The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-05-05

right of resistance but further that the people Of Texas
had successfully resisiedthat they in fact, aud
rghuly, independent and being So the right of annex
aon was necessary corolary. The American people
sustained the democratic party, free principles vim
deaed, and the dominion OF desposm receded beyond
The succeeding Congress passed joint resolutions for
the annexation OF Texas, upon certain terms and cond
ons to be submitted to the people Of that country for
acceptance. Within lew days alter the passage OF the
Joint resolutions Almonte, the Mexican minister, then
resident government entered his solemn protest
against this act, declaring II TO be infringement OF the
rights of his governments and at the time demanded
his passports, and returned home Ii definitely
KNOWN from official and unofficial, that Mexico
regarded annexation OF war; and would proceed
TO sustain her claims BY the invasion OF Texas. Her
claim to the whole OF Texas; and her threat was 10
plant her conqueng standard the banks OF the Sabine
On the 4ih day OF july ls43 a convention OF the Peo-
pie of Texas called together to consider the propositions
of government, accete! the terms and condons OF
the joint resolutions by unanimous vote; and, the
10Th OF December following, Congress passed second
Joint resolution for the admission of the State OF Texas
into the Union " and thus this great event was consum
mated and Texas restored to the American conederacy
Upon the acceptance of the proposed terms of annexation
by the convention of Texas, she was virtually in the
Union, and authorized TO invoke the protection of our
government By her alliance with us, she had excited
fury the angry passions OF her lmpacabe Zoe, and
had become bound by the compact of union protect
her from the consequences of act to which we We're
| a party. An invasion not only threatened but
mics collected AMI marshalled hey ond the Rio
tirande for this purpose. Now sir, il will not he
lroveTted. that il The paramount duty OF the Execu
tive, under these circumstances, TO employ the military
power OF the government to repe the threatened INVASION
of the State of Texas. On the 18th of june in anicpa
ton of the action OF the convention, adequate military
force under Gen. Taylor ordered advance TO the
mouth OF the Sabine Subsequently, in obedience 10
ders, he took position at Corpus Christi, beyond the
Nueces, where ne remained until the 18th OF March,
1916. In the mean tme every effort had been made by
government to concate Mexico, and induce her to
settle existing difficulties by negotiation. But our prof
fers OF negotiation were spurned, our concessions de-
sgsed and our attempts at Cancellation held as evidences
of cowardice.
Such the state OF our relations the 18th Of Oco
Der, 1915, when Gen. Taylor advised onward march
our military preparation would tend to the peaceable
adustment of all questions dispute He thought it adj
vsable to make this advance, with the view OF 'shOw
ing" readiness to vlndcae by force our title to the
Rio Grande This advice was given with one qualIca
ton, ''if our government designs 10 make the boun-
Diary OF the Rio Grande an ultimatum But before the
18th of January 1885, the day which the order to ad
vance was issued TO Gen. Taylor, government had
determined 10 make this line utmatlm. l concede
the President alone had no power to determine this qes-
ton. make reference to him when speak OF the
government On the 3lst of December, 1885, Congress
had passed establishing port of delivery at Cor
nus Christi beyond the Nueces and within the territory
nou said to be disputed and on the 4th Of February
1916, Congress passed another act establishing post
route within the territory intermediate the Nueces and
Corpus Christi, as Corpus Christ, in Texas" One OF
the above passed before the order to advance
was issued oth before the advance actually made
But apart from these legislative declarations OF the two
houses of Congressto which il would be unnecessary
to reference but for the purpose OF showing har
mony of opinion between the executive and legislative
branches of the government-we have other and more
conclusive evidences that the Rio Grande is the true
! boundary OF Texas.
The only claim OF Texas to any part OF her territory
rests upon successful revolution and as lar as her revo
ton extended, pnri pdssu her territory extended Now
matter of history that the people west OF the Nueces
participated in the revolution and made common cause
with Texas for liberation The convention which declared
the independence OF Texas in March, 1885, was com
posed part, of delegates IRON the country between the
Nueces and the Rio Grande, and, of course, the lnhab
ants OF the intermediate country were included In the
declaration
In consequence OF the armisce agreed upon between
the two countries in S43 Santa Anna then President OF
Mexico, made the following proclamation through Gen
VOL, one OF the commanders OF his army;
.3a Every Individual who shall be found at the distance
Of one league iet bank Of The RIO B'aoo will be
regarded iavoer and accompllce OF the uspers OF
that part OF the national territory
Again after the defeat of Santa Anna at Buena VISTA
in his report Of that battle he says:
II observed we cood say no,hing Of peace while the
Americans ths side Of tie RIO Braro or occupied
| aay part Of the Mexican territory"
But need not multiply proofs upon purely geographical
question which well settled especially since Mexico
pending the agitation OF annexation in this country
offered acknowledge the independence oil Texas with
the Rio Grande her boundary, upon condition that
she would not annex herself 10 any foreign power And
is not necessary TO my purpose to show an lndsputa
bic title to the Rio Grande; conceding the intermediate
territory be dsputabe, and had an equal right to
its occupation with the adverse claimant. Moreover, If
and our armed occupation had been necessary for the
purpose of repeng INVASION under the law OF nations
we were authorized TO extend our armies over It, That
an invasion determined on, IS no longer matter OF
conjecture The march of the army to Ma,amoras did
not bring on the war; but merely determined the locality
OF the first battle. Ii movement designed to has
ten peaceful adjustment OF pending d1culties, as well
as to overawe the spirit OF aggression BY display OF
military preparation" And looking at all contingencies
it was wisely determined to meet the INVASION II alo
occur upon unsettled frontier, before the popuous
parts of the country had been visited by It's scorge
Well sir all our efforts TO avoid war were unavalllng
On the oath of April Gen. Arisa, then in command OF
the Mexican forces, communicated to Gen Taylor that
.he considered hosties commenced and should prose-
cute themv On the same day, Capt Thornton, with
detachment of sixty three Dragons, surrounded by
large body of Mexican troops; short eng agement en-
sued in which sixteen of Thornons men were killed
and wounded, and the remainder compelled to surrender
Thornton anu his this side the RIO Grande,
on the soil of Texas OF the States OF The American
conederacy The Mexican army had LETT their own ter
rtoy and crossed the river for offensive purposes and
actually commenced the by shedding the blood OF
American soldiers upon American soil These facts were
communicated Congress by the Executive on the lltb
Nav ls46, with Recommendation to Congress ITO rec
ognse the existence OF the war; and to place at the dis
position of the Executive the means OF prosecuting the
war with vigor" In conformity with the recommends.
ton of the Executive Congress- the 18th OF the same
month, passed act providing for the prosecution OF
the existing war between the United States and the re-
public of Mexico the preamble OF which declares that
by the act OF the republic of Mexico state OF war ex
lists between that government and the United States"
This act provided for prosecution OF the war to
speedy and successful terminaon and appropriated ten
millions of dollars and authorized the Executive to &C
cent the services of fifty thousand volunteers ioi
| This nurpose In the House of Representatives but