The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-02-27
REPORT OF THE
COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS,
OF THE HOUSE OF REPRE- sENTATIvns
M EXC AN w AR.

referred respectfully report h.reupon
That while in country so Tree as oars diversity Of
sentiment must prevail every topic OF national
Germ, especially one SO exciting as and is like bra
cling ais of sauary influence yet the large preponde
OF votes, approaching to unanimy 10 Congress-
declaring war with Mexico the corresponding unan.
nifty win which all required supplies for have been
granted by CongIe and the almost equally unanimous
popular zeal for wsgng and sharing its operations
all doubt the national resolution to prosecute
as originally declared vigorously to the only end ojust
war, speedy ans honorable peace.
Complaints Of the resort to territorial conquest from
Mexico dIsarmed Of reproach by the undeabe facts
that Mexico by conssns the United States to take
by conquest what since Mexican Independence,
American administration has been striving to get
by purchase; and that the Executive orders md mill
tary AID naval execution Of thsm for the achievement
of conquests have concerned merely to long esab
lishsd policy of our own government but wise Prin
cples of sefpreseryaon indispensable to all provdent
government
The has been constant OF success, with
ceasing solicitation of peace without iurther hos
lasting and your committee cheeIfully leave tito
the judgment OF oil considerable persons One imputa
United Sa,es involving the country with him in lega
ty and aggression your committee think proper briefly
10 refute that which charges the President with pro-
ducing or beginning the by orders to the army in
Texas to pass the Mexican boundaries.
Mexico never made boundary question. The issue
she took was Texas the boundary
AS 8nneAaiion was resolved by Congress, the
Mexican minister here Amonte demanded bis pas sports
having previously removed from Washington while that
qusstoa was even considered, and went Indignantly
home to make Encouraged by the erroneous
on of many of our respectable citizens that annexation
of Texas would be war with Mexico, anc by the then
threatened between the United States and Eng
land, which was reckoned Mexican reliance. Mexico
oponly prepared Tor wars openly declared and began
President Folks minister Of peace Mr. Slidel.
eced not any plea OF boundary but because Texas
waG not altogether relinquisned. Mexican troops were
sent 10 the Texan frontier, who crossed the boundary
river Grande and attacked the American forces this
side OF the river stationed at Corpus Christi the
side Of the Nueces at the instance Of Texas, Tor
protection from INVASION the American commander.
without orders from the President would have had
but to let the Mexican assailant choose the
place, time and manner Of invasion; by advancing
the northern part OF the State he orde red
q occupy and protect make proper selection Of tho
ground on which 10 defend it
II was General Taylor's duty a soldier without
orders and the Presidents right commanderichief
10 order General Taylor repe invasion
in progress subdue Texas IT, by remaining inactive
Corpus Christi he had allowed overpoweriDg force
10 subdue him there Mexican design or leav
ing him Idle there to penetrate further north the
heart OF Texas the general and President would have
ties inaI to by hostile occupation of territory,
instead Of successful by our frustrating the hostile Next
Mexican general to be understood that he would
remain west of the Colorado creek-a small stream
between the Neuces and the Grande-f troops would
remain east of that stream, your committee after Inquiry,
learn to be groundless ii any such communication was
au horsed, It mere Mexican contrivance to lull
commander into false security at Corpus Christi till
Mexican troops could be assembled strong enough to
and attack him there, the Mexican design;
for Corpus Christi, the west side Of the Nueces,
ns much Mexican soil any other part OF the territory
OF that river, and General rayiors encampmen at
first an invasion OF Mexico he ever Invaded Mexico
at ais
The unsuthentic and irresponsible intmation Of that
received
bsr $780, just when Mr. Blacks advices arrived OF the
Willingness OF Herreras government to receive minis
General Tsylor's army being kept Corpus Christi till
dings were received OF MIR Sdelis rejection Herreras
overthrow, and Paredess Presidency on the proclaimed
determination retake Texas by force from the United
States General Tayor's orders TO march from corpus
Christi did not leave Washington till the 18th Of January,
1896 did he march till more than two months after
wards, and then to station his troops wherever he
thought best protecting Texas from Mexican INVASION
without any order from the President to the precise
OF the Nueces from the first moment Of his entry into
Texas, General Taylor planted his standard on the
Grande, opposite to Ma,amoras, his military
selection the most eligible station for defending Texas
No part OF the ground between the Nueces and the
Grande ever was Mexican soil Louisiana, by all an.
