Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-03-05
INTERESTING; REPORT.

"
The grea, int OF attack upon which Inc
Wings rely TO break down The Administrator IS
The reputed wrong OF the President in ordering
General Taylor 10 advance from Corpus Chris''
TO The Rio Grandc Too much light cannot be
shed upon this subject, and we therefore repuplish
the following brief but comprehensive and con-
elusive yindicaion OF the President reported 10
the House by Mr.. C. J. Ingersoll, from the Com
mil,ee on Foreign Affairs. The Wings have de-
nounced the movement OF Gen. Taylor in taking
a position opposite Malamoras, and erecting ms
batteries in sight of the town, as an insulting acs
Of defiance 10 Mexico, which she could not orook'
II appears from this report that the selection oil
military position was left entirely to The discre-
ton Of Gen. Taylor. We approve OF his Juds-
menl, but The Wings, in assailing the Admins
lra,ion for erecting fort opposite MatamoTas,
really attack Gen. Taylor himself, who selected
the position
yBe Committee an Foreign Affairs, 10 rhom he
p,ss,dent's ,var message Of the 1871 instant mas
been in part referred, respectfully report fAerelpon:
That while in a country so free as ours, diver
s;,v ri sentiment mus prevail on every topic OF
national concern, especially one 50 exciting as
war and is like bracing airs Of saluIary influence,
vel the large preponderance oil votes, approaching
10 unauimity, in Congress, declaring war WIN
Mexico. The corresponding unanimiy win which
all REQUIRED supplies for il have been granted by
CONGRESS. and the almost equally unanimous
nonnIar zeal for waging and sharing lis opera
iions remove all doubt OF The national resolution
10 prosecute il as originally declared, vigorously,
10 The only end Of just war, a speedy and honor
able peace.
Complaints OF the resort 10 territorial conquest
from Mexico are disarmed OF reproach by the
undeniable iacls that Mexico, by war, consTains
the United States 10 take By conquest what, ever
since Mexican independence, every American
administration has been striving 10 gel BY pur-
chase, and that the Executive orders and mill
lary and naval execution oil Them, for The achieve
ment OF conquest, have conformed not merely 10
the long established policy Of our own govern
menl, but wise principles OF seli-preservalion in
dispensable 10 all provident government.
The war has been one constant career VI sue
cess with never-ccasing solicitation OF peace
without further hostility, if Mexico will accept
peace on fair, generous and lasting terms, ard
your commillee cheerlully leave il 10 the Jndg
menl Of all considerale persons. One impua-
lion cast among ourselves, upon the Executive
of The United States, involving the country with
him in ilIegalliiy and aggression, your committee
think proper briefly 10 r.iue; that which charges
The Presiden, with producing or beginning The
war By orders 10 the army in Texas TO pass Next
can boundaries.
Mexico never made boundary question. The
issue she took was The annexation vi Texas, not
the boundary As soon as annexation was re-
solved by Congress, the Mexican Minister here
(Almone) demanded his passports, having pre-
viousIy removed from Washington while that
question was even considered, and went indig-
mainly home 10 make war Encouraged BY The
erroneous assertion OF many OF our respectable
citizens that the annexation ot Texas would be
war with Mexico, and BY the then threatened
rupture between the United States and England,
which was reckoned Mexican reliance, Mexico
openly prepared Tor war-openly declared and
began il, Presidents Folks minister OF peace,
Mr.. Slidell, was rejected; not on any plea Of
boundary, but because Texas was no, altogether
relinquished. Mex can troops we're sent 10 The
Texan Frontier who crossed The boundary river
Grande, and attacked TIE American forces on
this side vi that liver. Stationed al Corpus
Christi on the WeSi side OF the Nueces, Al The IN
stance Of Texas, Tor its protection from INVASION,
the American commander, wilhou. order: from
III, President, would have had no alternative bu
10 let his Mexican assailant choose the place
lime and manner OF invasion; or by advancing
into the more Northern part oil the Stale he was
ordered TO occupy and protect, make proper Sc
lection Of the ground on which to defend H.
