Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1847-09-02


are not therefore, responsible for them. 1t is very
proper, however, since General Taylor is proposed
as candidate for the Presidency, that his claims to
the Office should be free examined and discussed.
GENERAL TAYLOR
The admiration new protested for this gentleman by
northern wings and their desire elevate hun to the chief
mags'rsey Of the Republic, afford striking illustration Of
the inconsistency of human uTe Of the wide gulf
n 50 frequently separates party policy fiom moral Prn-
cPe The northern wings have emphacally given 10
their adhesion u the Wilmo PIoviso and yet they
aooFing 10 place in the executive chair who is
supported AT the SOUTH drOcedly the antWlmot povso
candidate; who par excellence pro slarery
candidate and who declares he will accept nomination
from the whg or democratic parties as such
. The wings being IN OPposon 10 Mr.. Polk. Of course
denoupce the leading Of his administration and
hled with vrtuOus indignatiin against the Mexican
Is an unnecessary wicked aud an unconstitutional
IN short Is the Presidents own wall commenced and waged
for the extension Of slavery. Now, strange
the man who has been Dir Folks must willing, aye, off,
ctOuS agent kndng the flames of this wicked war
IN the opinion OF these wings, patriot OF the first
waer-a second Washingon-a of such tTanscendent
virtue that he is to be entrusted with the first office in the
gIt OF the people, without any inquiry into his political
principles knowledge Of the policy he would pursue
We now proceed TO that the Mexican pre-
epftatsd by The voluntary action Of General Taylor in DISC
bedeEce Of the orders he had received the gOUernnea
The march TO the Rio Grande assured by the
wings, the Of the Be it and ask, did
General Taylor approve Of and recommend that march
Let official documents the question: On 10Th Of
june lS45 while still Louisiana he ordered to select
and occupy the Rio Gande such site would
ensuing October his letter to the department. he assigns
various for having taken position Corpus Chs
instead of the Rio Grande. but makes no
reference to the danger Of collision with the MeXicsns
that would arise from taking the latter position. On the
contrary he remarks q" II government in settling the
question Of boundary the lire Of the Rio Grande
ultmatum doubt that settlement greatly
Facilitated and hasfeaed by taking possession at Of
one or co suitable points quite that riUer. Our
strength and state of preparation should be displayed
manner nO 10 be mistaken. However sauiay may be the
effect produced upon the border people by here
CORPUS Chs too fat from the frontier impress
the government Of Mexico with readiness vndcale
by force Of arms necessary, our title to the country
far as the Rio GTsnde.'
In accordance with opinions thus expressed he was
on the 18th of January ordered TO advance Acknowledge
ing February 4h the receipt Of this Order he says Our
advance TO the Rio Gande DH Itself produce Porerfh
eject and navigation of the river
will not be disputed II i very important u.s. and will
be Indispensable when posts established higher up the
river must ultimately be the case" Hence it is most
undeniabe that If the march to the Rio Grande the
wicked unconstitutional cause Of the waI asserted by
the wings their favOIte in lcH, well in Decd
Now let compare his orders with his conduct In the
letter of the 18th Of January directing his advance il is
said points opposite Matamoras and Mier and in vi
entity Of Laredo suggested for your consideration
you left TO your better knowledge determine post
posts which you occupy"
How did the General exerc-e the discretion thus allowed
Why by selecting one Of the three posts named and that
the one most Of all offensive TO the Mexicans and
likely TO produce collision In what spirit this selection
was made, we learn from his letter of the 9th Of April
battery for four eighteen Founders will be completed
and the placed the battery to-day These guns bear
directly upon the public square Of Mamoras and within
good range Tor demoshng the town. Their object
be mistaken by the enemy and WILL think, efectually
strain him from any tepTise side Of ver'
Thus did he, on his responsibility. time Of peace
point his cannon against the city OF neghbOng republic
Boosting his ability demOsh it, Was il possible Ia offer
more aggravating insult to the Mexicans,
measure short Of active hostility likely excite
Yet he told in his instructions Of the 18th of January
is not designed, in present relations with Mexico
that you should treat her enemy Yet in defiance Of
haz of
and makes ms guns bear directly upon the public square Of
MatsmOrasl"
In the letter of the 18th of January the Secretary
Of War, insisting upon the right of United States ia
common with Mexico TO navigate the Rio Grande, tells him.
You tcW not attempt to enforce this right without iasruc-
ftOns How this instruction obeyed? On The IIh of
April, General Ampudia arrived at Maiamoras and found
the great square Of the city commanded fort erected by
Taylor territory claimed by Mexico. He summons
10 the American General to withdraw his forces within
twentyfour houIs aud retire the other side of the
Nueces On this, Taylor writes the Secretary Of War;
considered the letter Of Gen Ampuda sufficient
rant me an blocking up the RIO Grdade and stopping all
supplies for MafGmOTaS" Yet this very letter. announcing
the blockade admits that hostile movement had vet
been made "by The forces under Ampudia In his letter of
the 23d Of April General Taylor says that consequence
Of his blockade two vessels about
provisions for the city had been warned off and he adds:
II the blOckade) will at any compel Mexicans
either TO withdraw the amy fIom Maam1Tas where
not be subssted the offensive this side of the
Tfrer" Here let us pause momeut and reflect Mexico
and the United States peace-no of war
had been issued; had been fred on either side
body Of Mexican troops posted Matamo> Mexican
city, in the Acknowledged territory of republics and
they were posted there after American army had invaded
the district Of the RO Gande, claimed be Mexican terri
tory and IN the actual occupation of the Mexican people
and after that army bad encamped before CITY, and erect
ed battery capable Of demOlishing General TAYLOR
although expressly forbidden to enforce common right 10
navigate the river determines enforce exclusive right
and orders ships of to the mouth of the river
the entrance Of vessels carrying provisions the Mexican
city and then boasts that the Mexican troops being thus by
his act deprived of f,od will be eompeIIed eber 10 49,
else 10 the river and fight him. the effect
OF his blockade that the newspapers Of the day stated that
-four in Matamoras forty dollars barrel For thi.
act Of wul, unproVoked aggression for palpabe
breach Of our pacific relations General Taylor solely
sponsble.
To proceed The General was instructed June s. ls45
This department Is informed that Mexico has some militia
~ establishments the side Of the Rio GIande which
and for time have BEEN in the actual
OF their troops In the
received you C be careful aUOid any of aggression
unless actual state If crisis The Mexican forces al
posts their possession which have been so vi
not be disturbed long the relations Of peace between
the United States aud Mexico continue" On the 10th of
August instructed been advised thai the
assembling Of LARGE Mexican army the borders of
Texas ana crossing me hiO GTdRde Cth considerable
force will be regarded by the Executive here a. an invasion
- the United States, and The Of hosfes
Here then, was pointed out the contingency he
was authorized 10 commence the Unhappily he did
not think proper 70 regard his Instructions and
this contingency. The Mexcan posts dis
tuTbed; no acts Of aggression TO be committed OF
course the gaTrsons Of these posts beseged
they to and 70 pleasue no considerable
force was TO be permitted 10 the nver.
On the 10Th OF April the General reported no hostile
movement has yet been maSe by his (Ampudia'sl force
Oh the 3d. he writes, Since my last dispatch Of the 10Th
instant, the relations between add Mexicans hare
not changed" and yet in the same letter he tells the
Secretary Of War, with check the depredaions
Of small parties Of MexIcans this side of the river eu
DObbins Sd Infa0ty and Porter, 4h Infantry were aEo-
IL haf f.uvd aua. IT