Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1848-07-07
RICHMOND, VA.
Thursday Morning, July 8. ls4s.
TIE COURSE OF THE WAR.

HE COURSE Oc ElC w hcs
In most OF the modern wars OF Chrislendom a
formal declaration is promulgated, setting forth
by proclamation the list OF grievances, which
have compelled the people 10 resort 10 this las'
mode OF redress, The arbilrament Of the sword
No such formal declaration was in This war n,ade'
and hence the necessity Of looking 10 events which
prec,d ed il, to ascertain the offence which pro-
duceG il. The expression OF willingness upon
The part of Texas, 10 negotiate or entertain pre-
position of union with us was The occasion OF
strong protests from her minister al Washington
Almon,e, aud,o our minister in Mexico from Inc
Mexican Secretary Bocanesra, and was followed
by a termination OF the armistice thus subsislins
with Texas. and a resumption OF hosii'iles, as
annsars from Walls order. The consummation
! Of that union led to the immediate withdrawal q
The Mexican Minister. Up TO the 10th day Of
| March lS45, the United States and Mexico were
occupying the relations OF ami,y and friendship.
! The first communication which took place be-
tween them after that withdrawal is The letter OF
Mr.. Black to Pena Pena, under the date oil 18Th
October, 1915, from which we copy as follows =
"The undersigned can assure his exceilency that
Il is with the most heartfelt, satisfaction ne sees IN
The preceding proposition on the part OF The RE-
sidep, OF the United States OF America, nolwith-
sanding The preparation for Wsr on both SIDES
&c. The reply Of Pena Pena accepts The pro-
position, and contains The extract already ci'eo nn'
der date OF 18Th October, ls45 On the 3lst Of the
same comes the official declaration thai Inc 60
yernment of Mexico has suspended her orders oil
acting hostliies against us 10 avail, The result OF
negotiation. On the 9th OF December following
Mr.. Slidell writes TO Mr. Buchanan: 1.-THE COM
mand OF The division Of reserve destined TO oPe-
rate upon The frontiers Of Texas was entrusted 10
General Paredes AMI ordered 10 advance several
months since 10 The line OF The Rio Del NoTe."-
,sThe force under his command is variously esii-
mated al from 5000 to 5000 men, and is said to
lie. On the 30ih OF the same month Herrera
then President Of Mexico was by military revo-
luton displaced, and Paroles installed, and the
motive, as declared by lie Mexicans themselves,
Tor this was that Herrera was for peace, Pare.
des was Tor war; and This fac, is repeated by Her
rera himself in note declining 10 &C, as Com
missiouers to negotiate peace as late as Oclo-
Der lS47. Again, on the 18th day Of March
1916, Castillo y Lanzas, in note TO Slidsil, re.
fering TO Texas annexation, says: 1.-THE Supreme
Government, had before hand declared tina it
would look upon such act as a Casus 6tAt"-
War; and as consequence Of this declaration,
| negotiation was by its nature at an end. and
war was the only recourse o! the Mexican
Government. All this occurred before &C.
neral Taylor marched from Corpus Christi.
Save the lerer of Lansas, and that was
the day after, If any declaration, however Tor.
maj, can be pointed out more emphaicaly ex-
pcil than these records, we would be gratihed 10
| find il. Troops had been concentrated upon the
| Rio Grande, point from which Texas could be
mos; successfully attacked; Mexico had de.
clared that war was her determination; our
Minis'er had been formally notified that her go.
vernmenr would suspend hosili,ies 10 await the
issue of that negotia,ion-all before the march OF
TAYLOR = that General went, declaring that
peace was his mission; that he must hold terri
tory until The ,wo governments should adjust A.,
and, on The Oath day of April, when force twice
his Own had been concentrated, he is informed by
The Mexican General "hcstihies have COM
menced." Can an unprejudiced mind doubt that
The annexation Of Texas was to Mexico The cause
of the war;
THE COURSE OF THE WING PARTY.
In speaking of the ac'ion Of the Wing parry
from The period OF the annexation OF Texas down
10 the presen, Time we shall be necessarily more
prolix than on either of The preceding heads. BY
the course OF the Wing party, we mean that con.
duct which has been BY Them pursued in the lie.
gislalion OF The country, in the arguments adj
and speeches Of the prominent men OF the party.
The question Of annexation was officially pre-
scented ia the treaty under Mr.. Tyler's admins
tra,ion TO the Senate. variety OF views was
here entertained, tul majority ct The Wing Sc.
majors assumed The position that Texas could Dol
become one OF our Union, because her indepen-
dsnce had no, been recognized by Mexico herself.
And, With the view Of meeting this objection, a
Senator from Virginia, then al the head Of The
Commiuee Of Foreign Relations, informs US that
he had honestly used his exerioas TO defer action
upon ,ha, subjec, tor forty five days, 10 allow a
messenger 10 go and return from Mexico
The canvass OF 1874 was fought upon the is
sue of Texas. The candidate Of the Wing party
repeatedly avowed himself opposed TO annexa-
lion, declaring that 10 annex Texas was eauiya-
len, TO declaration OF war against Mexico
Tha, assumption was fully responded 10 by the
whole parry, with few exceptions, In the South.
The vote upon The final passage If The rcsolu.
tons shows how parties then s'ood-fve, and but
FIVE Wings having voted 70! them. Texas was
annexed. To defend her from invasion ii beca me
necessary 10 send troops under General Taylor
10 the banks OF the Rio Grande. An invasion
was attempted aud resulted in The battles Of Pale
Alo and Resaca de la Palma on the 9Th OF May
1896 Tue condition of Taylor and his force was
made known 10 Congress by special message on
the 18th OF May. The instructions which had
been given 10 General Taylor, authorizing him,
ia the event OF any necessity, TO call upon The
Governors of those States mos, convenient 10 The
theatre of war Tor achievements, were al
tn. same time communicated, and the fact, that
no legislation by Congress. then could possibly
be il tune TO relieve him, was perfectly manifest
t. every one Taylor was surrounded on the
2i,a day II April, and |. was morally certain,
,ha. before the 18th day Of May, he mus, either
have surrendei ed or fought his way out. Months
must elapse, before regiment, authorized BY
Congress, could possibly have been transported
for his relief 1t is perfectly manifest therefore,
that there was mol, and could not be The slightest
necessity TO vote either men or money, with such
view. The Democratic party, conscious OF
the rec,itude of our acts, introduced a bill de-
clarine that the war existed by the &c, OF Mexico,
and providing ten millions Of dollars and fifty