Il was General Taylors duty as a soldier,
without ordela, and the Presidents right as COM
mander.in chief 10 order General Taylor, 10 repel
The threatened invasion in progress 10 suhduc
Texas. II, by remaining inactive al CORPUS
Chlis.i, he had allowed an ovcrpowering force t.
subduc him there, as was the Mexican design, or
leaving him idle there, TO penetrate further north
into The heart OF Texas, the general and President
would have been Justly condemned for the COM
mencement OF hostiiles fatal 10 US BY hostile
occupation OF our territory, instead Of successful
by our frustrating the hostile Mexican attempt
An inlimation in Congress lately thai The Mexi-
can general gave il 10 be understood That he
would remain west OF the Colorado creek-a
>mal s,rea IN between The Nueces and the Grande
If our troops would remain ems, oil that stream
your committee, after inquiry learn 10 be ground
less. Ii any such communication was author
lied, il was a mere Mexican conlrivance 10 lull
our commander into false security al Corpus
Christi till Mexican troops could be assembled
strong enough 10 cross and attack him there, a.
was The Mexican design; for Corpus Christi, on
the Wesl of The Nueces. was as much Mexican
soil as any other part Of the territory west OF thai
river, and General Taylors encampment al FIST
was an invasion oi Mexico, il he ever invaded
Mexico al all.
The unaurhen,ic and irresponsible n,imalion
OF that overture was received al Washington on
the 9Th oi November, 1915, Just when MIR. Blacks
advices arrived Of The willingness o. Hctrera's
Government 10 receive a minister, and Mr.. Sill
dell was lhereupon forthwith despatched, Gen'l
Tayof's army being kept al Corpus Christi ill
lidings were received Of Mr.. Sllde!Fs rejection,
Herreras overthrow, and Paroles Presidency, on
the proclaimed determination 10 retake Texas by
force from the United States. General Taylor's
orders 10 arch from Corpus Christi did no!
leave Washington ill The l3h Of January, 1916;
nor did he march ill n:ofe Than Two months al
forwards. and then 10 station his troops wherever
he thought best Tor protecting Texas from Mexi-
can invasion wttou, ann order from e President as
10 tie precise place rh.re hc 10 0tion his forcss
Always west OF the Nueces from the first m 'men,
OF his entry into Texas General Taylor planted
his standard on The Grandc, opposite 10 Maiamo.
ras. as his own military selection OF the most clisi
bic station Tor defending Texas.
No palt OF the ground between tie Nueces and
the Grande ever was Mexican soil Louisiana,
rs all ancient, acknowledged, and nnquesionabe
boundaries extended Ia he Grandr Such Was
the boundary OF that province a, all times, ill
transferred in 1900, BY Spain, 10 France, and in
1903 by France 10 The United Stale. In 1919,
when The United States transferred Texas 10
Spain The western limit was The Grande-as well
known as thai the Sabine was The eastern limit
In 1924, when Mexican independence was es
;ablishcd. the boundaries Of Texas remained The
same In 1885, when Santa Anna was ioiIcd iii
his attempt 10 suhjusaic Texas and Texas was
constrained to conquer independence, us west
ern boundary was The Grande, as always there.
,olore. No time or occasion can be mentioned
when the Mexican eastern limit was the Nueces.
Accordingly, all The acts, records, and proceed
ings of he Republic Of Texas treat The Grande
a. its southwestern boundary. Numerous EVIL
dences Of this have been made known which your
will M, rccapilulae, Int superada
some more not vel generally known, The local
land office a, San Antonio The Chief place al The
comfy OF Besar, regularly is>ned grants Of land
located beyond lBe Nueces, and 10 the Grande.
ILL., x.a.on. III - ,n.;en 81 Iaras IN hir cirnn;t