Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1847-03-18
Report from the Committee on Foreign
Affairs Of the House of Representa-

port which was yesterday presented TO the House OF
Representatives by MIR. Charles ]. Ingersoll. We
hasten spread it before the country 1t relates
that portion of the Presidents message of the 18th
inst. concerning the with Mexico. 1t is short,
and confined to what appears to be the only point in
the unimadversion Of the Opposition-viz: the re-
puted wrong Of the President in ordering General
Taylor to advance from Corpus Christi. Being so
very brief and comprehensive, and being important
in its bearings it is hoped that 1t wi be perused by
every reader and republished by all the newspapers
whether Of city OF of country. We trust, at least,
that the democratic newspapers will lay il before
their respective circles of readers We are sati.fed,
from the ability with which is penned, and the
search which il indicates, and the power which it
exhibits that it viii do great service in dssipating
all prejudice and vndicating the truth linton.
The Committee on Foreign Affairs, To rhon The
Presidents tcdr message Of the l3h instant has
been in part referred, respectfully report HereuPon
That while, in a country SO free ours, diversity
of sentiment must prevail on every topic of national
concern. especially one so exciting as war, and is
like bracing airs of salutn influence. yet the large
preponderance of votes approaching unanimity in
Congress, declaring war with Mexico the correspond
ing unanimity with which all required supplies for it
have been granted by Congress- and the almost equally
unanimous popular zeal for waging and sharing its
operations all doubt of the national resolution
10 prosecute it originally declared vigorously,
to the only end of just war, speedy and honorable
peace.
Complaints of the resort to territorial conquest
from Mexico are disarmcd of reproach by the unde-
niable facts that Mexico, by war constrans the Uni
ted States to take by conquest what, ever since
Mexican independence, every American adninistra-
tion been striving to get by purchase and that
the Executive of8es, and military and naval execu-
ton of them for the achievement Of conquest, have
conformed not merely to long established policy of
our own government, but wise principles of self
preservation indispensable to all provident govern
ment.
The war has been constant career of success,
with ceasing solicitation of peace without fur
ther hostility, if Mexico will accept peace on fair,
generous, and lasting terms; and your committee
cheerfully leave it to the judgment of all conSiderate
persons. One imputation cast, among ourselves upon
the Executive of the United States involving the
country with him in illegality and aggression your
committee think proper briefly to reftie that which
charges the President with producing beginning the
war by orders to the army in Texas pass Mexican
boundaries
Mexico never made boundary a question. The
issue she took was the annexation of Texas not the
boundary As soon as annexation was resolved by
Congress, the Mexican minister here, AlmOnte, de-
manded his passports, having previously removed
from Washington while that question was even con-
sdered, and went Indignantly home TO make war.
Encouraged by the erroneous assertion of many of
our respectable citizens, that annexation Of Texas
would be with Mexico, and by the then threatened
rupture between the United States and England,
which was reckoned Mexican reliance, Mexico openly
prepared for war-openly declared and began it.
President Folks minister of peace, Mr.. SlIdell, was
rejected; not on any plea of boundary, but because
Texas not altogether relinquished. Mexican
troops sent to the Texan frontier, who crossed
the boundary river Grande, and attacked the Ameri-
can forces this side of that river. Stationed at
Corpus Christi, the west side of the Nueces at the
instance of Texas, for its protection from invasion,
the American commander, without orders from the
President, would have had alternative but to let
his Mexican assailant choose the place. time, and
manner of invasion; or, by advancing into the more
northern part of the State he ordered to occupy
and protect make proper selection of the ground on
which to defend it.
1t was General Taylors duty as soldier, without
orders, and the Presidents right as communicating
chief to order General Taylor repel the threatened
invasion in progress to subdue Texas If. by remain
ing inactive at Corpus Christi, he had allowed an
overpowering force to subdue him there, was the
Mexican design, leaving him idle there to pene-
trae further north into tie heart of Texas. the gene
raj and President would have been Justly condemned
for the commencement of hostilities fatal to by
hostile occupation Of territory instead of success
full by frustrating the hostile Mexican attempt.
An intlmation in Congress lately that the Mexican
general gave it to be understood that he would
main west Of the Colorado creek-a small stream
between the Nueces and the Grande-if our troops
would remain east of that stream, your committee,
after inquiry learn to be groundess If any such COM
munication authorized, 1t was mere Mexican
continuance to lu oir commander into false security
at Corpus Christi till Mexican troops could be assem-
bed strong enough to and attack him there,
the Mexican design: for Corpus Christi, on the
west side Of the Nueces; was as much Mexican soil
any other part of the territory west of that river,
and General Taylor's encampment at first was an
invasion of Mexico, if he ever invaded Mexico at
all.
The unautHentic and irresponsible intmatioa of
that Overture was received at Washington the 9th
Novembet, 1916, Just when MFR. Blacks advices ar
rived Of the willingness of Herreras government to
receive a minister: and Mr.. Slidell was thereupon
forthwith despatched, General Taylor's army being
kept at Corpus Christi till tidings were received Of
Mr. Sdell's rejection, Herreras overthrow and Pa
redess presidency, on the proclaimed determination
to rctakei Texas by force from the United States.
General Tayors orders to march from Corpus Christi
did not leave Washington till the 18th OF Jantary,
1916 nor did he march till more than two months
afterwards and then to station his troops wherever he
thought best for protecting Texas from Mexican in
vasion without any order from the President as the
precise place where be was to station his forces.
Always west of the Nueces from the first moment of
his entry into Texas. General Taylor planted his
standard on the Grande, opposite to Matamoras, as
bis own military selection Of the most eligible station
for defending Texas -
No part of the ground between the Nueces and the
Grande ever was. Mexican SOIL Louisiana, by all
ancient, acknowledged, and unquestionable bounda-
ries extended to the Grande. Such was the boun-
dairy of that province at all times, till transferred In
1900 Spain, to France, and in 1903 by France to
the United States. In 1919, when the United States
transferred Texas to Spain the western limit was the
Grande-as well known as that the Sabine was the
eastern limit. In 1924, when Mexican Independence
was established the boundaries Of Texas remained
the same. In 1885, when Santa Anna was toiled in
his attempt to subugate Texas, and Texas