Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-04-06
THE ENQUIRER.
RICH OND. Va.
Monday Morning, April 5. ls47.
"HARD PUSHED p

sire 10 cast censure upon General Taylor for
avowng his opinion in favor OF the policy
OF The march OF The army - the Rio Grande.
We do mol seek 10 ward of the response
blli'y OF that act from the administration
|, was movemen, fully justified by the facts,
and The President would have been Justly liable
IN impeachment had he not sent the army TO de-
tend our felow-citizens Of Texas, threatened with
invasion By The "insoenl foe" We do not be-.
lieve that The war was produced by that move
meni but by The acts of Mexico herself. The
real cause oi The war must he traced 10 circun.
stances utterly Eds pendent of The march Of Gen.
Taylor. We shall rapidly refer 10 lew Of Them;
The withdrawal OF the Mexican minister, AL
monte, from The city of Washington upon the con-
summation otthe &C! OF annexation, declaring il 10
be tbe unjust spolaon Of the territory OF neigh
boring republic the refusal OF the government
oil Herrera 10 receive our minister Of peace, Mr..
SlideI, after having consented 10 do So from fear OF
A popular revolution under Paroles, on account Of
hsI FIerrerasl alleged lreachery in ceding away
the territory of Texas-lhe accession OF Paroles
to the Presidency, avowedly upon The ground of
mar against The United States and Tie 7econguea
Of 7cras-his rejection Of our Minister on the
l2ih March, lsi6, declaring that The annexation
Of Texas was "cause oil war;" that "nesotiaiiop
ras cndcd, and WAR auas he only recourse Of the
Merriam GouernmenL"-his order on the 4lh Of
April following, before the march OF our army 10
the Rio Grande could be possibly known in The
city Of Mexico, 10 "aliacli our army "by every
means which a0ar permits" and, finally, by his
ieller OF The l6 h Of The same month TO The COM
mardins General on the Northern frontier, d.
rectng him that it is indispensable that hoslili
ties be commenced yourself taking The inutat,Ds
against The enemy" We refer, moreover to the
triumphant FACT that the claim of Mexico never
stopped Al The Nueees, bu, nothing short OF the re-
conquest NJ Teas to The SABINE, her Eastern buun-
jafy, was the opcH and arored obect. From
these striking facts, as powerfully presented by
Howell Cobb, Esq, in an eloquent speech al
recent war meeting in Athens, (Ga.,) We
arrive al the Irresistible conclusion, in which
the american people will unite, that before Next
CO was aware Of The march OF General Taylor
10 the Rio Grandc she had resolved upon war,
i
march, then, had not the slightest influence in
precipiraling The collision, which must have &C.
cured AT all events. We mol only, therefore, fol-
| ~ vindicste the movement but contend lha, every
consideration Of duty and national honor de-
manded il al The hands of The President.
Thoroughly satisfied as We are Of the pro-
priely OF the march 10 The Rio Grante we
4
ough, not TO condemn The act, because General
Taylor, for whom they profess such high admit
ration, clearly approved Of the policy pursued.
We !e-publish The following exrac, from Gene
raj 1'ayoT's letter to The Secretary Of War, on
the 4th October, 1915, which he Wing looks
upon as in no wise sustaining our position. As
ills matter Of construction, we are willing 10
leave il 10 our readers 10 Judge between US:
81 have reason 10 bcive, moreover, Ina. sa-
lnia.y moral effect has been exercised upon The
Mexieans. Their traders are continually carry |
s asi q sgs sa a& and dis
cipned troops, accompanied by perfect security |
10 their persons and property, instead OF the inn
pressment and pillage TO which they are subject |
in heir own country. For these reasons, our po-
si,pn thus far has think. been The hest possihci
PTlfTS NUN ",
ed, IL mau neil b. question raetdcT nc uaeos Of
Government iriR be best carried cut 6y our remain
ing NJ tbs point
All is with great Difference that | make any sug-
ees,ions on topics which may become matter OF
delicate negotiations but if our government, in
setting The question of boundary makes the line
ot the Rio Grande an uilimaium, cannot doue,
iiatt he setti:ment ,rW be greatly Facilitated ana
tascncd yor tak,ng possession al o"cs Of one or
A, ftTf-
strength and stale n preparation M0id 0s diSpiay
cd in a manner nett be mistaken. However SAL
utary may be The efsc, produced upon the border
people by our presence here, 1re arc 100 jar rom
Me frontier 10 impress the Government OF We1leo
with our readiness 10 yindica,e, by force OF arms,
il necessary our tile 10 the country as lar as me
Rio GfanAr. The army OF Occupation Will, IN
a lew DAYS be concentrated al this point, IN con-
dition Tor vigorous and efficient service. Mexico
having as vet. made no positive declaration nf
war. or committed any over act oil hos'llties.
do not feel al h5cru under my lnsf7nct,os pari,cn-
koylvi6oss If Juiy 8, TO make forward movement
10 The Rio GTaBdc without authority from Inc
War Department"
Will any candid reader examine the above
passage. and infer that General Taylor regard
ed lie ",aking possession al once Of one or two
snitable points or on quite near that river, as
precpaing hosilities Admit, for The sake
OF argument that hc did mol Suggest" The march
10 the Rio Grandc, does lie moi clearly avow Inc
opinion thai he settlement OF The boundary ques-
ton, Che great otject in vew) Twill be g'eaH4
nc,ffaied and Aas:ene9," by al once marching IN
he Rio Grantel Dses lie refer 10 The movement
as likely 10 produce collision or war; Does ne
not, on the contrary, point out the advantages OF
n;mprc.sino" Mexico with our strength by
movement, 10 the river, so as 10 Facilitate anu
| has,enn the settlement of the boundary lie
Wings saw, that the march 10 The river produced
war. General Taylor, on The contrary, express
ed the opinion substantially, that ii would p'euenS
var by "srcally facilitating and Fastening the
settlement" Upon The simplest rules OF con-
sruction, his language can be made 10 mean no.
hing else; and we drop the discussion, advising
The Wbies 10 be more cautious in denouncing the
President for This movemen, TO the Rio Grande,
because they al the same time inevitably cast
censure upon old "Rongh-and-R Ready" himself
"7He InJce,l.ty and In.feieney Of he Admits
tr0tion"
For proof of these Wing charges, we refer 10
the following testimony Of The N. Q. Bulletin,
prominent and uncompromislng Federal journal
Lei be recolIected, that the great movement up
on Vera Cruz is under the command OF General
Scott "Whs General" and The people will be
able 10 Judge of the truth fine daily charges IN
The Whig press, tina, the Administration desired
to sacrifice Scott and Taylor, in order to remove
dangerous political rivals When the whole facts
Of The campaign shall be known, the game OF
WING politicians will rccoil upon their own heacs'
and popular Indignation will most surely and dec'-
sivey vindcale the patriotism, ability and luds'
ment displayed by the Administration in conduct
mo campaign so brilliant SO glorious;
" Desua.RK.Tros.-The landing OF the Anne
r;.an army al Vera Cruz has been accom-
nished In manner that reflects The hlghes cred
/, a. all concerned and the regularity. precision