Edgefield advertiser. (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, May 20, 1846, Image 2
FRtOM SHE ARMY.
Frm t EXICAN-WAR.
It isf lyuPderstod that the:Mexicans
have been sustained in. their hostility to
"tbe United States by foreigners. So after
al it is not quite so magnanimous to be
'so coot and comfortablo under insult as
might be supposed, even if our soil were
not.invaded. But we will give a transla
tion of a Proclamation which Ampudia
has found the means of distributing in the
American camp, by way of letting our
readers into the secret service of the war
now raging. -
The Conniander-in-Chief of he Mexican
army to the English and lrtst under
-the orders of the Am:erican Gen. Taylor:
Know YE: That the Government of
the United States is committing repeated
acts of burbarons aggression against the
magnanimous Mexican Nation; that the
Government which exists under "the flag
of the stars" is unworthy of the designs
tion of Christian. Recollect that you
were born in Great Britain that the Amer
ican Government looks with coldness up.
on the powerful flag of St. George, and is
,provoking. toa rupture the warlike people
to whom it belongs, Pre,ident Polk bold
ly manifesting a desire to take possession
of Oregon, as he'has already done of Tex
as. Now, then, come with all confidence
'to-the Mexican-ranks, and I guarantee to
you, upon my honor good treatment, and
that all your expenses shall be defrayed
until your arrival in the beautiftl capital
of Mexico.
Read Quarters upon the road to Meta
inor.s, Aptil 2. 1146.
Tltis exhibits the tnachioatious at the
bottom of the present enterprise. The
Mexican fort of SaiJuan do Ulua is filled
with'foreign engineers, and the Army now
this side of the Rio Grande is accompa
eied by French. English and other artille
ryrnen. Ar. army altogether formidable
enough to excite the spunk and exercise
the military abilities of as great a people
aspopular orators describe us to be. awaits
us. Mark this. And sinrce the war has
begun, let it be pushed forward with vi
gor. A tiny. Lilliputian at'air, will but
tarnish our arms. To end the campaign
as becomes the honor and .dignity of tire
Republic, and American General should
dictate the terms of peace in the city of
Mexico.
FROM MEXICO..
Since our last publication Capt-. Brew
er of the brig Plymouth. has arrived from
Vera Cruz. He brought us our corres
pondence and our files of Mexican papers,
but ,betiatterrate no later than previously
received. The following letter- may be
of some interest, as coming from a very
respectable spurcet
German, French, Poles, and individuals
ofother nations! Separate yourselves from
the Yankees, and do nor contribute to de
fend arobbery and usurpatin which, be
assured,- the civilized .nations of Europe
look upon with the utmost indignation.
Come, therefore, and array yourselves un-.
der the tritcoloredflag, in the -confidence
that: the G t.firmies protects.it, and tha
it will tcctre dally-with' the-En
- -Woiearnby Capti W!b1. of the scihoo
er Santi sa five days nmuw the iBrasos,
-the Mexicans bid .apius~ed-several wa
gons ladedi with articles for the sutler's
department. an the road from Point a
bel to the encampment opposite Matamo
ras. On the 24th nlt.'2000 Mexicans cros
sod the Rio Grande. It was expected ihat
an attack would be mnade on Point Isabel.'
Gen. Ampudia had notified Gen. Taylor
that the American army .would be demol
ished if he did not evacuate his position in
30 hour-s.
A M~exican topsail schooner a'as lying
in the Brasos, laden w~ith provisions, do
tained and sent'in by the U. S vessels of
war cruising off the harhor.
'Lieur. Rtenshnwv was at Point Isabe
with some of his seamen, he had been
cruising with thie late 'Texan Revenue
Cutter Santa Anna, had ordered offseve
ral Mexican vessels laden with provisions
bound to the Rio Grande.
-NEW OitLEars, May 6.
The Printers bound for Texas.-WVe
are rejoiced to percieve that the prin
ters of this city are among the foremost
of the volunteers who have enolled their
names to march1 to he aid of theircouritry
men on the banks of the Rio Grande, in
.defence of nur national honor, and although
they can be spared kess thatn almost any.
other class, we cheerfully say to' them,
God speed !: They are . as- brave a set of
fellows as ever sbouldered a musket, and
thoroughly understand the edse in hand.
