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


Of delivery at Corpus Christi, situated west of the
Nueces, and being the same point at which the
Texas custom house, under the laws of the repub-
lie had been located, and directed that surveyor
to collect the revenue should be appointed at that
port by the President by and with the advice and
consent of the Senate. A surveyor was accord
ingly nominated, and confirmed by the Senate, and
has been ever since in the performance of his du-
ties All these acts of the republic of Texas, and
Of our Congress, preceded the orders for the adj
advance of our army to the east bank Of the Rio
Grande. Subsequently, Congress passed an act
establishing certain post routes" extending west
of the Nueces. The country west Of that river
now constitutes part Of one Of the Congressional
districts of Texas, and is represented in the House
Of Representatives. The Senators from that State
were chosen by the Legislature in which the coun-
try west of that river was represented In view of
these facts, it is difficult to conceive upon what
ground it canb maintained, that in occupying the
country west of the Nueces with our army, with
view solely to its security and Defence we invaded
the territory of Mexico. But it would have been
still more difficult to justify the Executive whose
duty it is to see that the laws be faithfully execut
ed if in the face of all these proceedings, both of
the Congress of Texas and of the United States,
he had assumed the responsibility Of yielding up
the territory west of the Nueces to Mexico, or of
refusing to protect and defend this Territory and
its inhabitants, including Corpus Christi as well as
the remainder of Texas, against the threatened
Mexican invasion.
But Mexico herself has never placed the war
which she has waged, upon the ground that our ar
my occupied the Intermediate territory between
the Neuces and the Rio Grande. Her refuted pre-
tension that Texas was not in fact an independent
state, but a rebellious province, was obstnately
persevered IN and her avowed purpose In commen-
cling war with the United States was to recon-
quer Texas not to the Neuces only, but to the Sa-
bne. In view of the proclaimed menaces of Mex
leo TO that effect, deemed it my duty, as meas
ure of precauton and defence, to order our army
to occupy position on frontier, a military
post, from which troops could best resist and
repel any attempted invasion which Mexico might
make.
Our army had occupied a position at Corpus
Christi weet of the Neuces, early as August,
I845, without complaint from any quarter. Had
the Neuces been regarded as the true western
, boundary Of Texas, that boundary had been passed
by our army many months before 1t advanced to
the eastern bank of the Rio Grande. In my annu-
al message OF December last informed Congress
that upon the invitation of both the Congress and
Convention of Texas, | had deemed itproper to or
der a strong squadron TO the coasts OF Mexico, ana
to concentrate an efficient military force on the
western frontier of Texas, to protect and defend
} the inhabitants against the menaced invasion oil
: Mexico. In that message informed Congress that
the moment the terms of annexation offered by the
United States were accepted by Texas the latter
became so far part of our own country as to make
it our duty to afford such protection and defence;
, and that for that purpose our squadron had been
ordered to the Gulf and our army to take posi-
, ton between the Neuces and the Del Norte," or
Rio Grande and " TO repel any Invasion OF the
, Texan territory which might be attempted by the
) Mexican forces"
1t was deemed proper to issue this order, because,
e soon after the President of Texas, in April, 1885,
had issued his proclamation converting the Con-
gress of that Republic, for the purpose or submit
ting 10 that body the terms of annexation proposed
y by the United States, the government of Mexico
made serious threats of invading the Texan TERRI
= tory.
These threats became more imposing as it be.
came more apparent in the progress Of the question:
d that the people of Texas would decide IN favor Of
= accepting the terms of annexation; and finally,
h they had assumed such formidable character, as
J, induced both the Congress and Convention of Tex
II as to request that a military force should be sent
by the United States into her territory for the pur
It pose of protecting and defending her against the
threatened invasion. 1t would have been viola
: ton of good faith towards the people Of Texas
o have refused to afford the aid which they desired
n against threatened invasion to which they had
l. been exposed by their free determination to annex
i themselves to our Union, in compliance with the
n overture made to them by the Joint resolution OF
e our Congress.
Is Accordingly portion Of the army ordered
1f to advance into Texas Corpus Christi the
n position selected by General Taylor He encamp-
1t ed at that place in August 1915, and the army re-
N NAMED in that position until the llth OF March
y 1876, when 1t moved westward and on the 2Stf
1t of that month"; reached the east bank of the Ric
f. Grande, opposite to Matamoras. This movemen,
or was made, in pursuance of orders from the Wal
Is Department, issued on the 18th Of January 1876
lie Before these orders issued, the despatch Of
er our Minister IN Mexico, transmitting the decision
y of the Council of Government of Mexico, advising
C. That he should not be received, and also the des
IS patch Of consul residing in the city of Mexico
8 the former bearing date on the seventeenth, ant
le the latter the eighteenth of December, 1915
lie copies of both of which accompanied my message
lie to Congress of the eleventh of May ast-were re-
he ceived at the Department of State. These com
lie municatons rendered it highly probable If not alb
IS solutey certain that our minister would not be
I'd ceiyed by the government Of General Herrera. II
in was also well known that but little hope could be
of entertained of different result from General Par
IL edes in the revolutionary movement which he
lie was prosecuting should prove successful, as was
highly probable. The partizans OF Paredes, as ou
he minister, in the despatch referred to, states breath
ry ed the ercest hostility against the United States
he denounced the proposed negotiation treason,
of openly called upon the troops and the people pu
IN down the government Of Herrera by force. The
IA reconquest of Texas and war with the United
he States were openly threatened. These were tn,
6, circumstances existing, when 1t was deemed prop
n er to order the army under the command of Gener
he al Taylor to advance to the western frontier o
er Texas, and occupy position on or near the Ri
of Grande.
lie The apprehensions Of contemplated Mexican
,e invasion have been since fully justified by the e
I'd vent The determination of Mexico to rush int
he hostiliies with the United States, afterward
of manifested from the whole tenor of the note of thu
IN Mexican Minister of Foreign Affairs TO our minis
On ter, bearing date ON the 18th Of March, 1886 Par
ed edes had then revolutlonized the Government ant
his minister after referring to the resolution for The
81 ,s,ffn h,,h had bpnn A1nntpI
is our Congress in March ls45, proceeds declare
ne that fact such as this or to speak with greater
H. exactness SO notable act of usurpaton created
ID an imperlous necessity that Mexico, for her owr
st honor should repel with proper 6rmness and dig
I'd nifty. The Supreme Government had beforehand
IL. .I.,hn =.