The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-03-11

commenced by Mexico, but by the President OF the
United States Let us, sir go back, Tor moment 70 the
circumstances which Immediately preceded It's commence
nent. Every act of the President shows think, most
concusvely that he was extremely solicous to AVOID
collision with Mexico
1t had been asserted repeatedly asserted that
Texas was an act OF war; would inevitably lead 10
war The President thought otherwise, and did every
thing IN his power to avoid such result He sent MN
ser who was thought TO be- PERSONALITY more acceptable
than any other to negotiate with Mexico. Her minister
had left Washington in high dudgeon and she indignant
y refused to receive our representative or to listen to
TERMS declaring, IN the face OF truth OF twelve years
standing that Texas was her province Her government
denounced that OF the United States declared its deter
so strengthened her army and commenced its concentra
ton upon the Rio Grande. Thus stood at the be-
ginning Of the year 1916.
General Taylor, in despatch to the Secretary of
War; dated Corpus Christi on the 4h of October 1885,
had, very properly, think, recommended movement
to the Rio Grande In his communication the General
says:
Sir beg lea We to suggest some considerations in relation
to the position OF force, and the disposition
which may become necessary for the more eecnal prose-
cuon Of the objects for which it has been entrated
After giving, at full length the for the
mendation which he was about to make, he proceeds to
say:
"For these position thus far has, think,
been the best possible but that the entire force will
soon be concentrated it may well be question whether
the views of government will be best carried by
naming this point 1t is with great Difference that
any suggestions topics which may become mat
ers of delicate negoatons but our government in set
Grande ultmatum cannot doubt that the settlement
will be greatly facilitated and fastened by taking pos
session at once of or two points quite near that
rve strength and state of preparation should be dis
played in not be mistaken However sauta-
our presence here we too far from the frontier to
press the of Mexico with readiness to win
dcate by force of arms if necessary our title TO the coun
try far as the Rio Grande. The army of occupation
viii in few days be concentrated at this point, in cond-
ton for vigorous aud effective service. Mexico yet
having made positive declaration OF war; or committed
any act of hostes, do not feel at liberty under my in
sructonsparticularly those OF July the SIto make
forward movement to the Rio Grande without authority
from the War Department.
The President very properly adopted the suggestion Of
General Taylor and ordered the troops TO the Rio Gande
instructng that officer to avoid everything calculated to
lead to collision. On the 2st of March, 1916, Gen.
Taylor met at the Colorado by the Mexican troops
and ordered peremptoriy not to that river Now,
sir, to which party is that principle of the law OF nations
applicable, which declares that for either party to take
armed possession Of territory in dispute is an act Of
Taylors dragons were taken prisoners and bug!er
boy robbed Of his horse by the Mexican troops On the
mIncation from General Taylor, and on the 10th Of
April Colonel Cross was missing and in few days his
body was found shockingly mutilated On the 18th.
General Ampudia arrived at Matamoras and peremptoy
ordered General Taylor to retire Taylor declined to do
So but expressed the wish of his government for peace
able adjustment of all difficulties On the 18TH Lieut..
and after being disabled by wound was butchered On
the 18th General Taylor was well satisfied of the hos
tile intentions OF the enemy, that he bockaded the
mouth of the Rio Grande in order to cut off supplies that
were expected by them On the oath, General Ampudia
demanded that the blockade should be rased the Amer
lean general refused On the same day General Arsta
ton, in command of fory-fve Dragons, was attacked
by Torejon, with force OF over two thousand and
and WS hh bv
force of Mexicans. On the LIST of May, an unarmed
family of sixteen persons, two OF whom were te-
Males were taken prisoners at the Colorado by the
ttod in n9ir0 Ia NUOm nOnd
and their throats cut and left to rot upon the prairie.
Mr. President Texas suffered much at the hands of Mex
in Mexican dungeons and starved. But, sir, we had to
submit to such outrage as this and sir. such an in
suit had not been washed out with blood and had
been left unavenged by the President of these United
States would have caused every American heart to
from him with loathing and disgust Who is there in
all this broad land that would have cried forbear" OF
could have expected the Executive again to entreat the
Mexicans to negotiate Not one, sir; no, not one.
The battles Of the sth and 9th followed, and who is
there that, if he could do So would be willing to blot
these and the brilliant victories which have followed
quick succession from the pages OF our counys history
The President sir, has been blamed for alluding TO the
injuries and insults inflicted upon us by Mexico If there
forbearance in this matter Mexico has, sir for the last
twenty years. robbed your fellow citizens of their proper
ty and imprisoned their persons in violation OF solemn
treaties She has met their demands upon her for re.
dress with insult and Indifference until they have ceased
to appeal to you for redress In Mexico, SIR ever since
she has had government OF her to claim to be
l
property and imprisonment OF person, while to claim to
be an English French subject was to unbar the doors
of her dungeons How different in this respect has been
the conduct OF the French government from that of
own. When redress was refused for injuries inflicted
upon French citizens, the government OF France did
stop to parey and negotiate She battered down the
walls of the castle of San Juan fUloa and the proud
Castilian blood, about which we have heard so much
instantly yielded to the demands of justice.
1t is sir, beautiful feature in the policy OF the British
government that she fails to redress the grievances
of the lowest well the proudest OF her subjects
and hence arises that deep-seaed enthusiastic attach
ment which British subject always feels to the institu
tons OF his country. He may PERISH sir, in far disan
land beneath the scouge of the oppressor but his dying
moments are cheered by the that his govern
ment will exact ample redress for the wrongs inflicted
country.
| | hope the day will come when American either
will look with similar confidence to his government
but sir pains to say it. hitherto it has been far 9TH
erwse. apIg "t
might aude to the many instances OF oppression prac
tsed on American citizens by Mexican officers but sir
it would take volumes record them all and feel safe
within the last twenty, during which the dungeons O
Mexico have not contained American citizens,
rated without fault crime justly impuabe to them
This sir but feeble sketch Of the of the gov
eminent of Mexico, in behak of whom much sympa
thy is invoked from the people of the United States
| But Mr. President we are in the midst of war. Tha
it exists matter of regret to ALL and the it
be brought to close the better Itismy opinion that
the President had been properly sustained it would hav
erences of opinion have had the effect OF proongng Thu
war but you will allow me- Mr.. President here to say
at the time, believe that those who contend that
was unconstutionally and improperly begun sin