We expect to hear, and feel confident that
we shall do so, that- the brave band of
which they are a component part hove
nobly distinguished 'themselves. OGut of
about two hundred printers at present in
the city. the following are of the number
who have volunteered and set an example
that should be followed by all othetr trades;
if it is, there will be no lack of volunteers.
Among the companyof Louisiana Volun
teer Riflemeni raised by Capt-. Marks, the
nimes of the following printers appear:
'Hiram'Fairchild, 1st Lieutenant ;- J. A..
Kelly, ed Lieutenant;. David Jobson,
(George F. Weir; Paol.de-Jannay, J. A.
aangarl, L. Graham, T. N. Jeffreys, 3.
H-. Peoples, John-Wade, Chas. Donoho,
W. J. Mofrait, Chas. Callahan, George
Kerr, G. L. Franer, S. J. Jones. Sa muel
Aibright, W.' H. Dums, W. E. Ekins;.
Thos..F. Hedges, David Frazer; T. Wal
lace, 0. .T. Sheppard. E Davis. J~. Saun
derlin, F. A, Deviliersanod John T. Stew
art..
- *U.S.- Troopsfrom Fort Pike.-A' db
tatbinent -of regular troops numbering
about eighty. arrived'yesterday from Fort:
IEike,. and marehed to their quarters at the
Barracks. .Several.comnpnies of. volun
teers raised .in this city. we learn, also
iiearehed. down last evening. The U. ,S.
uterrnaster has despatched all neces
s.-atyar-msen'd eqiuipments to the Barraclis,
sotbat theid. nesed'be no delay in getttng
Recruitas y'r Tesas.-u'ie nun-be of
volunteers already obtaitred in this city is
about 1200, certainly not itore 'tha at'
nutier, 'Unless they coafowarda ih'
afore rompt ness, the '6Woernor will be. '
compe led to resort to a arart. .>Several
very flue compaaieb 'have ;been- formed,
and we .sincerely, trust that there will be
no holding back on the part of our citizens.
when it is of the most vital importance
that tbe whole force should depart imme
diately.-Ibid.
'Mexican Steamers isfontezuma ' Guad
iloupe--Inportant.-W e noticed some two
weeks since t hat we believed the announce
meat of the sale of the two war steamer. I
as a sham, and that they would appear, is
case of hostilities with Mexico, as privsa
teers. We are still of this opinion, and.
we have a fear, that the harBor of Havana
will contain our worst enemies. A U.
States 74 should be stationed of the mout
of the harbors to watch with great care.
what comes out of it. It will be recollert
ed that in 1836, the Mexican armed bria.
Mentezuma lay off the Sabine and captur
ed the American schr. Julius Caesar. and
others,filled with emigrants bound to Tex
as, and carried, them into Mietamoras.
The vessel conveying soldiers f-om our
city to the seat of war, should be provided i
with two or three pieces of heavy artillery.
They might be interrupted by the way.
-Tropic.
From the N. 0. Picayune, May 10.
LATER FROM BRAZOS SANTIAGO! I
Fight between Capt. Walker. of the Texas Ran
gers. and a large body of Mezicans ! Loss 1
of Six 2'czians ! Thirty Mlezieans killed.!
The brig Ellen and Clara arrived this
morning from Brazos Santiago. having
sailed on the 29th ult.-one day later than
the schooner Augusta. There bad been
no fight betw een Jen. Taylor and the
Mexicans.
Capt. Walker, a gallant Texian volun
teer, a-id not a captain of the service, had
been driven into the post at Point Isabel,
by the Mexicans. With his small com- I
mand he had sallied forth and encoun
tered the main body of the Mexicans
not less than 1500 strong. Most of his i
men being Taw recrUits, refused to stand
by bitn-. and made their escage. Twelve I
meo, however, tretnained firm, and with
this little handful, Walker kept the Mex
icans in check for half ad hoar. By this
tim . six of his men had falis by his side, I
when his horse was shot under him-, and be i
with the surviving men effected their es
cape and reached the post at Point isa
abei in safety. Above thirty Mexicans
were killed in this engagement. 1
This engagement occurred 6o the " 8h
Capt. Walker got Into the post about five
o'clock in the afternoon of that day, His I
original fore, known as Texan Rangers,
'amounted to about 75 men.
