The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-03-11

when made known that their
Arms, ammunition, and camp equipage for the auxiliary
troops that you 'aay require, will be sent forward snDec
available they should be needed, at the same time
with due regard to their safety and preservation Orders
have been issued TO the naval force the Gu OF Mexico
to cooperate with you"
Again, the 3Oth August 1915:
The instructions heretofore issued enoin upon you to
epuse the invaders and drive all Mexican troops beyond
command Inadequate you viii not fail to draw sufficient
auxiliary aid om Texas, and, if there be need from the
States pursuant TO your previous instructions 1t is not 10
be doubted that on your nooatio volunteer troops,
the number you may require, viii rally with aacrV to
bling large Mexican army the borders OF Texas and
crossing the Rio Grande with considerable force, will be
regarded by the Executive invasion the Uni
ted States, and the of hostlites An at
tempt to thar river with such force viii also be con-
sdered in the same light"
And on October 16, 1915, he writes
''SiR: The information which have here renders il
probable that serious attempts will az present be made
threaten neursons Previous instructions will have put
you in possession of the views OF the government OF me
eaims but OF lis determination 10 assert hem In carry
ing out these Instructions you will be len much 10 yom
OF localities, and the earlier notice you may receive
OF the probable views of Mexico, and the move
ment of her troops. On the superstition that no
active operations on your part will be required du,
ring tho approaching winter an important question
by your forces This be determined mainly with ref
the objects for which the army under your
western boundary of Texas Che Rio Grandc) circm-
wl permits having reference to reasonable securi-
y; accommodations for putting your troops into winter
hus if deemed necessary; 10 the facility and certainty OF
poeuSg or receiving s%ppss and 70 checking , any at,
tribes Ought your present position to be changed? the
forces which are soon will be, assembled under your
command, be kept together divided and, if divided,
what positions be taken, and how they be vi
ded These are questions which must be in measure
left to your Judgment least the decision upon them
here, II there be time, will be influenced in nconsidera-
BILE degree by the information and views which you
furnish the department You need not, therefore, wait for
directions from Washington, to carry what you may
deem proper be done Upon all the points above
in full desired, only with reference the conn,
of the present aspect of affairs between the United
being directed to take position on the banks of the H
Grande near its mouth, places above Or even in the
vent OF open hostlities."
Nor was this all With the same message of 1916
they had evidence that Mr.. Donelson, minister to
Texas, pledged the faith of the United States to all parties
in Texas that this government would maintain the Rio
Grande del Norte as the boundary. Letter to Mr., Bu-
chanan, July IL, 1915:
'.Bu whilst from such views encouraged aggressive
OF the Rio Gande, have nevertheless, omitted oppor-
tunty Of satisfying all parties here that che United Stqtes
,coud good faith, maintain the claim, and that had
every reason believe they tooud do successfully"
And this not without the previous distinct author
ty of Mr. Buchanan OF June Is, 1878, in which he de-
clares the United States under the most stringent o6ga-
ton maintain that boundary, and ii the true
boundary of Texas. He says
Under ihese % You may properly ask the
tween the Nueces and the Rio Grande, still fur
Their east within the Texas territory before convention
the United stand still the country in
vaded without interposing protection Z"
SIN answer 10 this important question, shall proceed
present The views of the President upon the sub
Jec t1, -. .,, ,.ac,.a,,, 49,, ~.
herself shouddrive the nuders from her territory until
the convention shall have accepted the terms of
service, acquainted with her history can doubt
Her citizens brave they endure the climate at this
ask aid in defending her territory until this duty shall
clearly devove upon the United States Besides, it is i'm
possible that troops reach the of action
in render her any assistance in expclng the ntru
der before 4h of July the day of the meeting Of the
convention The expenses of such expedition
tualy be borne by the United States If an attempt should
be made dismember the territory of Texas, it existed
when the Joint resolution for annexation passed Congress-
the when her people and authorities are debe
rating upon these proposals. mos, certainly the strongest
obligation would be imposed on the American Congress to
indemnity her for the charges Of repeling the ntrders In
performing this duty she will be acting for the benefit OF
whole country and preserving her territory in the
condition it when offered to receive her into the
American Union. The President cannot doubt for mo-
ment that after annexation, the troops employed in this
service will be placed upon precisely the same footing as
troops would be who had been regularly called under
the authority OF the act OF Congress to repe an invasion oil
any of the existing States
Thus had this House the positive evidence of the
opinions of the executive to its duties and that was
bound defend the country up TO the Rio Grande and
that the general had orders to that effect from the begin
ming, and might march when he pleased. And he was
distinctly authorized to take position
nient to the Rio Grande and with view to defending
that line and that its passage by the enemy would be
invasion. No word of dissent or disapprobation was
heard from Congress 1t admitted Teras stood, with
the pledged faith of this republic, by its minister author
lied by its Secretary of State, made TO parties that
would defend and maintain the line of the Rio GIande.
This pledge upon tables in innumeabe forms,
and franked by members every day through the whole
country without dissent from any quarter Congress
having admitted Texas and sanctioned this pledge,
adopted the recommendation of the President by extend
ing our laws, and judicial system, and post
routes into Texas-Teyas it stood-the Texas which
we admitted with pledge defend to the Rio Grande
tho Texas which the President said in recommending
these measures which adopted, extended the urs
dcton of the Union to the Del Norte Could the Presl
dent them understand from any cold maps geogra-
phy or other source that Congress understood and
sered Texas extending only to the Nueces and that
the army already invading Mexico, and war exist
ed Or could he suppose that there other i'm
agnary line, unknown 10 him. or to any one IN this
House, and not laid down in any 'old map or geosra-
phy or anywhere else but in imaginative speeches SINCE
made in this hall, which the line understood by Con-
gress Did any one anywhere at any tme ever see OF
hear of such line they tell who established
lit, or where it runs' Will any candid man say
that the President could be justified in supposng that
was any other line between the Nueces and Del Norte,
which though unheard of the true or that there
any improperly In his being at any one point
between the Del Norie and the Nueces, than at Corpus
Christi, any other ?
How will gentlemen reconcile this long silence with
the duty of patriotism They were full of information
to the boundary They have discovered several
true boundaries, unknown before, between the Nueces
apd the Del Nore, they fully advised OF what they
suppose the OF the President and
cabinet They advised of the impending danger OF
disastrous, and, they say, unjust war, and gave no
warning There was no call to the rescue. They were
not withheld by feelings of kindness to the admlnlstra-
ton, whose whole policy they felt 1t their special duty to