Gent acknowledged and unquestonasle boundaries, ex
provioce at ali tines ill in $500 by Spain to
France, and in 1903 by France to the United states In
the western limit the Grandeas veil known as that
the Sabine was the eastern limit In 1874, when Mexi.
Independence was established, the boundaries OF
Tex as renamed the same. In 1895, when Santa Anna
oied in his attempt to subiugate Texas and Texas
constrained to conquer independence, its western
boundary tho Granie as always heretofore. No
time occasion be mentioned when Mex lean east
limit the Nueces Accordingly, all the act
csjs and proceedings Of the republic Of Texas treat the
Grande the soutnw ssern boundary. Numerous evi
dences of this have been made known which your
committee will not recapiuate, but superadd some
more yet generally known. The local lard
office al San Antonio the chief place OF the county OF
Bexar regularly issued grants Of land located beyond
the Nuecss and to the Grande The present respect.
able Chief justice Of Texas on his circuit several years
ago in that county charged the grand Jury to present all
inhabitants beyond the Nueces, far as the urande
Texan citizens for any offences they might be guilty Of
grant of land to an English subject named Beals,
bounded expressly by the Grande became the subject
of official Correspondence between the Texan and Bri
fish tho latter recognising that river as The
Texan boundary The custom house az Corpus Christi,
the ives! side OF the Nueces. source Of consi
deraole ievenue 20 the Texan government. That ga
vernmsnt at considerable expense kept up body Of
troops to range that region and prevent Indian depreda
tons there In short all the public acts OF Texas, and
all their public tons predcated their right to the
Grande would be the haunt and hiding place of saw.
ages, smugglers, maraudors, and robbers If the Rio
rsnde not the boundary, and the settlements east
Of it, throughout that Wilderness under Texan jursdc.
ton. NO Mexicans have ever been there but TEN
porary invaders General Wools proclamation at Mier
the 10th June l944 is official proof that the Mexican
government acknow lodged the Grande its eastern
limit Finally, when Mexico, under British and French
influence offered foxls independence on condition that
she should not herself to the United States Mexico
herself the Grande as the boundary while
the attempted condition was null and void NOR is there
any contrary Mexican assertion to be found OF any time
from the date Of Mr. Poinsets declaration to Mr. Aleman,
10 the city OF Mexico 29th September 1875 that he
d not intend to Yield one square inch of ound cas-, of
the Crande us American ground Ia 1909. For the six
teen years from 1908 1919 that river was the uuds
puted sonthwesern boundary Of the United States.
From 1919 to 1897 1t was spanish. From February 1921
when the Mexican revolution broke cut till 1885 Il was
Mexican by mere title but, from till now Texan
by right and occupation cultivation and Jurisdiction
Not single foothold by actual possession mad Mexico
ever there except by Texan occupants.
In this brief summary Of proofs that tho territory be.
yond tue Nueces, and between that the Oh ane
not Mexican ground, your committee have prefer.
mlfted all acts and assertions OF the United states that
ehe3t Looking original French and Spanish tile 10
independent Texan jursdction to Englisn gnton
and faaly Mexican Acknowledgements, 1t cannot be per.
ceived how President Folk couli withhold tho order
General Taylor to advance iron Corpus Christi further
north into Texas order to repe approaching Invasion
chief magistrate whose duty IL to execute law
wonid have been culpsby remss f he had tailed to do
co. NOT only az bound by the law OF this country but by
every consideration Of military foresight and geog
81 knowledge. Texas, State Of this Union, called on