The Mexicans pursued Capt. Walker
in his retreat until they came within radge t
of the guns of the post. when they in.tur1
imtnediately retreated. .
The post is very strongly defended,
thanks'to the exertions of Majors Monroe I
and Saunders.- With 500 men-to defend
the .po - bieved it can beamade I
T next ayCapt. Walkrvoluateera4 -a
Ttherf u 'in sae n A tricingh- I
inii id0c etican side ot +'ini Grnde-- { !
t1C a iia ttIGe. a~tld -Wne half briow Gen. ti
Taylor's camp. "
The greatest apprehension now felt for
the American position is, thant the' Mexi- f~
cane may erect, fortifications wvhichi will D
omriand Brazos Santiago. The natural o
tormation of the ground is most favorable 15
for such a purpose. The men 'would he (I
crectually protected-from any naval furce d
y a natural embankment of sand, antI the
osition could only be carried by actual I
storm. of the wsorks These works would a
perfectly comnmaud all vessels entering the il
Brzos Santiago, as they have to Iollow n
the channel witbin a few feet only of the
osition which would be occupied by tie 'l
nemy's guns. E
The schooner Aurora left Brados $Sd- b
iego the evening of the 28th alt; with g
despatches for this port, but it is feared p
she has been lost, its a violent gale, with ii
ll hands on board.
We are indebted for the above particu- h
lars, so hurriedly thrown together, to Dr. t<
. T. Briggs, a surgeon in the army, who
came passenger on the Ellen and. Clara. i3
The report of the above action, as d
brought by the captain of the Ellen and
lara, is, tirat that there were seventy -five tl
men under Captain Walker, whbo were c
nearly all killed or taken prisoners. .Dr. b
Brigga stated to' us that but six rtreu were i
killed, fighting bravely by the side of their
ommander, We have another version of at
this affair, furnished by a passenger, a hieb v
agrees essentially with that of Capt. A~
Griin. Both appear to have derived~ si
their reporte fromt the pilot who took the S
llen and Clara over the bar. The action c:
's said by them to have taken' place 15 or zn
18 miles from kPoint Isabeh .
Capt. Walker distinguished' himsel? in is
the famous I1ier-expedition' by his extreme ai
alantry. Col.' Fisher, who- confinan~ded'
in the'expedition and is' now in' towtr. tv
iforsus that Walker is- as brave asman' (
as ever breathed'-that if any man'on'earth' .t
a carty ihraugh'a. message-from l?oint
sabel to Gen. Taylor. Walker is the i
man who can do it- We. hope yet' to'hear
hat he has-au :eeded in his design, though- b
it wasregardedat Point hsabel "as utterly I
desperate. ' l
When 'the Ellen and' Clara sailed'.ifa. S
Monroe had under his command at'Point 'l
Isabel 500 men, composed of soldiers, ti
teamster; laborers, &c. The works were 11
then very, strong. and-every 'day he wasb
addingto'temu: Ha had two-8'pounders i1
and several fisli! pieces.- Hb is' ab offiler s
of great' energy and skill, anid was coni- *n
dent of his- ability to maintain his post (
againetwoor three thousand of the e- a
my. " - 5
For several'days an attack onr-the post
hadeen apprehended, andthe'men slept -c
every esight on their arms. The weather. ki
t the Point 'had lbeen. vryagresable and fi
theman were healthyealthough'heava'er a
was very. bad. The 'ds arie of tie':oint a
fonI Briros Shntiag. is-albot.Bven'nifee
On he her: there 'ar a bout- ninas h'
var-in the South Channei! ~
prom the N. Orleans Commagcia Times,
E xtra, of-Magl10 :M-ya
!ltik vith fieliogS*idf-et ratUd
uid-tie iieegIatIs.. istae 15 rtOake
ur" 'e o: record lsthpabrili. r o,.
,,pp !or
,[e ret greant blod struekl Qe.
