Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1848-04-27

when he issued the order of the 18th Janfary
1910, call the attention of the Senate and the
country to Gen. Taylors correspondence with
The War Department while he remained at Cor.
pus Christi.
In despatch TO the War Department. dated
Corpus Christi, August goth, ls45, Gen Taylor
says that
Caravans of traders occasionally from tho Ric
Grande but bring news of Importance They
that there regular troops that river except at Mata
oras and do not to be Of any preparations for
denomination on this side Of the river"
On the 9Th of September, 1916, in another
despatch he says:
have the honor to report that a confidential AGENT dss
patched days since Matamotas returned and re
ports that extraordinary preparations are going forward
there that the garrison does
aed that our consul is of opinion there will be declaration
Again, in another despatch of Sept 18th
lo45, Gen. Taylor says:
I'VE have Of interest from tho frontier. Arista
a. the las. accounts was at Mer but without any force
theie as yeti any concentration of troops the river"
In despatch under date Of October It'll
! 1915, he says that
Recent arrivals from the Rio Grandc bring news, in
formation Of different inspect from that which reported il
relative to the pacific disposition of the border people bot
SIDES Of the river arc confirmed"
And in another despatch under date of Janu-
airy z, 1876, he says:
1--WE have many arrivals from Maamoras and other points
on the river hut they bring intelligence of interest
cent scout OF volunteers from San Antonio struck the
near Preside Rio Gande, and the commander reports every
thing quiet in that quarter.
| Who, Mr.. President, with this evidence before
him, can say that Gen. Taylor, on the 18th of
January, lS46 was ordered to the Rio Grande
to meet and repel Mexican army there collec-
ted for the invasion of Texas? On the 9TH of
January only six days before the order was is
sued, General Taylor informed the President that
every thing was quiet in that quarter. But, sir,
the honorable Senator from Illinois, (Mr. DOUG
LAss,) has attempted to Justify the order, on a.
mother ground. He says it was issued on the
recommendation and at the request of General
Taylor If this were true, it would be no iusti.
fcation for the President. The expediency of
such measure was question for Congress to
settle. General Taylor had nothing to do with
1t. But, Mr.. President, the army was not Or
dered to the Rio Grande on the recommendation
OF General Taylor. All he said upon the sub
ject is contained in his letter to the War De-
partment, under date of October 4th 1915, more
than three months before he received orders to
leave Corpus Christi. In that letter he says
will be Tecollocted that the instructions of June the
directed me 10 select and occupy Rio Grande
such site as will consist with the health of the Troops and
VIII be best adapted to repel invasion, &c"
Alter assigning the reasons which induced
hun to concentrate his force at Corpus Christi,
he proceeds as follows:
" It's with great Difference that make any suggestions
our IN settling the question of boundary makes
te line OF the Rio Grande utimatum cannot doubt that
the settlement will be greatly facilitated and hastenod by
taxing possession at once OF one or two suitable points on or
quite near tina! river Our strength and of preparation
should be displayed in manner not 20 be mistaken"
If our Government had determined, at all e.
vents, to make the Rio Grande the western boun-
dairy of Texas. the sooner we let Mexico know
it the better. This is the sum and substance of
all General Taylor said upon the subject. Ills
suggestion was based upon the ground that the
line of the Rio Grande was our ultimatum.
MIR. President, there must have been, at the
bottom OF this movement, something more than
desire to settle upon Just and honorable terms
the western boundary of Texas; and will en-
deayor to show what it was. Our Government
was aware that the annexation Of Texas would
give offence 10 Mexico, and an effort was made
to reconcile her to the measure. On the 18th of
April, 1914, Mr.. Calhoun, the Secretary of State,
directed Mr.. Green. our Charge d'Affaires in
Mexico, to inform that Government that treaty
tor the annexation of Texas to the United States
had been signed by the Plenipotentiares of the
two Governments, and would be sent to the SEN
ate, without delay, for its approval. In making
this fact known, Mr.. Green was directed to give
the Mexican Government. the strongest assur-
ance, that, in adopting the measure we were ac-
tuated by no feeling of disrespect or ind florence
to the honor or dignity of Mexico; and that the
step was forced upon the United States in self
defence, in consequence of the policy adopted
by Great Britain in reference to the abolition of
slavery in Texas. Mr. Green was further en-
joined to assure the Mexican Government that it
was our desire to settle all questions between
The two countries which might grow out of the
treaty, or any other cause, on the most liberal
terms, including that OF boundary On the Odd
OF May Mr.. Green gave the Mexican Govern
ment notice of the treaty and strong assurance
that the question of boundary would be settled
on the most liberal terms.
On the 10Th OF September, 1874, Mr.. Calhoun,
as Secretary of State, directed Mr.. Shannon,
our Minister IN Mexico, to renew to the Mexican
Government the declaration made by our Charge
Afaires, that if annexation should be consum-
mated, the United States would be prepared to
adjust all questions growing out of it, including
mat OF boundary, on The most liberal Terms.
Well, Mr.. President, after having given these
strong assurances TO Mexico, in regard to the
question of boundary, we passed the resolution
anneXlng Texas to the United States, and it was
approved on the LIST of March, 1916.
On the 18th Of June, lS45 about three months
aterthe passage of The resolution, and FIVE months
before Texas accepted our proposition of annex
ation the President ordered General Taylor TO
the left bank of the Rio Grande to protect what,
IN the event OF annexation, was to be our ives.
alton was consummated, the administration, not
outstanding the strong assurances given to Mex
leo, that the question Of boundary would be set
tied upon the most liberal terms had determined
that the Rio Grande should be the western boun-
dairy OF Texas. Was this acting in good faith
towards Mexico? Was it calculated to allay
her opposition, and reconcile her to annexation?
No. sir it was calculated to increase her hostility
to the measure, and widen the breach between
the two Governments.
Mr.. SEWER. The order of the 18th June
was that General Taylor should remain on the
Sabine.
Mr.. UPllAM. have it my hand and will
read it.
The acting Secretary of War, in his orders
TO General Taylor, under date of June 18th,
l645, says:
The point of your ultimate destination is the western
hontie OF Texas where will select aud occupy,
near the Rio Grand del Nore, such site will consist with
the health of the troops, will be best adapted repel inva
so and to protect what, in the event of will be
our western border"
Here, sir, is the declaration o. the President,
by his Secretary of War; that, in the event of
the Rio Grande will be our western
border. was, therefore, correct in the assertion
that the Administration had determined, long be-
fore annexation was consummated, to force upon
Mexico the boundary of the Rio Grande And,
Mr.. President, if time would permit, ! could
show by the correspondence of the War De. |