Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1848-02-11
From tie Massachusetts Quarterly Reriew.
The Mexican Var.
ny THEODORE PARKER.
(Continued.)

Attempts had been made TO throw the re-.
sponsibility and the odium of war upon Mex
ice, but Mexico would not take the initiative
and declare war, nor commence an invasion
without declaring il. What was to be done;
shall the President ask Congress 10 declare
war! The success of that would be hope
less. Shall he himself take the responsible
~, and commence hostilities without the adj
vice of Congressi There were yet other
tricks to be tried-which were parallel in
time with Mr.. Slidell's mission to Mexico.
We shall expose this matter by some quota
tons from the correspondence between the
War Department and General Taylor. 1t is
contained in the same document (No. 1867
with the letters of Mr.. Slidell. July 9Th,
1915, Mr.. Marcy then Secretary Of War
thus wrote to General Taylor:
"Mexico has some military establishments
on the east side of the Rio Grande, which
ARE in the actual occupancy of her troops
The Mexican forces at the posts in their pos
session will not be disturbed so long as the
relations of peace continue"
july Both, he adds,
"Ihe Rio Grande is claimed to be the
boundary, and up to This you are 10 ertend
your position, only excepting any posts there
of, which are in the actual occupancy of Mex
lean forces, or Mexican settlements over
which Texas did not exercise jurisdiction at
the period Of annexation, or shortly before that
erent. 1t is expected that you ,ciH approach
as near the boundary Hne-lhe Rio Grande-
as prudence WiN dictate. The President de-
sires that your position should be near the ri
ter Nueees.-pP. 20, II.
Here a snare is laid for the American gen.
eral. He is to take the initiative and bear the
responsibility, if Mexico will not. He is to
decide what places were in the possession of
Texas at the time of annexation, " or shortly
before it," Let it be remarked, besides, that
Texas exercised no more jurisdiction on the
Rio Grande than she did on the Danube
Should General Taylor advance, should Mex
leo regard herself invaded, and Congress re.
fuse to sanction that nvasion-ihe President
can say: General Taylor has exceeded his
instructions, went nearer than prudence will
dictate" entered places over which Texas
did not - exercise any jurisdiction"
Again, Aug. led, Mr.. Marcy writes,
"There is reason to believe that Mexico is
making efforts to assemble a large army on
the frontier of Texas, for the purpose of en-
tering its territory. Should Mexico assemble
a large body Of troops on the Rio Grande, and
cross it with a considerable force, such a moe
ment must be regarded as an invasion of the
United States and the commencement of hos
tilities."-p. 70.
And again, in the letter of Aug. 3Oth, p.
&c, he is authorized, in case of need, to call
for volunteers from Texas. Alabama, Missis-
sippi, and Louisisna.-pp. "A, rs, ct al
Here is the same trick repeated-what is a
I0r0s hOdu nf froonc. tUhat a copc,IonoIIo
force1
General Taylor took position at Corpus
Christi, the most western point in the pos
session of Texas as Mr.. Donelson has often
told US, though the General says, % would
have preferred a position on the left bank Of
The %riuer." He could not find any considera-
be force on the Rio Grande at all, still less,
any thought of invasion.
Again, MIR. Marcy writes, " There may be
other acts on the part Of Merico which wOud
put an end 10 the relations Of peace."-p. &c.
In such a case he is told that he may "cross
the Rio Grande," and take and hold possess
sion of Metamoros.
General Taylor did not fall into the snare
thus adroitly laid for him. He kept within
the Texan limits. He writes that he does
not want any volunteers, and hopes no more
will be sent till called for that the consul
is Of opinion there will be no declaration of
war" by Mexico; "the mass of the people
is opposed TO war with u.s." 81 must eX-
press the hope that no militia force will be
ordered to join me without my requisition."
81 cannot believe that it will become neces-
sary to employ volunteers from the United
States"
After Marcy had finished his trap, set it,
baited it with such instructions for General
Taylor on the 30th of August, he waited ill
the 10th of October, as it appears from the
published correspondence. Perhaps he was
making arrangements for The mission to Mex
leo to negotiate a peace. Be that as it may,
a month after Mr.. Buchanan had written tc
Mexico, desiring that "all existing difficult
ties should be terminated amicably by nego
tiation and not by the sword" stating, also
that the President sis anxious to preserve
peace" and while the American government
was expecting pacific overtures from Mexico
hit writes again TO urge the General Into
the tolls laid for him.
"Previous instructions will have nut yor
in possession of the Uie,Ds Of The gouernmen
of the United States, not oniy as 10 The erten
If its territorial claims, but Of lis Discriminate,
10 assert them. In carrying out these instruc
tions, yOu DiH be left rery much 10 yOur OU'
Judgment" "You will approach as near thu
western boundary of Texas (the Rio Grande,
as circumstances will permit. Ought you
present position lat Corpus Christi, 'tht
most weston point in the possession of Tex
as,'1 to be changed? You need not tUGit Jo'
further directions from WashingtO" 10 carry
out phat you may deem proper to be dOne."-
PIP. 76, II.
WI - a. IL "a, nf "a