6d his glorious little any. TIyfsfme
if the eA derican arm's has b.eeon saaly
rindicatea. With an inferiuri if ufre.
a disproportionate as .to avecaused.
he deepest anxiety fur Ge 1or sad
tis gillaan band they hvi gam ..a at
i elorioi, a noble a most triuqipbaft vie
ory. Seven hundred Meiei ee eleft
lead on thbe field ofbtlN is
educed to ashes-Point liabe kheved..
Such are the jtraum e'io 15 '$13s
nagniice'nt'eil'alois. . -
The reception of this gra pewsu
Hill cause the Natioial pilse . brate,
-om one extremity of the U
.ther. Thi thunder of the atl Bch.
vas bred last evening in hoti gial
ant achietemeat will roll r ively.'
om State to 0iate-fromi .caty
iom village to villagef . ilet -to
amlet-titil it revebe i e
ock gri'tcflfsot Mined, iand te .: i
if Vermont, echoinga 'naio'4grtitude.
"The battle is not to the sriOg ,nor'i
ace to the swift;" An overr .rovi
lence has miercifully gretier o ' il itile
rmy, apparently devotelto' b, a,
fnd sc'tered the Meiicean S6s . caltaf
efore the *Ind. .tt h proper some
ublie detdoostralion 3f 'rejni' ,s.uld'
e evinced to commenmorate -i^spi
ions comrdencement of!ihe'' "-e. .
)rleans ought to take the lean being
nost directly interested inle eCss6 o
he American arms. What 'ea 9aar citi
ens to an illumination,or a public thinis
;iving ?
The news reached this city last evening
it 10 minutes before 9o'clock, aid it would
to impossible to describe the bahusiasm
vith which it was received. Tiepopula
ion appeared to be suddenly rpquadruled
-the streets presented or-e livi' as of
umacn beings-joy was depict 'tnlevery
ountenance. and one universa prayer of
banks ascended on High.- W promptly
sued an extra, containing the itbhof the
ows, and now hasten to subj l 'all the
,articulara we have received rp our
eaders. = : -
. By the arrival of the steamihip New
fork, Capt. Phillips, which ca ' up late
ast evcnitg, .we have received e' folloiv
og gratifying intelligence from the Gal.
reston News :
We have been kindly furnishie Cap.
hillips, of the steamship"N4'.York
hich has just arrived-with i lfoow
ag highly interesting an'impor t. pews.
We publish literally from C P.hil- I
ips'! 'report. .. -
The followitg ispo'r it ro apIgint
Walker, of the Texas Iangers go had. ;
rrived on the 5th-iasti it _V# " ..-from I
he entrenabnient .opposite Ma; o'o.
*e learn that antengagebed pken,
dace bitween the U at iaes.a ae:can'
idees. Tihe particulars, as fit '*ocan.
Barn, are as allows '
Gei, tayldt, on the ecnsiig elld
net. lerthe dhtrencebtt'%!1 -a
ient of U. S. t-op0 {6ftfe n .
IeWit ycniftci bt- '
e hy i
9 ;+.: tieOpt, tnd li thi ' 4. ' -
Llend tfic ;eae mgbldttrf r . .c.
4e city of Matanoros to ashes
Morning' of the'tth.-A genttean i9 wvid
as just arrived fronM tha field dfbatdle, in-.
tm us that the' slaughter:-anjong the
lexicans was tremendous; tat pwards
F seven huundred lay .dead on- the battle
eld, and that the numiber of bbusea left in
fatamoras was not sufficient to atbliinmd
ate the wounded~
According to acdoants receivedtnt Point I
abeL the number of Mexicansf in ned
bout Matarfloros, were estimated di ten*
osand men. and expecting, rtidforce
tents daily. .
