Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1848-07-29
NO. 3.
TAYLOR ON THE MEXICAN FROM
TIER A &i

Few persons viii believe that the authors
of the annexation of Texas ever doubted
that that measure, urged as il was, 10y Mr..
Polk, in spirit of contempt and insult TO
Mexico, and with the haughtiest disregard
of consequences, could fail to lead to a war
with that country. The war was foreseen,
if not actually desired,-if not really sought
land intended TO be provoked. as new ele.
tmeDt Of political intrigue, and means Of
popularity for the administration. AT all
ltvents, the probability of such war was
manifest enough Che whole country antici-
! pa, ed IT'D and it was provided for apparent
~, as happy possibility, from which great
homo, and profit might be expected by those
who lo1ked forward to it as mere chapter
of glory, a sswar of three months" The
great mist, he of the contrivers was in vain
Nv supposing that the prizes Of victory would
fall to their share. They did not dream
that Fate above thea, OF which they
were the blind Instruments, WAS using them,
their plans and their projects, TO build up
the reputation of new aud great spirit, be-
| fore whose superior fortunes theirs should
bow, like the genius Of Anthony before that
of Octavius 1t has happened with the last
as with the first of American rulers who
planned the conquest Of Mexico. When
old Veasqnez, the Governor of Cuba, III
| 1870, projected the invasion of the empire
of Montezulna, his grand desire was to pro-
cure general to execute his, sufficiently
competent for that purpose, biit not famous,
oh nol--but obscure and modest, and so
perfectly destitute of ambition as 10 be
willing to fight and conquer in the name and
for the benefit of Velasqucz merely, with
out any selfish aspirations of his own. The
result was that yelnsquez chose the humble
Cortes, as the agent to win his laurels; and
we know how it all ended Immortal re-
nown for Cortes, contempt and oblivion for
YelasqK,
VIII l-Ir. Polk sent Brigader- General
Zachary Taylor, with the troops Of the u
nited States, to Texas, to fight his three
months war on the Rio Grande, it never
entered into his calculations that the then
comparatively obscure hero Of Okeechobee
might return from The campaign 10 battle all
its ingenious schemes of reelection, and
even Dust him from the seat of honor he so
unworthy occupied. There Is, however,
special providence in the fall of a spar
row, and there is, certainly, not less in the
unexpected uprise of great man, modest
and unambitious, to power and dignity a.
mong the chiefs of mankind. IL was upon
the Rio 6rande, remote from his country
and from succor; amid deserts; surrounded
by Mexican cbaparrals and Mexican armies,
communicating, three or four to one, his own
small and disappointed force; sent tbither,
in the midst OF all those dangers, TO perform,
at the Presidents order, the needless bravo
do of planting the American flag on the banks
Of the loDg-coveted Rio del Norie, and the
still more sGperfuous duty of protecting
the Texan frontier from Mexican invasion;
il was there, in the first clash of the Presi-
dents war, the country suddenly became
aware that II possessed, IN Mr.. Folks gem
eTal, greater man than Mr.. Polk, tow
'ering spirit, with new and mighty destinies,
worthy to lie united with its own. There
was the tbunder Of battle; the smoke Of can
Don assembled 10 the armament, and with IL a
name--a thoughf--a vision Of future emf
hence, which, m a moment, struck upon the
imagination Of every man IN the United
States.
il i not necessary that we should review
the detailed history Of the appearance and
progress of General Taylor in Texas, AT
The bead Of the Army Of Occupaiion, from
his landing at Arkansas Bay, in July, 1916,
until be met The Mexicans al Palo Alto, ten
months afterwards. al the circumstances
Of this period, described IN his official COR
respOndeBce, have long been before the pub
lie, which is familiar with every detail. -