The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-04-09
ions were frankly sought and generally as frankly

and tlat Zen worth entertained the same opnon is EVIL
dent from his returning 10 the United States and desiring
10 throw up his commission Those who would charge
the government with desire 10 commence war, must,
therefore, shut their eyes to the instructions OF the Pes
dent to Gen TAYLOR, well to the recorded opinions
OF that discreet officer that there would be no COLLISION
opinions OF which he made no secret whatever. The
Meycans took the Initiative with their usual cratness
and love OF blood. The massacre OF Col Cross and OF
Lieut. Porter and the unprovoked attack upon the com
mand OF Captains Thornton and Hardie demonstra
tons of hostility worthy only OF barbarans and murder
ers and these upon territory not only known
portion of Texas but admitted TO be such in official
proclamation by Gen Wol of the officers of Mexico
herself! The American government was at all times
willing to treat with Mexico. 1t was Mexico, unwilling
the olive branch, that fairly be charged
with premedtated design to make war
And here we may pause for moment TO contemplate
the character OF the instructions given to the American
by the Secretary OF War In the letter OF
July D. 1916, spirit OF forbeaance and magnanmity
beathes every line, humanity influences every dictate,
and the pacific intentions of the government every
where apparent In the appeal made 10 the Meyicans
themselves through an official proclamation prepared at
Washington, the people OF Mexico alluded 10 with
kindness far greater than they deserved and only against
their berayers and oppressors the real causes OF their
misery, We're its denuncIaons uttered.
War then existed by the acts OF Mexico herself and
Congress- unable to shut its eyes the fact, Of
fcially recognised its existence The battles of Palo Alto
and Resaca de la Palma, the siege of Fort Brown the
capture OF Maamoros, and the advance upon and
ing of Monterey, followed in brilliant succession They
events well known to need eulogy they
SUCH TO the language OF the Secretary of War;
title them to be considered everywhere examples of
courage and of skill scarcely excelled in the history OF
military operations" They have been followed up BY
disposition of our forces, which cannot fail TO close the
war with immortal honor TO the American arms
The plans upon which the war has been conducted,
have been the subject OF much discussion And by many
a cavier
'sThut never set a squadron in the field
Nor the division of a battle knows
More than spnster."
Studousy keeping out of view the chief and controlling
principles which have all along governed the action of the
President and the War Department, such persons have
been unfair their criticisms they have been I'M
sound in their opinions AT one time the administration
charged with sending small army TO be cut off thus
abandoning the idea of its being adequate to a war of
conquest and at Others with the intention of destroying
the whole Mexican population. AT time the sup
posed plans OF the campaign have been denounced alb
sud and ridiculous and now again. has nobly
vindlcated the ability in which they Were conceived they
claimed the suggestions OF General Scott In short
il is utterly impossible TO imagine any operations which
would have met with approval in the quarters TO which
we have alluded
Now we venture assert that no military enterprises
by this country have ever before been so
successful and history will only stamp the actions
of the brilliant in the highest degree bat also pro-
Its conduct by the appropriate departments saga
cious and mastery.
The Secretary of War was first called on to post
small force on the boundary line of Mexico. He did So
and the army and the commander proved fully adequate
to the purpose With uneXampcd celebrity the scattered
forces of the nation gathered together consolidated
and placed in position, and the commanding officer had
The military power of the national government was
thus early placed at his disposal and he was armed with
all the additional resources which the laws would per-
NIT to any possible eyigency If that force had
proved in any way at first inadequate, the responsibility
must clearly have fallen the commanding officer The
Secretary Of War had exhausted his under the ex
sting law providing for the extension and equipment OF
he regular force TO be employed in Texas The Presi-
dent had not the right to call for volunteers, without
special act of Congress, under the constitutional emer
yency of invasion of the territory of the Union The
w hlch tn has
call, could not be known at Washington in time TO be
made available That twas an occasion. which the con-
duct OF the Mexican troops only could create So far
Iced was General Taylor from complaining of want of
troops, that he actually wrote TO the Secretary OF War; his
chief embarrassment In having too many! But sup
Dose the contrary he found his force zoo small the
only legitimate means OF rernedying its neriority was
by call upon the authorities OF the States for aid and
Q do this he had early and timely instructions from the
War Department Let those who would assail its eff
lent head refer to the documenta evidence at hand and
blush for their unfarness On the o3d of August
s45 the Secretary of War wrote TO General TAYLOR as
ollows:
Mexico and the measures she may adopt does enable
he administration here 10 give you explicit nsrc-
been already forwarded YOU There reason to .eeve
hat Mexico making efforts assemble large arily on
DRY and holding tocibe possession of OF their move
nents doubtless advised and have taken
early will take, prompt aud efficient steps meet and
epel any such hostile ncursion Should Mexico assemble
large body OF troops the Rio Grande and cross 1t with
IpI
invasion OF the United States and the commencement
If hostiltes. You will, of course all the AUTHORITY
which has been or may be given you 10 meet such n
tate of things. Texas be projected from hostile in
ason and for that purpose you viii, OF course employ to
he utmost extent all the You possess or can com
nand An orderhas this day been issued sending one
thousand into Texas, Join those under your
Command When the existing orders are carried into eff
ec you will have with you force of 900 men OF th reg
ar army. We are not enabled to Judge what auxiliary
orce can, upon emergency, be brought together from
Texas and as precautionary measure you are author
zed to accept volunteers from The States OF Louisiana and
Alabama, and from Mississippi Tennessee and Ken
ucky. Should Mexico declare war; commences hostiIiti
crossing the Rio rande with force you
instructed TO lose time in giving information to The au
iorities of each or all OF the above States"
And General Taylor, in the contemplated emergency
id avail himself of this authority
Thus, that every preparation was made EIGHT
losTHs in advance of the possible emergency of General
ayors position, by the Secretary of War; full power
given him to act, and the authorities of the STATES
luded to were informed of his power to make the neces-
airy acquisitions
General Taylor at his own discretion took the course
Re did. He had confidence in himselfin his officers and
roops and whether his movement under his instructions
bring up supplies from Point Isabel was such one as
should have been compelled to make after planting his
tandard at Matamoros, is matter which is now of no
Consequence. The Mexcans attempted to destroy his |
rmy, and defeated themselves To have gained
UGH battles would be sufficient excuse for any mis-
AXE or misapprehension of the views of the enemy
In tracing out the Immediate consequences of these ac-
has been urged that General Taylor should have
ursued the Mexicans across the Rio Grande But after
nc fatigue OF two hardfought actions it is very doubt
ILL., to say the least whether If would have been prudent
follow the fugitive foe into that swift current where
many lost their lives Had the plans OF the Secretary
War been fully carried out by Congress, there is
carcey doubt that the defeated army might have been
aptured In his report of the 5h of December 1916 if
distinctly stated, that the department had, for years
asked Tor an appropriation TO construct penton
ridges but, too often the with our representa-
ives, they paid no attention TO the suggestion Had it