General Tsglor was to leave Pfint Isa.
el o the 6th inst. with a dotac~ment or
oop's dei.ertnined to open comriniciation
ectdeen P'oint Isabel and the ainajy oppo
fe Mambdords which has forsose 'days
ast been cut off, dt-d only eff'eeedin-one
stance by the valiant and addaunied'
ralker, or the Texas. Rangers, whose
oSe was shot frodm uinder him in the at -
ampt atnd thelots. ofsix min
Santiago and Isabel *are now nedder I
lartial Law-every citizen compelled to 1
o military duty'g'. -1
On the morning of the 6th, pteviots to
ue departure of the New Yo'rk, heavy
annonading were heard and supposed to
e aqother attack from the Mex~eans on I
te U. S. TYroops, opposite Ma~amoras. 'd
Great eFiement prevailed at Point Is- j
be and Santiago 'up to 1 o'cloclj P. I., r
ben the New York tool'her departure. y
rrived' at Saniago on .ibe 6th inst., I:
hloner Decatur fromt Nev Orles'ns. i.
schoocer Flit .will leave'ina day ort
o for New Orlus.' Steamer- Mon- Ia
outh left on the 5th, hound to Aransas,-'
r the purpose of bringingseveryzeman-ca
anlk of doing- duty, to %lejcarnp a( Santi- t
Meie-ster ind addiffaretlie' n''s of
o among the six men'sbo were lfeilby .m
>ring their way through the are bto' s
eU. S.camnp' . sI
TFhestibjoined aheou'nt iir from the Gal- 1
estnCivilian:.l
Gen. Taylor procedd with the noain
nd'y of the armzy th orgler to setni Point- I
mabel, which was meninced, and dpen't
i comhtidicafon; leaving, onl?700 or a
00 moh i'athie camp opposite Matanmorar*
heartiy 'proceleded without niiterrnp' I
on ;- but the Mexicans thought ahe di- 1
iinished force in camp offered' a fvol-a-"
I opportunity for its capture-stacked'i
and were repulsed with aevere~ losei
ine say several~ ladd ..-Ihe lsfon '
ur side not s'tated hutivery insi dfant
Pur iateris. were openied pa-Mat 'rs,
nd reduced the place to-rinn, ofaiiii I
Tihis was on thb 23d-atmI thre fghtig
ontnued untid nikht. Walker, tte well-<
nwri Texan soldIer and spyghil took
rty,menlto cary the neiws 'toGen;Titylor;
tPoint Isabeildurs:qg he itgh;. Inlst
x men on; the: way sand ~1ad. his rose'
botler~.jin itE9 ii ~ ~
- ;I
Thaursday morning, for the camp oppobie I
Mitarnoras.
"The New York had this news from the I
Cikciiati, which, came out over'the bar
to'take off the troops carried down. Fire
in'-ves heard when the Net York left.
The main'foirie of the Mexicans is pro- 1
dblyon 'this side of the river.
TheTexian sch"oner Santa Ana has
been lifepikieied Irom Brazos Santiago,
with cotmmunications from Gen. Taylor i
for th'e AYneri'an siuadron off Vera Cruz. <
The only written information we have
from the seat of war, comes from 'apt. <
Symipten, late o'f the Revenue ser- i
vice of Texas-- now in the employ of
Dn. Taylor. It is dated May 4. Capt. I
S. says :
"The news wa5. broight to i'oint tsa t
betby no f'riend Walker of Maj. Hay's
omma'nd. The Mexicans made the at- I
ack on our works after Gen. Taylor came i
lown here. Thefight continued the whole t
lay. The United States batteries knocked I
lowi aamoras, killing two or three
u'udred M eaicans-tbey killing only one t
if our men, by the explosion of a-shell.- i
rho works were so well, completed the <
Meiicans could not injure thei.
Capt:, Sympton has written us that he r
will furnish a .detailed aecoult or the ac- t
oA, atdd such other information as bebau
ollect; by the neat vessel. 4
.Gen. Taylor.-We learn that when Gen.
I'aylor.left Point Isabel, to return to the I
tirecired camp opposite Matamoras, t
here was hot the slightest doubt enter- I
ained that lie would have to cut his way e
o his entrenchments through vastly su
erfor numibers of the enemy, who were <
nowtn to be pdsted in large forces among r
he almost impassible thickets of chaperal t
n the.-road, with a determination to cut r
im off, if possihte; in his attempt to re- i
;ain his other forces. The numbers or the t
exicans is entirely vague and uncertain
hough all the statements agree Is eitima- c
ing them at not leIs than ten thousand, c
while many accounts put their numbers at
ifteen or twenty thousand. All accounts r
tgree that the Mexican forces aro rapidly 1:
locking in from all quarters.
