
lance had been exhausted, even before
Tho recent informslion from The frontle'
lof The Del Norte. BIT now, after rell
srs,sd usnsees, Mey,ce has passed th'
boundary OF the emit, States, has 'nV'
Ided our territory, and shed .7merIca'
blood upon .Amercsn soil. She hH
1lproclsimed that hoslillIet have com
menced, and that the two nations ar
now al war.
As war exists, and Notwithstanding a
our efforts 10 avoid it, exists by the az
d Of Mexico herself, we are called uPo