The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1848-02-24
Presidsc, that Gen. Taylor should move to /
the leit bank Of the Rio Grande. General
Taylor 60 understood il, Cor IN despatch OF
his dated Alb October, isi5, he says:

lue ctt udnk VI tue MO ufdnuc. Ncucfal
Taylor 60 understood it, for IN despatch Of
his dated 4,h October, isi5. be says:
"li will be reco!ected chat the insiruc'
iicns Of June Is, issued by MIR. Bancroft, :
then acting Sve'y Of War, directed me TO !,
"se!eei and occupy, on or near the Rio >
Grande, such a site as will consist with the
health Of the troops and viii be best adap- ,
ted 10 Iepel invasion." Sc. Brazos Santi- +,
ago 10 the nearest entrance TO the mouth oil
the Rio Gfaude and Point Isabel, within
that entrance aod 81 miles iron Maiamoros,
would have fulfilled more completely than
any other position the conditions imposed
BY the Secretary. But we have had no
artillery, no engineer force or appliances,
and but a moderate amount Of lnfsntry
aud the occupation Of Point Isabel, under
these circumstances, and with al least the
possibility OF resistance from the Mexlcans,
might have compromised the safety Of the (
command. |, ,hersfore, determined TO lake ,
up tho next accessible position in the rear,
which 10 the ,aou.h Of the Nueces river"
Gen. TAILOR says expressly that he un-
derslood Ma, he would more completely
carry OF the order by taking position at
Point ISABEL. Why did be no, He i'm.
medately assigns the reason.
As early as the 18th of December, an
e'der was issued to Gen. TAYLOR, which
ne understood 10 be an order 10 take up his
position on the left bank of the Rio
Grande. An order which he thought
would have been best complied with by es-
tabishiDg his position at Fort Isabel. And
he informed the department on the Alb of
October, that this would have been done,
but that he had not the requisite force 10
enable him TO do it wihou, the fear of
check on the part Of Mexico. Well, sir,
did he understand the order rightly! Let
US see. On the l6h the Secretary writes
10 him.
You will approach as near the uestern
boundary Of 1eras (the Rio Grand.) as
circumstances will permit" &c.
And the fioal order Of the 18th of Jan.
uary, 1876, which all admit, was an i'm.
perative one to Gen. Taylor to advance to
the left bank Of The Rio Giande, abou, the
meaning and propre,y of which there is no
dispute. II 10 concluded in exactly the
Same terms as the two orders preceding
1t. He is directed 10 advance, and occupy
a posItioa on, or near The left bank of the
Rio Grande. There is no intima,ion al
any time after this despatch of General
Taylor, informing him that he is mistakes
IN the construction which he puts upon the
order. "a the contrary, after that des.
( patch must have been receyed-nearIy
thre9 months after II was writien--it is
again indicated 10 be the design OF the de-.
Partmeni, thai he should occupy the same
position which he was directed 10 do pre-.
yiously. He is directed TO do il by reee
lilion Of the order issued in June, ls45
almost in the same terms. Well nov
wha, is the inference from this If in
June, ls45, Gen. Taylor had been pro-
vided with train Of artillery, if he hat
suitable apparatus Of engineers. he woule
under the order Of June 18th have adyanc,
ed, snd taken possession Of Point Isabel
expelling the Mexicans from that position,
and placing it under the conirol of the
United States. Ii he had done so, would
he not have been obey,ng tue orders OF
designed by the government, that he should
do il The means had been in his posses.
sion Ii is evident il was so designed, be.
cause when they had given him the means
and the same order-he assumes The posi-.
ton with the entire appreciation and sup
port OF the gosernment. Well, now, was
not this a singular mode of proceeding, II
he 81, k.f tn md
amity between the two nations! Offence
having been taken for some cause, real or
supposed, that before the President sends
his mission Of peace-a month before he
sends tan order is issued the object and
scope Of which was 10 place military force
within the territory claimed and occupied
BY Mexico. Now, is il not obvious Thu had
\ such movement been carried into effect, it
was calculated TO rouse The Indignation OF
Mexico, aaI 10 prevent the possibility Of
settlement at The differences between the
two countries II regoliaiion was desira.
BILE, il the President himself desired TO set
tie the differences upon amlcab'e terms
would he have pressed mission Of peace
BY an aggression upon the power with
lions! Bat, be il remembered, | have
shown 10 the Senate already, that the Pre-.
eident coasidefe I've have ii under his
own hand in the orders Transmitted TO his
osn ofiicers) thai the expulsion OF the
Mcxicans from the left bank of The Rio
Grande removal Of their settlements
was an act OF aggression hostile act, an
act 10 be ayolded--n order 10 insure the
peaceful settlement Of our difficulties, and
which nothing you'd justify but the occur
renee Of actual war.
Thus, IL seems 10 me, that not only did
the Pfesiden; bring on the war by an IN
lawful md unconstitutional act, but that
he has prosecuted il for the purpose Of
conquest.
10 be concluded aen retk.
CORDED SKIRTS