How many had crossed the river could
tot be told, though it seems but reasoni- r
le to presume that a large part of their I
orces, will be brought into requisition to
lispute the march of Gen. Taylor. They a
:uld not but see the importance of cutting t
tim off, and would doubtiess employ all
heir advantages of local knowledge, skill
end horsemanship, and all their acknon I- t
idged resources of stratagem to accom- q
dish their object. Gen. Taylor anticipa-. r
ad a formidable and desperate opposition a
o his march; but determined to accom
dish it or perish. It seems, therefore,
every way Ireasonable to suppose that a i
lecisive'and bloody battle was fouggi on i
he 7th instant. and we wait with almost r
ainful anxiety to hear the result by the
text arrival. "
The steamsbip New. York left here
shout 10 o'clock last Monday morning, c
iler stopping 'about two hours. Site
etidhed Hrazus Santiago Tuesday even
ug-anchored outsl4e the bar in- a lieavy t
eai. edt the troopq; one hundred antd
it'y-two .in number, to Point --Isabel, r
vfire ee derived just..ia. time- to join '
' 6 clnii.us .o biencamp
Y 1.tei Wi ifam's wlsarf
4 ocWik f :atrd morning, being .5
O: aubo. 28-hoursri Her rin-6ti. Capt.
'illips estimates the distadce about two e
undred and fifty niiles; or bdu: thirty
eas than to the Balize. . . c
-We learn from good audtidig;i that Gen
ral Taylor had oi-dered thie schr. Akert, to 1I
epair to Vera Cruz wit despachmes; as
asuppdsed in the Gulf squadron io block -r
ida the Mexicati pdtas ~Tlre s ideed s
ut little doubt thiat all the Mexican p'orts
n the Gulf are now uoder ittici toettade,
ad the American fleet in thie Pacific is am
iy sufficient to shut tip every port of
exico on that ahore, as soon as orders i
aun be sent to that efoedt.-Gal. News, 8thIa
a. - 4
We udierstand ititt la1aj. itinggold of d
he Artillery, commanded in the Amerit
admp opposite Matamords, during the en
agemsent wvitht the Mexicans'.
ifessage front tire FNegident.
AMEXIGO.
A message was received from ~hte Pre-i
ident of the United States, by Mr. Wal-.
er, hii priate Secretary, which was readi
y the Secretdiry.of 'hce Senate, as foi
wst
o th~e Seristi and
House of Representalitesi -
The existing state of the relatioh's lid- I
ween the United States and Mexic9, ren- I
etsi it propier th'at I shadld brifig the stob-i
et to the consideration of Congress. Ina
y message at the commenement of
our present session, the st ate of these re
tionh, the causes which led fo' thfe suis-d
eson-of diplmnrati'c itotriourse b&t ween I
be two countries ib March, 1845, and thte
ang continu'ed and unredressed wrongs
d injuries committed by the Mexicau
overment on citizens of the U. States in s
heir persons and property, wetre briefly I
. 'Vh ai and onintous which werea
hen laid before you were carefully con-r
idered, I cannot better express my pro- I
eat convictions of the conditfuon of affuzirsr
p io that time, thtan by referrintg you to l
at corn ttication.
Tile strong desire to .establishr peace
with &1exico.- oli liberal and ,honorable Ia
sim9a,. and the readiness of this govern,
net to regul'ate atnd'adjust our boundary 4
,Mabe~r. causes of diflerence with that es
tdier, on such fair and es'uitable priri'ci-I
les as would load .to permanent relatibits j
f he niost friktadly nat'ure,' iiidueced me,
n September last, to seok-the re-openiug'
f diplomnbttc relatioas betweed" the two a
ontries; Ererysmeasure adopted on'oure
art, had for the object the fairtherance of 1
'ete d'ested resnlts. ;In commnnticating I
o Congreus a shebinci statsme~nt of thet
tjties 'ghich .we'hid suff'ered froni. Mei
d,and- which' have been accumulating I
lastingad pbriod'foro than twentyyears,
'eyexprsion that cotuld tend to inflame
.he pepple of Mexico, or.4efeat or delay a I
la'e6ie result, was careiully avroided. An
n.vyg ofthe. .United States repaired to 4
dexc. witb full powers to adjust.overy
mtstibgtf frrne Biiithion.& present an
se MeztcWo 6iib'jyg~eemerit-between I
be two governments, invested witn full
powers, and bearing evidence. of thei'o. i
riendly .dipositions, his.missidnyhiaT'ed!v
mnavailing.'l:-he ,Me lean governinmeut
iot only refiused to receive hin, 6'listen
.o his proposition but~_t ter a.oagecon
inued series of menace, haveat lastin,
-ad'ed our terriiorf and sheid the blogd of
tur fellow citizens naour own soi.
