Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-03-18

by his supporters Why sir they say have just Of
war against Mexco and they and the President furnish
long list OF specifications the most prominent of which shall
hereafter consider Well, let us admit that it all true.
What then Because have just OF against
foreign nation does il follow that the President may begin
whenever he peases without consulting Congress- waiting
until Congress has considered the subject all Sir
raan the President before his counymen for the exercise of
power in making this which did not belong him. He
ON army take possession Of country in the adverse
possession OF people who were czens OF foreign nation
with which at peace, although there very
good feeling towards That act of II
invasion The President had right constitutional
authority do than be has TO send the army to Quebec
Havana, and take possession OF those cities and surrounding
country, without the sanction OF previous act Of Congress-
To give the Senate and country distinct and clear idea OF
the in which the begun by the act of the
President allow state facts as have collected them from
Captain Henrys Campaign Sketches He was officer in
Gen. Taylor's army He writes well and clearly and from
whatI heard Of him. although not acquainted his
veraciy cannot be questioned. Capt Henry that
"Whcn Gen. Taylor with his command reached the bank
oI the Colorado) thirty Mexcans presented
themselves and said that il his force attempted they
would fire upon it, that such their orders Page So
Previous the crossing the auant general Of General
Me;a the commanding general Maamoros made his APP
pearance handed Gen. Taylor paper from Mejia,
forbddng his crossing, stating that he would look upon IL
declaration of war and LETT assuring the general he would
be opposed and that fight was inevitable Page 60.
These occurrences took place the 2st Of March, 1896
On the oath Of March Gen. Taylor arrived Point Isabel
and met there, says Henry, "by population of fifty
armed citizens from Matanoros with important civil func
tQnary their head, who presented him paper protesting
against occupying the county, The General having
discuss the matter told them very concisey "he would
give them Matamorospage So. On the arr-
val of the army at Matamoros opposite to it, nthe east
bank Of the river Gen. Worth deputed by Gen. Taylor
the deputaon which met him at Point Isabel AT
difficulty, Gen. Worth and the Mexican Gen. La
Vega brought together. Gen. La Vega (says Henry
spoke Of arrival act Of invasion that the Mexican
Government looked upon SUCH and asked the question:
what would have done we had been served Up &c.
Well Mr.. President should like hear what answer the
President HIMSELF his indicators this floor would give
to that question None of them have yet in this debate
placed themselves in the attitude of Mexico, and asked what
they would do under similar circumstances The rule Of
doing unto others would have them do u.s. is fear
obsolete in regard the Mexican Well sir, can
not tell how silent Senator'S if compelled t, speak, would
La Vegas question, will give you Captain Henrys
answer and mistake the character of my countrymen alto
geher if ninety hundredhs of them would
precisely the noble Captain He of course
ply could be given except that would have fought like
lions for what deemed possessions Yes sir that is
the spirit of people, Let any foreign nation send
army take possession of what deem ours and which is
in occupancy let them put their feet upon any part Of
the State from which come and will answer for every Ken
uckian that there is not Of them who will not fly
to drive the invader from the SOIL And yet for the
ton of this sentiment here sentiment without which there
be true love Of country upon EARTH suppose
malignant partisan may gazette me as giving aid and COM
fort" to the enemy. f.
will proceed with my from Captain Henry's book
"two of the advanced guard Of the dagoons being dis
lance from the main body bounced upon by body Of
Mexicans and carried of prisoners 10 Matamoos 65
"Apl ls General Taylor having demanded the release of
the captured Dragons they returned to-day with
nearly all their equpmentspage TO- On the 18th ofAp,
General Ampudia, long looked for, arrived Maamoros-
page TO- On the 18th OF April General Ampuda sends
communication General Taylor telling him che must
leave his position twenyiour hours retire the Nueces
and there await the settlement of the question by negotiation
in default Of which Mexico would look upon his position
declaration Of war;" General Taylor word Ampudia
that he did not require twenty hours but would reply
10 o'clock A. NJ tomorrow" On the 18th of April he did
reply by saying he here by order of his Govern
peaceful attitude and intended remain and then
warned him against the responsibility Of firing the first gum
Pages "A and u.s.
Well sir who fired the first gun On the 9TH and 5h days
Of April troops shot of their they-were
deserving the Mexicans The deserters shot,
each day, they swimming the rverpage ~. The
first blood shed that of men, and by guns
Heaven forbid that this evil the com
Of this should portend civil strife and blood
shed among ourselves in its final results Ont he morning
the 10th of April Colonel Cross left camp, and
ing the evening" great fears entertained for his safety
page 70. On the 18th Of April Leuensnts Dobbns and
Porter with each, left camp with the avowed in
tenon of catching possible of the band of the
rious Romena Falcon hoping to discover clue the
murder of Colonel Crosspage II. On the 18th of April,
Lieuenans Dobbns and Porter having separated their
mands Lieutenant Pores party, at about two o'clock p NJ
met with party Of armed Mexcans engaged in jerking beef
at Lieutenant Porter who returned with both barrels of his
gum The enemy Immediately fled, and the Lieutenant found
himself in the possession Of horses and twenty Mexican
blanketspages II and 70. Here have the first snap
from the Mexican, and the first fire. Shots from officer
Whether the lieutenant supposed he had found Falcon and
his men, catch Of whom he had left camp and whether
he made any demonstrations evdencng his determination
capture any Of them before the Mexican snapped Captain
Henry docs not inform But after the Mexcans fed and
after Lieutenant Porter had taken the ten horses and twenty
blankets told that he and his mounted and pro-
cecded towards the camp They had proceeded far be-
fore they were attacked by party OF Mexcsns concealed in
chaparra Lieutenant Porter ordered his dmoun
the enemy kept up brisk fire both Of the eutenants bar
res snapped and nearly all the pieces Of his had been
rendered useless by the rain The result Of the whole
that Lieutenant Porter, and Of his men named Flood,
killed. and the balance Of his party dispersed and got
camp best they could The soldier who got last said he
concealed himself in the chapaa and the proceedings
OF the enemy. He reported that soon our broke
they he Mexicans rushed upon the Lieutenant and Flood
the latter they surrounded and deliberately kned and then
performed the nhuman Office upon Lieutenant Porter"
Page 49,
Before this fight between Lieutenant Porter and the Mcx
commenced General Taylor bad bocaded the mouth Of
the Rio Gande, and stopped all supplies Maiamoros"
This appears from his letter the Adutant General dated
the 18th of April page 49, Of document 1885, for session
ls45 %. On the 18th Of April, General Taylor the
Adutant General informing him that General Arista had
arrived in Maamoros the 24th and assumed the chief
command Of the Mexican troops "On the day. says
General Taylor, 'he (Arista) addressed communica
ton conceived in TERMS but saying that he