Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1846-06-04
Wan D,pARrMrNr, July 8, 1s45.

Oeen, III tne actual occupancy " HcF UOOpS' inCoi-
ryng out the instructions heretofore received, you
oiH be careful 10 dvoid any acts Of aggression I'M
less an actual state Of iCdr should eriSt. The Mex
lean forces at the posts in their possession, and
which have been so, ,CW mol be disturbed as long
as The relations of peace dei,Oeen The United States
and .HericO continue.
Brig. Gen. Il. TAYLOR.
On the Both OF the same month, without any
change Of relations between the two governments,
the following instructions were given by the Sec
rotary of War to Gen. Taylor:
"While avoiding as you have been instructed
to do, all aggressive measures towards MEXICO, as
long the relations Of peace exist between mat
republic and the United States you are expected
to occupy protect and defend the territory OF Tex
as, to the extent that it has been occupied by the
people of Texas. The Rio Grande is claimed to
be the boundary between the two countries, and up
TO this boundary you are to extend your protection,
only excepting any posts on the eastern SIDE thereof,
wIich are IN The actual occupancy Of Hricdn 5or-
ceS, .Nericdn Settlements Chich The republic Of
1erds did mol exercise jurisdiction at The period OF
annexation, shortly before that erent 1t is ex-
pected that in fixing the establishments Tor your
troops you will approach as near the boundary line
the Rio Grande-as prudence will dictate"
Aug. 80, Gen. Taylor is ordered to treat the as
sembling of large Mexican army, and the cross
J ing Of the Rio Grande by it, as commencement
Of hostilities, and in that was authorized TO
call for reinforcements. This was a singular oder
how was it an evidence of hostility for Mexico TO
march large army wheye she had towns and settle
ments to defend, any more than was The occupa-
ton of tha same territory by Gen. Taylor? 1t
seems to us that Polk was anxious for war-anxious
to get upp retexs; for on the Both of August, Gen..
Taylor was ordered to treat any attempt of con.
siderable Mexican force to cross the Rio Grande as
the commencement of hostilities. In that case he
was authorized to cross on TO the Mexican side,
and defeat their troops and take Matamoras or 9th
or Mexican towns.
Jan. 10, 1876, Gen. Tay lor was ordered to ad-
vance TO the Rio Grande and take position oppo-
site Matamoras, or Mier, or at Lorcdo-,his being
while the correspondence with Mexico was going
on for opening negotiations, and more than Two
months before Paroles had decided not TO receive
Mr.. Slidcll. In this order, Cen Taylor was in
formed that Mexico would probably contest
his right to navigate the river and he was told not
to enforce this right without further orders
March 8, the U. S. troops commenced their march
from Corpus Christi to Matamoras.
March 81, the army reached the Arroyo Colorado
river, and there found Mexican force on the OPP
poste bank, which warned Gen. Taylor that his
crossing would be considered an act of hostility ::
he however made strong disposition of his forces
and crossed without shot being fixed
March 25 when near Point Isabel, Gen. Taylor
received formal protest from the project of the
northern district of Tamaupas against his occu-
patton of the country. The Mexicans also quilted
Point Isabel, setting fire to the town and the fire
was extinguished by our troops.
March 2s, Gen. Taylor reached the camp oppo-
site Matamoras fiom that time works of defence
went on rapidly both sides of the river, by the
MeXicans and our own troops. On the same day,
an interview was had between the American Gen
erel Worth and Gen. Vega, in which the latter said
that the marching of our troops through part Of
Mexico considered an aggressive act. Gen..
Worth replied, that our Government did not think
so and that at all events the armies had nothing to
do with the question-it belonged to the Govern
ments. Gen. Worth demanded TO see the Ameri-
Can Consul at Matamoras, which YVES refused: he
then deecIard that this was considered bellig-
erent act on the part of Mexico, and that the pas
sage of Mexican troops across the Rio Grande
would also be considered hostile, and be resisted
by Gen. Taylor.
April 10, Gen. Ampudia summoned Gen. Tay-
lor to withdraw from his camp or the territory Of
Tampaulpas within twenty four hours and retire to
the river Neuces; If not the war would be con-
sidered to be commenced.
April 90, Ampudia complained that some vessels
consigned TO the Spanish and British consus, and
bound TO Mexican ports, had been stopped. Gen.
Taylor replied that this followed from War as a
matter Of course.
April 26, Gen. Arista reached Metamoras, and
on the same day the Mexicans crossed the Rio
Grande and the affair with the Dragons took place,
the news of which was followed by the immediate
passage of the war bill by Congress.
Such is the sum of the military correspondence,
and we are free to say that in no way alters the
complexion Of the case, aside from the fact that
the first actual use of force came from Mexico
The east bank of the Rio Grande with parts con-
tiguous was occupied by Mexico: Corpus Christi
with few other points on the southwest bank of
the Neuces was occupied by Texas, now in the
United States. Why should the intermediate ter
ritory have been interfered with at ALL unless the
administration was DESTROYS of war; At any rate,
why might not the u, S. wait for Mexico to take
the intiatoy step to war, without provoking her 10
it by the occupation of the territory of Tamauli-
pas? We can conceive of no good excuse. Gen.
Taylor might have taken Corpus Christi as his
point for operations and from thence defended
Texas with even greater ease than from the pres
ent camp: Corpus Christi is accessible by the ma.
Wy, and more easily reached by troops and provis-
ions from the United States. This was his camp
till the 9Th of March, and it was time enough for
him to leave it when he learned that Mexico would
advance from the Rio Grande. With GO miles
between the two parties, we apprehend it would
have been very long before the Mexcans would
dare to come within reach of Gen. Taylor's guns