It now becomes my duty to state more
n detail, the origin, progress. and failure
if 'tiat 'mission. It pursuance of the iu
iructious given in :September lasi, an in
luiry was made on the 13th of October.
n 1845, in.the most friendly terms, through
ur consul in Mexico, of the minister of
oreign affairs, whether the Mexican go
ernment "w'iuld receive an envoy from
he,United States inta'bsied with full pow.
rs to adjust all the questions in dispute
tetween the twp governments;" with the
issurance ihat "sh'rdu'a the asiwer be in
6ae affirmative. such an envoy would be
mmediately despatibed to Mexico." The
bexican minister, on the ftenth of:O.
oher, gave an affirmative answer to this
nquiry, reqnestiag. at the same titte. that
our Inaval force at Vera' Crus .might be
vii hdraw n lest its continued , presnce
ight assume the appearance of menace
pd coercion pending the negotiations.
this force teas immediately . ihdrawn.
)n the 18th tf Noveuiber, 184j;Mr. John
lidell, of 1Louisiana, was commissioned
y me as envoy extraordinsvy and ins.
er piedip-oteiaiiry .of the U. Staes to
exico..and was intrusted with full pow
re to adjust both the questions of the i'ex
is boundary atid of indemnificatio9.to. u9r
itizens.. 'T he i-edress of the wrongs of
Mr citiiens naturally and inseparably
len'dod itself wit s: the quest ion of bounda
y. The settlement of the one question
u any.correct view of the subject involves
hat of tie other. i could not. for a mo
net, entertain the idea that the claiis
f our much injured and long suffering
iti.ens, many of which had existed for
nore than 20 yedrs. should be postponed,
r separated Irom the settlemeit df tlie
oundarv juestion.
Mr. Sliellari-iid at Vera Cruz dii the
10th of November, aind was courteoUsly
eceived by the authorities or that city
luo the aoverduien,of Gen. Herrera was
hen tottering to its 61ll., The refoldtion
iry panty had seized upois the Texas ques
int to effect or hasten its overthrow. Its
e:ermination to restore friendly relations
vith the ti S. and to receive dur minis.
er, to negotiate for ilie sbtilenfieft of this
uestion, was violently assdiled, and was
noade the great theme of denunciation
gainst it.. The government of s eneral
lerrera, there is good reason to believe,
ras sincerely desirous id receive our tmmf
iter; but it yielded to the storm raised by
ts enemies, and on the 21st of December
efused to accredit Mr. Slilell ujon the
nost.frivolous pretex ts. These are so fully
ind ably exposed in the ifdte of Mr. Slidell
of the 24th- of Decenlier last to the Mexi
an minister of foreign relations; herevith
ransmitted.. that I deem it unne:essary to
nier in1o.further detail on this portion of
he subject.
Five days after the date of-rX: iderl'a
tote, Gen. (Jerrera yielded the avers=
dent t.Gen: Paredes witag
Ind.njt th '30(it of. nct
anidg o en er i
lns thiisupreme mpovec ste
ato'clie'niids O1a niilitir rledr.
