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

TO THE RIO GRANDE"
Now, sir, here is misapprehension and a misstate-
neht Oh the position ne proposed to refue-here sub
sttuton OF the idea of express order to march troops
TO the Rio Grande, instead of my real position, ex
pllcitly stated IN his speech that Gen Taylor had
been assigned the defence of the country toes to the Rio
rfdnde-a distinction the more important, when we con
slider the sequel OF my argument which left the response
bity of selecting, advising the selection Of the parcu
and referred the whole responsibility of taking military
possession to the Rio Grande TO the positive orders
OF government issued early June, lS43, infor
nation OF which communicated to Congress in De-
cember 1885, fully appears from the record just read
while the particular order of January 49, 1896 sub
ordinate to the original and primitive action of the gov
eminent in June 1915, and taken in concurrence
with the commanding general, a further and necessary
of maintaining boundary and possession the
Rio Grande which Congress had been informed was al
ready designated to Gen Taylor the western frontier
Of Texas
Sir, cannot suppose that the honorable gentleman
from Indiana designedly Inexperienced missated the
assume that he considered the idea he here expresses
in regard to order to march troops the Rio Grande
as identical with my position that Gen Taylor had been
assigned to the defence of the country west TO the Rio
Grande-ap position which the gentleman from Indiana will
feel and acknowledge, s fully sustained by the report Of
the Secretary OF War; which, Notwithstanding his careful
examination OF all the documents, overlooked by the
gentleman from Indiana ! am the confirmed in
this impression, from the fact that the gentleman says in
the extract from his speech which have read that
the Secretary of War, at the commencement Of that
dec. 1S45 communicated to Congress intelligence
of The fact that General Taylor had been assigned to the
commend O. the country bessn the Nsee So and the kiS
| am constrained to believe the honorable gentleman
read the report of the Secretary of War, for there
is such communication statementin it that which
have just stated in the terms and language OF the honor
able gentleman from Indiana. All that is to be found in
that report about the orders to General Taylor and the
Texan frontier, is that which have already read, and
which says nothing about ultimate Destination" No
such be found in the report from the beginning
to the end but the contrary, the explicit declaration
tkaN al e
army of occupation in Texas, to repe Mexican aggres
sons and to repe Indian nvasons and ito regard the Rio
del Nore its Isras svestern boundary and to select
position for has forces ,OiM reference to this frontier
assume, then, sir that the gentleman from Indiana is
not playing upon TERMS and changing the issue that
General Taylor had been assigned to the defence Of the
nical declaration ' that General Taylor had been
ordered to march the troops under his command to
to avoid conclusion unfortunate for that gen
tlenan than the one | have already enunciated, to
wit: that he has sinned sin Of omission, in not reading
the report of the Secretary of War; when he 30 carefully
examined all the documents; and a sin of commission
when he stated this House that the Secretary of War;
at the commencement of this session. dec, 1859
destination" of Gen Taylor Sir have thus referred
to the misapprehension of the position in my speech
which the gentleman from Indiana proposed to contro-
vert and to his double sin of and commission
his examination of the public records of history vim
dictate which he seemed the chosen champion A word
now upon his Misrepresentation and msapplication of
these records, where he has not omitted to examine
them, and where he states correctly their context.
refer to his view OF that order to General Taylor, in
the Rio Grande. This order, the gentleman himself
says in subsequent part of his argument, was issued
before the terms of annexation offered by Congress had
been accepted by Texas and, is very clear on its
face expresses to General Taylor the instructions of his
government, that his ultimate destination, when Texas
shall have accepted our terms OF annexation will be the
western frontier of TeXasthe Rio Grandeur or near
,ohich he will take his position | will read the whole
letter
| [conhdentialI
| WAR DEPARTMENT, June Is, 1916.
SIR On the 4th day of July next, worry soon hereaf
tor the convention of the people OF Texas will probably
a.ons the as Congress Of the United States That
ceptance will constitute Texas integral portion our
In anticipation Of that event. you will forthwith make
forward movement with the troops under your command
point the Gull of Mexico its navgable waters as in
your judgment may be convenient for an embarka
lion at the proper time western frontier of Texas
In leaving your Judgment to decide the route it is in
tended that you choose the most expeditions having due
The force under your Immediate comm and at and near
Fort Jesup be put in motion the receipt of
suctons, will be the Sd and 4th regiments of infantry
and companies of the "a regiment of dragons The
absent companies OF the 4h infantry have been order
ed to join their regiments Artillery will be ordered from
is understood that suitable forage for cavalry cannot be
obtained in the region which the troops occupy; if
this De So the must leave their horses and
accustomed to subss forage may be procured
If be found You Will therefore take
order portion OF the cavalry equipments ac-
company the regiment, with view mounted service
The point Of ultimate destination IL the
Ierds here Ou select and occupy, the
Rio 1ramdc del Norfe, such site cH consist tuih the
health of troops and A best adapted repe invasion
and to protect oaa in ne event Of anneraton ,OM be
border You piA im yours to the defence of the
territory Of Texas unless rics should declare against
the United States
Your movement the Gulf of Mexico and your prepara
tons embark for the western frontier of IL be
made without any delay; butyou will not effect landing
that frontier until you have yourself the
of Texas the protered
or until you receive directions from MIR. Donelson
am, sir, very respectfully your obedien servant,
GEORGE BANCROFT
To Brig. Gen T. TAYLOR, U. s. Army, Commandng LIST
Dept, Fort Jesup, La.
So much for his evident msapprehension ofthe record
But the msappcaton of it is even more unfortunate
for this order of June 15 1s45 thus Inexperienced is
treated by the honorable gentleman the report of the
Secretary of War to Congress at the commencement of
the session in December. 1s45; when fact was not
communicated to Congress until May. 1885, after the
not the opportunity to msapprehend msapply this
order to Gen. Taylor about his ultimate destination
They only knew what the Presidents message and the
report of the Secretary of War explicitly stated-that
Gen Taylor had been instructed regard the Rio Grande
the western frontier of Texas and defend and protect
the country west to that frontier And this is all have
presumed to state and 1t is to contrOvert this position
that the honorable gentleman from Indiana has enve
oped himself in errors of fact and inference.
The importance of this position cannot be overated
for Congress- thus explicitly acquainted with the policy
southwestern frontier, engaged in further legislation
which, have argued, afhrmavey sanctioned the policy
OF the Executive, and concurred in treating the Rio
Granda as the frontier of Texas II is to this question of