Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1847-12-09
Mr.. CIay's Speech and ResoIutiOns.--Thel
march Offhe A merican 4 rnlY 10 the Rio

march Ofthe American Army TO the Rio
Graide the cause Of ihe War.
We have carefully examined the synopsis of this
speech and resOlutions-his message from the GREAT
EMBODIMENT "in relation the author and of
the present with Mexico''-and which, for some
time, has engaged the socitous attention Of the pub
lc as intended to be the platform of the opposition in
the approaching Congress
II is most remarkable how sgnally and invariably
all those persons who have attempted place their
own country in the wrong in the present war with
Mexico, have been confronted aud rcbuked by known
facts, officially recorded directly the reverse of and
destructive TO, the entire premises upon which their
arguments are based. As was to be expected, Mr..
Clay arraigns Mr. Polk the author of this war, and
ascrbes its origin the order Of the President for the
American army 20 march upon the Rio Bravo. We
propose to confront these charges and statements of
Mr.. Clay with the Official facts communicated time
and again to Congress and the country, and which
Mr. Clay ought to have understood
Mr.. Clay says this of the "It created
by the act of Mr. Polk ratified it is true by the act of
Congress-, who ''voed tOhtgs and all, for what they
keew to be false" cit created" says Mr.. Clay,
"n consequence of the order Of the President to Gen.
Taylor to march upon the Rio Bravo to point oppo-
site Matamofas."
How does he prove these bold misunderstanding
the President as the cause of the war; and Congress-
wings and democrats, with noting lie! As fol-
lows
TO MatamOras to take possession OF the disputed bound
airy, Mr.. Sidel his way the city of Mexico, TO
into negotiation for the settlement of the dispute
Why not have waited until Mr. Sldells mission had been
fulfilled
Strange to tell there is not the semblance of truth
in the statement here made, the following plain and
indisputable statement communicated to Congress in
the annual message of the President of December,
1916, will show:
"AccordngIy portion of the army was ordered ad
.-eo Chrs Inn
lected by Gen. Taylor He encamped at that place in
August 1885, and the army remained in that position
I'll the Ith of March, 1916, when it moved westward
and the 18th OF that month reached the east bank oil
the Rio CT ande opposite to Matamoras This movement
was made pursuance Of orders from the War Depart
ment issued on the 18th of January, 1916. Before these
orders issued the despatch of our minister in Mex
CO. transmitting the decision of the Council of Govern
ment of Mexico advising that he shoud not be received
and also the despatch of consul residing the city of
Mexco-the former bearing date the seventeenth, and
the latter the eighteenth of December lS45 copies Of
both of which accompanied my message to Congress of
the eleventh Of May last-were received at the Depart
ment of State. These communications rendered II high
ly probable If absolutely certain, that minister
would not be received BY General Herrera. Ii also
we'll known but little hope could be entertained Of
different result from General Paredes in the revolu
tonary which he prosecuting should prove
successful highly probable The partlsans OF Pa
redes minister IN the despatch referred to- sates
breathed the ercest hostility against the United States,
denounced the proposed negotiation reason and open
government of Herrera by force The reconquest of Tex
as and with the United States openly threat
ened. These the circumstances existing when il
deemed proper to order the army under the command
of General Taylor 10 advance to the western frontier
Of Texas, and occupy position on or near the Rio
Grande.'
These facts had been previously communicated to
Congress in the message of llth of May, 1S46, &C.
comDanied by the despatch of minister to Mexico
(Mr SlidelD transmitting the decision of TIE COun-
Of of 1dr hat he
not be received and also the despatch Of consul
siding in the city of Merico,'' of the purpor
Yet we are gravely told, that sat the very time
our army was ordered to march to Matamoras to take
possession of the disputed boundary, Mr. Sdell lra.
on has pGy the city of Mexico to enter into nego
tiation for the settlement of the dispute"
Upon such palpable and shameful perversiOn oil
ignorance of facts upon which Congress is 10 be con
victed of voting lie, and the President held up a;
the author and of the war, comment seems TO b
unnecessary.
In point of fact, as we have before shown, tn,
march of our army to the Rio Grande-though pro
per in ITSELF and imperiousy called for by the infor
nation received of the decision and purpose of Mexi
co-had nothing to do with, and was In nowise tn
cause Of, the subsequent invasion by the Mexican
across the Rio Grande This is fully shown by tn
following extract from the same message TO Congress
of December, 1915:
oThe apprehensions of contemplated Mexican inva
sion have been fully justified by the event Tn
determination of Mexico rush into hOstites with tn
United States afterwards manifested from the who'll
of the Of the Mexican Minister OF Foreign Al
fairs minister, bearing date the twelfth of March
1886 Paredes had then voutionlZed the government
and his minister alter referring 10 the resolution for tn
annexation Of Texas, which had been adopted by on
Congress in March, 1545, proceeds declare that fac
such ths speak with greater exacness, noia
bic an of usurpatioD, created imperous necess
that Mexico for her honor, should epel with pre-
per rmness and dignity. The supreme government ha
beforehand declared that would look upon such
as a cGSus LeLh; and, consequence OF this declaration
negotiation was, by its very nature, at an end, and wa
the only recourse of the Mexican government.
1t thus appears that the army moved from their pc
stion at Corpus Christi on the 11th of March. 1S4t
and only reached the bank of the Rio Grande tn
18th of March, On the 18th of March, 1916, but on
day after our army had moved from Corpus Christ
the Mexican Minister of Foreign Affairs announce
to our minister "that the supreme government ha
beforehand declared that it would look upon such a
act (annexation) cGSus beLi; and, a cons'
quence negotiation was by Its very nature, at an emf
and war was the only of the Mexican govern
ment
1t was in consequence of this determination Of tn
supreme government of Mexico and the orders thereu
on issued to the commanders of her army, that ih;
army crossed the Rio Grande, and shed the blood {
American citizens upon American soil: and it was
consequence Of these facts communicated to Congress
that that body, with singular unanimity, declared Thu
war existed by the act Of Mexico herself. And "
here is Mr.. Clay, the great champion of his part
representing the march of our troops as the cause
tile attack of the Mexlcans, and of course the cau
of the war; when several days before the march
our troops was known at Mexico, the Mexican COVER
nent had declared that war was their only recourse
The orders for the Mexican army to march and GRO
the Rio Grande were issued before the advance OF Of