Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1848-01-04
THE ENQUIRER.
RICHMOND, VA
Saturday Morning, January l. 1913.
THE MARCH TO THE RIO GRANDE.

III z
In reply 10 the article of the Times OF Thurs
day last, we would remark, that we did mol s'raih
the construction CT lis language, as II dis'ihc"y
EXPRESSED itself 10 the effect, as we understood,
that Mr. Donelson did no! consider The claim Of
Texas 10 the Rio Grande one that could be main.
lained by force. Here is its language, win Us
cx,ract from Mir Donelsons letter OF llIh July :;
"Nr DOnelson adts 10 this reasoning;
nsBut whilst, from such views, encohfaseu no az
prrssiye movement the part al ieXas 10 "'Ae
IIe possession of tie Rio Grande, nave
oind no opportunity Satisfying all parties here tnat
In. United states would, III good tain iha'h'. III
claim and that had erery reason 10 0e!'ere tnIS
u0uld do 50 SUCCESSFULLY DV"'' " "
nan, July II, lo45. IT,, AZ
The last expression clearly shows that MI
Donelson did not refer 10 maintaining 'ne c'alnh
by force, in which case he would mol admI sue
cess 10 be doubtful.
ale proceeds IN give his view OF the grounds
on which he thought the claim deiensioe, WHICH
are mol different from those with when our feaI'
ers are entirely familiar. The manner III "hiCh
he PRIVATELY assured all parties IN IeSas mat 'He
UEiled States would maintain the claltn, mani
eslv implied no obligation to assert il in the first
instance as Mr.. Polk did, By armed occupation
We have SEEM on the contrary, that ne expressly
declined 10 accede TO specific Request that that
measure should be guaranteed. II his private
and irresponsible representations, IN mautr
where he had no sort OF authority TO make Them,
are 10 have any weight, they can only impose on
the United States an obligation 10 Use paciilc Ell
forts for The settlement. Of The boundary qrestlon
| according 10 the wishes OF Texas. Instead ol
Selling The territory, as one TO which the ute was
indispulatle MIR Polk, under the largest 'mpli-
cation, was only bound TO secure ii 10 Texas oy
purchase. And il Mexico declined 10 sell he1
claim, il was not Tor him, buIlhc American Con
gress 10 make so questionable wrong cause VI
war."
| We would suppose that Mr.. Donelson's assn
RANGES mus, have been very strong 10 satisfy al
parties Chat The Uni.ed States would, IN sood
| faith, maintain the claim, and that had every
reason 10 believe that they would do successfully.
If il could not be mctntGned by force, II could nc
he a, all, as the fixed determination OF Mexico
was 10 fight lnr the whole OF Texas; and to Ssh
nit to the claim To tha, portion Of Texas between
the Nucces and The Rio Grande, passing into Inc
hands Of Mexico without sustaining W io'ce
would he, in our mind, yielding the point that the
Nucccs was the Western boundary OF Texas.
We think that the very grounds which Inc
Times kes to sustain lis position, are entirely
thosc which show that The action OF the President
was in perfect accordance with the opinion re-
pea,cdy expressed by Mr.. Donelson. In his le'-
Ter to Mr. Buchanan, 23d June, Mr. D. says:
"Mexico, however, has threatened renewal OF
the war for lie whole OF Texas, if she accepts The
proposals fer annexation 10 the Union. II Me
undertakes such an expedition, she, oi couts",
puts upon ne hazard of wal The whole claim ana
gives US The right OF going not only to the Rio
Gran'e, BAT wherever else we may please.
Now, to show that Mexico did intend renewal
OF the war, we give extracts from tho address Of
| Paroles to his troops, and from The manifesto
which was issued from the army under his COM
| mand and also from Arisia's proclamation -
! These extracts, az subsequent events have de-
monstrach, show, beyond ques'cn, that Mexico
was determined en- making war Tor the recovery
/ of Texas. from The time that Texas was annexed.
The nanif sic adopted by The army Of reserve,
Al San LGs Poosi, on the 18th Dec, iS45 when
! The revolutionary movement was made by Paroles
against Herrcra's Government, took tic ground
hat Herera's administration chad repeatedly
I thwarled the purpose Of the army 10 move on
Texas. an! al the same time allowed the army
10 be viliied for its naciion by official journals
| tha, it had admitted commissioner, (meaniog
! MIR. Slitell,) with whom il was endeavorlnS to
arrange for the loss Ct the integrity of the Reput-
lic-ihat il had reduced the country almost 10 4
STATE Of anarchy, in the midst OF which it existed
without revenue vi hOut power, and amhN'
lie don q n toll H.
mediate reme,v, and that the administration con-
iessed its total incompecncy and poweIlessncss
that il had los, all responsibility 50 necessary
to government, and had allowed a plenipoen-
tary Of the United States 70 sc! loot in the coun
try and reside in the capital, with view 10 bar
gain for the independence and nationality o! the
country, for which have becn made 50 many sa-
crifces"
The Times will here see that the fighting Pre-
sidcn, of Mexico was 50 ben, on making war
uron us, that he overlhrew Hereras Govern
menl. because he chad lhwarled The purpose Of
the amy TO move On Texas" and had received
our Minister, (MT. Slidell,) ''with whom it was
trying to arrange for the loss of the Integrity Of
The Republic"
II will be borne in mind that, a! the date Of the
manifesto of Paredes's army, we had made no
advance beyond Corpus Christi; but opr being
there, or al any other point in Texas, was mat
ter Of inconsidcrable moment 10 Paroles, as his
whole course goes to show that his war-oTdeI was
issued as soon after h. got into power as lie could
have force collected on the Rio GIande sutii-
Gent 10 invade Texas
This same fighting Mexican, Genera Paroles,
was in command of The "army of reserve" on
9th August 1916, at 81. Louis Polosi, then on
his way 10 Texas and addressed his troops in the
following manner:
"CCMPAHICNs That same country now raises
lis august front For TIE PURPOSE CT RESISTING
THE UsuRPATIoN CT ANEiGHBoRING POWER whlcn
has believed your valor asleep, and that you arc
no, the sons OF those heroes who, in hundred
combas, manifested their courage ana cons'ah-
CIV. A RAPACioUs AND GRAsPiNo RACE HAVE
ruaovN THEMSELVES UPON OUR TERRITORY, AND
n.pr To PLATTER THEMSELVES THAT WE WILL NOT
DEFEND THE PaTEIMoNY WHICH OUR FATHERS CON
orERyp WITH THEIR BLOOD They DECEIVE THEM
SELVES WE WILL FLY TO SNATCH FROM THEM
THE spo1tS THE POSSESSION CT WHICH THEY ARE
IypUpENTLY ENJOYING; and they shall learn, by
dearly bought experience, lha' lheY are no' Gun
tending with The undisciplined tribes OF Indians,
whom they robbed Of their land, their heaven, and
their country"
On The 18th August, lS45, Arsta, al The head
OF n part of the forces Intended for The invasion
OF Texas, issued proclamation to his troops, in
which he says:
"Comradcs The supreme Executive has sent
TO me, by express, the news lhatlh United Staes,
IN pursuance OF their ambitious views, have Ia
ken possession Of The department OF Texas. He
has demanded a declaration OF war from the Cor
sress against his unjust nation"
"Our lot will be cnvied by The rest OF the army
We arc nearest The theatre Of war; we are the
first to avrngc the ou.rages on our country, AID
To RAvisn FROM THE UsCRPERs THE OBJECT OF
THEIR RAPrNE. Large bodies Of troops are on
their march; they will soon be here 10 share our
dangers and repuse the enemy"