Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-07-02
THE ENQUIRER.
RICHMOND, VA.
wednesday Morning, June 80, 1917.
GEN TAYLoR-THE MARCH TO The
pIO GRANDE.

The Wing press, mol Caring ~ "'"e "
re,celnl conclusion Of the wal as Tor Tie parry I'd
n;al which they hope TO create by misrcpresen''n'
;,s origin and management, have piled upcharge
pnou charges against The Administration, OF In
mos, exlravaean, and wanion character. Ing.
have successively accused The President WIN III
design OF sacrificing Gen. Taylor and ms arm.
10 Santa Annals ovcrpowering fierce al bnen;
vista-wi.h intending, in his 'lusl OF domialon'
IN subiusale and annex The whole o Mexico, Il
rob and plumber The Mexican chotches' anu,
all events 10 force a government upon That unlor
innate neople. These charges are OF loo absun
and exlrayasant a character 10 impose upon In
crcduliry of any portion of our own citizens; on
thew have been grecdily caught up by The Mex
can leaders and reproduced as unequlvocal eV'
depce that an "en,ire party" in this country sym
na,bizes with The infatuated obsiinacy Of Mex
70 and upon a change of administration, WI
allow Mexico TO dictate such terms oil peace d
she may desire. Gen Scott has been forced V
remove these false impressions pIodnced on INT
public mind of Mexico by The course Of our owl
Wbip poli,icians, which have hitherto ehco"i
aged The public enemy 10 hold out madiy asa'hs
peaceful negotiations. We are happy 10 oe,'eS'
that his explanations and appeals have not beer
without, good results and that the probable acces
sion Of Herrera 10 The Presidency, supported a
he seems TO be by the powerful clergy may 'ooi
lead 10 the establishment, Of peace.
But our purpose al present is not 10 60 mo W.
examination CT charges, which have been SO l"'
,v re(u,sd. There is however, another charge
s,;ll pvrtnacously pressod by The Wings, which
has gwen laid anc -. Mexican ihia'ua
ron : that lie IN yn Of III army 10 The Rio
Grandc Was the cause and just cause cf Inc war
and thai Mexico was fully justified in making
war upon US. The Democratic party has main
,ained the wisdom and necessity OF that movement
IN defence OF the territory Of Texas, sovereign
State Of our Union, and has been always willing
II assume the responsibility of an acl, which the
r,edsed honor of The nation imperatively required
=, The hands of the Executive. But al The same
Time thew contend that il the march TO The Rie
Grande be so monstrous an act, Gen. Iayiol
himself is equally responsible. because he spe'
cially recommended il, long before the step was
taken. lie is the p'ofes@d candidate Tor Inc IRE
sidency OF many OF The Whigs-and his opinions
as 10 what The Wings charge as The moving cause
of This "atrocious" war, can be larry quoeo III
defence of the movement.
The IYn;on gives detailed and conclusive an
swsr 10 the seven columns Of The National lnlelli-
sencer on this point We have no room Tor 'ne
iong eyrrac,s from the official documents, oul
,nrs, content ourselves with brief summary oil
facts developed by official papers. We CONTEND
then that on the 4th October, 1915, three monlhs
before the order was given 10 march 10 the MO
Grande, General Taylor wrote letter ad'isins
,ba, march. |, is matter Of history thai, soon
after The passage by our Congress OF The JOINT re-
solution for the annexation Of Texas, Almonle,
br MEXICAN Minister, demanded his passports,
rsoardipc j, rs a violation of The rights OF Mexi-
- though he was positively informed that he
,ould mol Justly SO regard the voluntary action OF
be INDEPENDENT power OF Texas owing no ale
,,ance 10 Mexico, and that il was The sincere de-
:;rc ot our Government 10 maintain peace and
good will with Mexico. Our Minister at Mexico
r,s also refused all official intercourse with that
Government, and returned TO the United States.
ev ,bs ac,s Of Mexico herself, the diplomatic in
orcours. between the Two countries was thus
Ii was, moreover, notorious thai
Mexico was making great military preparation
q invade Texas, as the following extract OF lei
or from our Charge 10 Texas, Mr.. Donelson,
lated Alb June, ls45, among other evidences
,oes 10 prove:
aProm recent information just received rom
seneral Sherman, OF the Texan mili'ia, aP,,
,ears liza, Mexico has already o0oa1 ssrsa M'nsG2a
r,t .; on he Rio GyanGs and that captain hays,
yho has only about fifty rangers under ms com.
MA nd was about 10 attack party oil about one
'mnSr.d Meyicans. whom he had discovered
,aar him ON the Nueces. This exhibition OF
orce for The purpose Of driving the Texans IRON
he Rio C;rande. showslnat Captain Elliott is mol
al,;no NJ random when he declares Gas ne has
Ipne m many orthe citizens OF this country that
rejection OF The proposals now offered by HIM
~ he ;naenendence OF Texas, will be followed
Immediately by an invasion from Mexico
Hinder these circumstances, Gen. Taylor was
,r,e,ed 10 defend Texas up TO The Rio Grande
,eainst Mexican invasion, and 10 rcpel prompt
= all Mexican hosliilies on the Eastern bank OF
h, ,iver--but 10 be careful TO avoid any acts Of
unless an actual slate 81 war should
.v;s," On The 18th June, lS45, Mr.. Marcy
wrote 10 Gen. T.:
nTbe point of your ultimate destination is The
Western frontier OF Texas, where you VIII Sc,
ect and occupy, on or near the hio uiande Gel
Ior,e such q site as will consist with The health
r. he Rooms. and will be best adapted 10 Tepel
invasion. and 10 protect what, in the event Of an
,eraiion. will be our Western border You VIII
imit Yourself 10 the defence Of the territory oil
Texas unless Mexico should declare wal. against
The United States" &c.
On the goth July, MIR. Marcy again wroIe as
follows:
"He [lhe President has not the requisite inior-
nation in regard 10 The country, 10 enaole MIN 70
give any positive directions as 10 The position you
ought 10 take, or The movements whlcn u may
be expedient TO make. These must De governed
by circumstances. While avoiding, as you have
been instructed TO do, all aggressive measures TO.
wards Mexico, as long as the relations OF peace
exis, between that Republic and The United
States, you arc expected TO occupy, protect and
defend The territory OF Texas TO Inc extent that il
has been occupied y, ~ n"ople OF Texas. The
lilo Grande is cl.., se boundary between
IN, TWO coun;ries an ~ boundary you
are IL lend yon pr" r'icn.''
Til .s,,,.s Of he 90 and Sob August are IL
the same purpol., VIZ: 10 defend Texas from in
vasion, and rcpcl the invaders, and drive th'
Mexican troops beyond the Rio Grande-leavins
the choice OF position very much to Gen. t.
own discretion. The following letter from Gen
TAYLOR will show the manner in which he con
s,rucd and carried out his orders:
"HEADoUARTERs ARMY OF OCCUPATION,
"Corpus Christi, Texas, October 4, 1915.
sSir: beg leave TO suggest some considera
ronslin relation TO the present position OF cur force
and The dispositions ,cheh may become accessory fo
The more ecet,al prosecution If The oeeis for aaie
a has been concentrated. 1t will be reeolleclet
tina, the instructions Of June 10, issued by MIR
Bancroft then acting Secretary OF War, directc,
me TO select and occupy, On or near the Rio Grand
such size as will consist with The health OF III
troops. and will be bcs, adapted 10 repel invasion
&c. Brazos Santiago is the nearest entrance 4
The mouth OF the Rio Grande; and Point lsabe