Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1847-01-05

ders it probable iha, no serious attempts will at
present be made by Mexico to Invade Texas"
Rn! Gen. Taylor is still instructed TO hold the
country between the Nueces and the lilo Granto.
-..previous Instructions VIII have put You in
possession of tho views of the Governn.en Of tho
United States. oulv 10 tho extont OF terri
torial claims, Bat of rs determination to assert
thom.'
He IS instructed 70 put bis troops into winter
quarters accordingly. as near the Rio Grande as
circumsta noes will permit. TO this time md
TO the | III Of March, 1876 Gen. Taylor was at
Corpus Christi. Tho open and decided step was
takon the 18th Of January. On that day tho
Secretary Of Var directed Gen. Tavlor to ma rct
10 the Rio Grande and 10 take up position OPP
posi.o Natanoras. In doing he IS instructed
in case Mexico should declare assume any
open act Of hostility. not TO act merely the
defensive.
throughout the corre spondonco i, is plain that
the intention TO extinguish the Mexican title
10 this territory BY armed occupation; and tho III
struclions explicit, 10 treat every assertion of
title movement tho part of Mexico
act of hostility, and 10 proceed accordingly and
resist ii.
To show how Con. Taylor understood tho IN
s:ruc,ions Of his Government. it may be observed
that on the ID Of March thirty mics from Mat
amoras, a, stream called the Arravo Colorado,
no was met by party Of Mcyicans, whose
harding officer Informed him that if he crossed
tho stream II would DO deemed declaration Of
war and put INTO his hand copy Of Gen. Mcjia's
proclamation 10 that effect.
Gen. TaH Tor put his forces in order Of battle.
crossed tho stream, and pushed on, tho Mexcans
rotreating lie arrived on tho Rio Grondo. op.
p7si,e Matamoras. on tho 29th of March.
draw your attention now. in conclusion, To al,
cxtrac! from Mr.. Buchanans letter of the ooh
January, 1915, TO Mr.. Sidell.
..In tho meantime, the President. in anticipa-
ton of tho final refusal of the Mexican Govern
mcut 10 rccolvo you, has ordered tho army of
Texas u advance and tako position tho left
bank Of tie Rio tsranlc; and has directed that
strong feet shall be immediately assembled in the
Gulf of Mexico .lo viii thus be prepared act
with NigoF and pronftiiado the inomeat that Con-
gross shall giNo hiu tho authority.
Now if, by ordering troops Of tho L. States TO
the left bank of tho Rio Grarde, no has taken
possession Of ull that he claimed or anybody
claimed as beng part Of Texas. and COMO TO its
extreme western limit, what else thcre that
no proposed To do with ''vl.or and promplitudo
when Congress had given him tho authority?'
Did he general war against Mexico7 Did
he moan 10 place himself upon Tho extreme verge
of what he said right and there be pre-
pared TO prosecute general war Of invasion and
acquisition!
If that was his purpose at that time, he had
better have adhered 10 il, and waited ill Con
gross had given the authority. Why take this
step without the authority Of Congress? This
letter written on tho Goth of January. Tho
instruction 10 cross The Rio Grando was gwen on
/, was an act Of war, or leading 10 war, for what
purpose, as Congress was then in session, tho
question always arises, why should the Execu-
tive Government, of its discretion. and by
lis own authority, take step SO directly leading
10 without consulting COngrcss-a step not
necessary for the defence of the country, and
when Congress wss in session in the city Of Wash
inotonl Great applause.
This is a great question TO be asked hereafter,
and how it is TO be answered VIC shall tirlo
learn. TCheers,
Now, allow me to say, (ho con,inuod) for it is
matter of history, that before, and ut the time
these troops ordered TO ma rch nd tako pos
session Of tho loft ban, of the Rio Grande, there
was apprehension of any invasion Of Texas by
Mexico, nor any apprehension of any hosti!cs
to be committed by Mexico az all.
This is perfectly evident from tho letters of
Gen Taylor TO tho Department of War, through
the preceding summer and down TO the tme at
which these instructions were given. Mr.. w.
read extract from Gen. Ia ylor's letter of Aug.
=, 1913. There Gen. Taylor's letter to
The department following on the 18th October;
and i, the last letter that the department, had
received Or could have received before the issuing
Of the instructions Of the 18Th January. Now,
all this is confirmed by a subsequent letter Of
Gen. Taylors Of the 18th of February. Now,
think that these communications from General
Tavlor establish the propositions connected with
the CORES pondence to which have referred be-
tween Mr.. Buchanan and Mr.. SlidcIl: ono tina.
there danger of any invasion any hos
tlites whatever from Mexico.
Suppose that it was the objec, Of our Govern
men. to take possession by force Of the disputed
Territory V, and then to treat with Mexico, if sho
was to treat; but were determined TO tako
possession Of what Mexico claimed her own;
in other words, the President was doing that, IN
my Judgment, without authority of Congress,
which he could only have done by the authority
of Congress-. He making military move
rnent upon country claimed by power with
which we at peace, was actually in posses
; sion of tina, country, and doing all without any
authority from Congress whatever. Applause
Now, il appears 10 me that it IS very material