Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1847-06-23
March 10 the Rio Graudc.

upon by the annexation OF Texas the United States
the President is entitled commentator for ordering
Gen Taylor TO take possession OF -allhough It must be
obvious that, the obligation admitted the Ad-
mn.traon would not be exempt from censure for per-
hitting large n portion of the territory of the United
States be- held by the Mexcans from the Spring of lsl5
when the act OF annexation consummaed until Jan
usry 1886, when the order General Taylor to move to
the Rio Grande given II the territory belongs 10 the
United States, in virtue Of the OF annex aon GeacrA
Taylor ought to have taken position the Rio Grande At
once, instead OF the Ncuces and doubtless II the for
mer river instead OF the latter had really been regard
ed as the ptsteiR JrORtier Of Tezos" the order to
proceed thither would have been delayed until the
winter OF ls46, the Merieans meanwhile holding quiet
possession OF territory, having armed forces Ia some
the towns. and house, with retnuo OF officers
at Point Isabel! IL it be alleged thci sfore that Mr. Polk
did than his duty in taking armed possession of
this territory in January 1876, is obvious that he was
grossly derec IN It's performance for several months pc
youy, while Gen. Taylor remained Corpus Christi =
From this dilemma it us there is no escape
But very obvious that the defenders of the Admin.
isuaIion by satisfied that the rssponsiblfv
the order given Gen Taylor in January 1876 shall
attach the President Notwithstanding they our
cear and unqucshonabe title to the territory between the
Neuccs aud the Rio Gande quite boldly as they formerly
did right to 81 10 in Oregon, and Notwithstanding
title be clear and objectionable the duty Of the Pre-
sdent occupy less imperative than tina,
which hc performed, u directing the Army OF Occupation
TO take post the Neuces for the pHpoe Of protecting
"ihe frontier OF Texas" aud which ate as De-
cember. ls45 he informed Congress had been efficiently
executed by stanoning army the Neuces Efforts
made transfer this responsibility from the shout
ders OF the Administration TO those Of Gen TAYLOR (which
supposed broad and strong enough to bear any
thnR because, gravey alleged he recommended
Tho Rio all.
nothing be more untrue, easily disproved.
The National lntcigencer by mastery analysis Of the
correspondence between the War Department and Gen
Taylor has cectualy rsuted this attempt make the lat
ter responsible Tor act, which, It It right ITSELF
and If the champions OF the Administration felt no msgiv-
in regard its wisdom and poptety would be rather
cited evidence Of the sagscy OF Mr. Polk than aii-
bued his commanding officer Of whom b. this cour.e
Of argument Mr.. Polk made the pGppei nstesd Of
the superior!
Extracts from Gen Tayor's official letters to the Wa,
Department, from August 20, lSi5 until the 9TH OF Janua
~ lsl6, hc order hrs march the Rio Graude bearing
date Washington the l3h day Of the latter month";
show that throughout that whole period there had
tho sllghes, demonstration OF hostility the part OF the
Mexican oops-indeed, he uniformly represents, the
result OF constant enquiries and OF information obtained
from the reliable sources that far from any reason
existing aPprehend any attack from the Mexican orees
the inhabitants the Rio Grande peaceaby disposed
and anxious for treaty with the United States So late
as the 9Th OF January only days before i dale, of the
order to advance the Rio Grande Gen Taylor writes
"A Of volunteers from san Antonio struck
the river Preside Rio Grande and he commander reports
erery thing quiet in that quarter" Indeed on the 4h OF
February, he says, have every believe tat the
people residing the well disposed towards our
Government"
After Gen Taylor in pursuance Of the order from the
War Department. took up HE line OF march, the whole scene
underwent sudden change and the contents Of his dee
paehes consequently different aspect lie was oc-
cHsOnaly by armed bands Mexican who proclaim
ed a the advance woud be considered an act Of host.
y" aud that troops would, sin that case be treated a.
enemies" " The first occasion IN which the McHicaps
showed themselves IN attitude decidedly hostile we are
told by Gen Taylor the 18Th oil March, when he
had reached the Aroyo Colorado ryer against his right
which the Adutlnt General Of the Mexican army m
the OF his nation protested an act OF aggression
(sueh Mr. Benton his celebrated speech on the Ty,
treaty, said tOOHidbe And these manifestations Of bo
uly, for the first time exhibited continued until the
commenced by the bombaGdment Of Fort Brown and
the battle OF Palo Alto.
IL manifest that the march TO the Rio Grande yhebe,
wise unwlse. proper improper is tho true origin l
tho We supEized, therefore, seeing the crave
questions which from the acknowledgements of This
fact, at the Willingness OF the Administration 10 transfer
all the credit Of the from itself 10 Gen TayIo-
by attempt 60 show that The order To make the move
ment was given IN pursuance Of the advice Of Gen Taylor
himself But let us look the facts which We condep.e
from the National lnteleeneers lucid exposition.
Gen Taylor ordered, on the 18th Of June I-i5 Ia
advance to point convenient Tor on ombaTkaiion NJ M
proper time TO the pssteTH frontier Of Texas Gen Dom
nelson, Minister Texas, had stated that 'ibe mos,
western point occupied by TeIas' was Corpu7 Cb,i.ti
To that point Gen Taylor proceeded and there he 70
manned until the order Of the 18th Of January 1876 reach
ed him. While he Corpus Christi intnatons were
frequently given to him that the RIO DEL Nore was the
point OF his ultimate destination, our Government ella ming
tina, the boundary between Texas and
Mexico; but po'.tius Instructions were given 10 him 10
advance nder these repeated declarations 10 him thar the
Executive the Rio Crsndc the western bound,
Of Texas and that that be his "ulis1afe d,sfi1a
ton" Cen Taylor tho letter Of the ih Of Octobe,
Is45 which, according tho organs Of the Adminsirn
ton contains The adpiee recommendation, TO which
treo months afterwards, Mr. Polk alleged 70 have con-
formed his seton Let whether this letter. taken in
connection with the documents 10 which refen h. fairly
susceptible Of the given it, reads a. fol-
lows
HEApQuARTEEs AMY oF OccrrATtoN.
Corpus Christi, TsJas, Oct 4, is4J.
siaIbeg leave 90 suggest combinations boz relation
present posouO of our ofcc and the
mas bccomo necessary Tor The cfoctual prosecution
81 he object Tor which has been concentrated It will
b. rscouecrd hai As iafirueiioHs Of June o. a.ued
by Mr. Bbnc,ol, then acting Secretary II Wnr difsef,d
fs"sslecf and occuyV nsrT me RIO GTapde such
will with the health Of the uYlps aud W