The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1848-04-20

NI'OiA lllC Oh SCH-UClCnCC. II we
were in no danger of blow from Mexico
If she had no force collected for the invasion
OF Texas, then our march into the disputed
territory was an uniustiiiable act of hostility
Now, sir, where is the evidence that Mexico
had mustered an army on the Rio Grande
with the declared object of invading and
conquering Texas Did the President say
any thing of the kind in his message of the
18th of May, 1916, informing Congress that
he had ordered the army to the left bank Of
the Rio Grande? No, sir, he assigned no
such reason for the order He said in that
message that our force remained at Corpus
Christi until after he had received such in
formation from Mexico as rendered it proba-
BILE, if not certain, that the Mexican Govern
ment would refuse to receive our envoy
Our army, then, was ordered to occupy the
left Bank Of the Rio Grande, because the
President apprehended that Mexico would
reject our envoy. Now, Mr.. President, to
show that Mexico had mustered no army on
the Rio Grande with view to the invasion
of Texas and that the President knew it
when he issued the order of the 18th January
1916, / call the attention of the Senate and
the country TO Gen Taylors correspondence
with the War Department while he remained
at Corpus Christi.
In a despatch TO the War Department, da-
ted Corpus Christi, August goth, 1915, Gen.
| Taylor says that
"Caravans Of traders arrive occasionally from the
Rio Grande but bring 10 news of Importance
They represent that there are 10 regular troops on
that river, except at Maanoras, and do not seem to
Ge aware Of any preparation for Il demonstration on
this side OF the river"
On the 9th of September, 1915, in another
despatch, he says;
| 81 have the honor to report that a confidential
agent, despatched some days since to AIatamolyS
has returned and reports that no extraordinary pre-
paratons are going forward there's that the garrison
does not seem to have been increased, and that our
consul is Of opinion there will be 10 declaration Of
war;
Again, in another despatch of September
Nth, 1915, Gen. Taylor says:
"We have no news of interest from the frontier.
Arista, at the last accounts at Mier, but with
ont any force; nor is there, yet any conccntrl-
ton of troops ON the river"
In despatch under date Of October 18th,
1915, he says that
"Recent arrivals from the Rio Grande bring no
news, or information OF different aspect from that
which reported in my last. The views expressed
in previous communications relative to the pacific
disposition of the border people on both sides Of the
riyerare confirmed"
And in another despatch under date of
January Z, 1916, he says:
ave have many arrivals from AIatamoras and
other points on the river but they bring no intei-
gence of interest. A recent scout of volunteers
from San Antonio struck the river near Presidio
Rio Grande, and the commander reports everything
quiet i'll that quarter"
Who, Mr.. President, with this evidence
before him, can say that Gen. Taylor, on the
18th of January, 1876, was ordered to the
Rio Grande to meet and repcl a Mexican
army there collected for the invasion of Tex
as? On the 9TH of January, only six days
before the order was issued, General Taylor
informed the President that every thing was
quiet in that quarter. But, sir, the honora-
bic Senator from Illinois, (Mr. Douglass,) has
attempted to justify the order, on another
ground. lie says it was issued on the re-
commentator and at the request of General
Taylor. If this were true ii would be no JUS
LITIGATION for the President. The eXpeden-
cy OF such measure was question for Con-
grcss to settle. General Taylor had nothing
to do with it. But, Mr.. President, the army
was not ordered to the Rio Grande on the
recommendation Of General Taylor. All he
said upon the subject is contained in hit let
ter to the War Department, under date of
October 18th, 1915, more than three months
before he received orders TO leave Corpus
Christi. In that letter he says:
sit will he rccollcctcd that the instructions of
June the 9Th, issued by MIR. Bancroft, then Acting
Secretary Of War, directed me to select and occupy
on or near the Rio Grande, such site will con
sist with the health of the troops, and will be best
adapted to repel invasion, &C."
After assigning the reasons which induced
him to concentrate his force at Corpus Chris |
ii, he proceeds as fUllows
at is with great Difference that mako any sug-
gcstions on topics which may become matter Of del |
icae negotiation but if our government, in settling
the question Of boundary, makes the line of the |
Rio Grandc an ultinatum, cannot doubt that the !
settlement will be greatly facilitated and FASTENED .
by our ttkug possession ut once Of one or two suta-
bic points quite near the river. Our strength |
and state of preparation should be displayed in Il
manner not to be mistaken"
If ar Government had determined, at all |
events, to make the Rio Grande the western
boundary of Texas, the sooner we let Mexico
know it the better. This is the sum and
substance of all General Taylor said upon the
subject His suggestion was based upon the
ground that the line of the Rio Grande was
our ultimatum.
Mr.. President, there must have been, at
the bottom Of this movement, something more
than desire to settle upon just and honor
able terms the western boundary of Texas;
and / will cndeavor to show what it was.-
Our Government was aware that the annex {
alton Of Texas would give offence to Mexico, +
and an effort was made to reconcile her to
the measure. On the 10ih of April, 1911, t
Mr.. Calhoun, the Secretary of State direct t
ed Mr.. Green, our Charge d'Afiairs in Mex G
leo, to inform that Government that treaty !
for the annexation of Texas to the United a
States had been signed by the Picnipotcn- a
iaries Of the two Governments, and would Il
DC sent to the Senate without delay for its S
approval. In making this fact known, Mr. n
Green was directed to give the Mexican
Government the strnnnest Assurance ihnt In d