Determiiled to leave n'o iiantried to
fleot an atmicable adjustmeri 'wliMeit
o,I directed Mr. Slidell to prsethiii
rede.ials to the g.vernmen' ofGen. Pa
edes ; and asked to he officiafl received
yhiin. There would have tiecn Iess
.ound for taking this stel, had Gen. Pa
edes come into power by a regular coo
titutionial succession. Ini that eventt his
dminisira tion would have beena consider
d hum a mere constitutional cntindance
f 'he govertnmenat of Geni Herrera, and
he refosal of the latter to receive curmin
ster would have been ecimed conclusive,
mnless an intimation hadl been'giveta by
en. Parados of his desire to reverse the
ecision of his~ predecessor.
But the goverument of Geza. Paredas
m es its e.Yistence to a milit ary revoution.
y whieb the subsisting constitutionaal au
hurities had been subverted. The form
f overnment was entirely changed, as
rel as all the tiigh func'ionaries by whom
twas administered.
Under these circumstnnces, Mr. Slidell,
a obedience to my direction, addressed a
ote to the Mexicatn minister olfnreign re
ution, under date of the 1st of March last,
king to be received by .that government
the dinfo'atic charatcter to wvhich he
ad beuna appoinated. The minister, in
i reply, under date of l'Zth of March, re
erated the argumett of bid predecesser,
ad in terms' that may be0 considered as
iving just grounds of offence to the go.
'ernmrent and people of the Tunited states,
enied thie application of Mr. Slidell'
Jt hinig, therefore, reai ned fur on'r en
oy but to demand' his passports, and re
tarn to hits own country.
Thus'the government of~exico, thaough
olenly pledged by official acts ina Oc
berlast to receive andi accredit an Amet
:atn envoy, violated their plighted'faith,
od refused the offer of a peaceful adjust
ent of ouir dil'eulties' Not only was
he offer rejected, but the indignity of its
ejection was enhanced by the manifest
readhoffaith in refusing to admit the
nvoy, who came because they had bound
hemselves to receive hini. Nor can it
e'aid ihat the ofer was fruitess from the
rent of opportunity of. discussing it : ~our
ooy was present on their own soil. Nor
'an it ae ascribed to a'.wanat of sufficient
towers ;ouir'envoy haud-full powers to ad.
iF every question of difference. Nor
vas there . ron for conplitint that oUr
rpo.sit ions for setidenbot were unreason
ble: permission was not even givertrou(
voy to make anay sproposirion 'vhaatev 'r
or can it be objected that we, on our
tart, would not listen- to any reaspniable
erm of .their- auggestt'on : the Mfexican
ovenmenm refused .all negotiation, add
nave made no propositioia ofianft kind -
In my message- at the coinaeecedlenlt
tf the present sessih;'I informed you that
tpoo thes earnest-apleal bdothforthe Con
;ress and Contenhoiti of~Texas, I had
irdered an etBoient 'ilitafi force to takei
postiot'aeteenthee~sf!rdge
Jeloie.J.highbadbb'ime5 sr
meet atietnlaiaino ua~
tfie .Mexican .;bret4u ' 1>3tiR
a sill - reR~iulUtIoti"" j
United Slaes,~ .,e "
Unon andn6udej~
is tas .plaaiulotu(j3%~
(Christi; ands suiU
had received-a d~~irat'
'Co as rendgrqgdpsa4!f
that the 9excaopgpiqr~n ..- "
fuse to receave~o o&VW o
Meanime .Texas, yde.a
our Conagrss, hdbecomq,
oforota,'roo)by its A6t of Decenahe ~
declar'ed the- 4-'(let Noris A p
4pry of that- repuhelac i,"tujii
been extended anid exect~ese aj~ojl' *
1taeces: The country bereu -
and the Dl Noeho 'i&:iit~p
the Coges'adtt
Texas. clad thi; ae attt
within one of'oi :uI ' , e
OMr awn .Congres ~1~
comber 31sit. -I84fiTeogntii~*I,
try Beyond tie auceis as . a_ e ,
territory ly. inclu~ding it~iyitf" .
revenue system.; sad, aren
pointed by ar'dwith .the .ave t
sent of the Senate. . bea~t
of urgent necessity to provid fpf4;_4j O
fcuce Of that p'ortiunofr our country,~~s
coi',dtgl j', oh the thirteenth pf Janae
last instructions were ..issued. to .iiergqajSI~5
in cotnud .of these- troops' _ t0
the left b,.ik of the:De D 1 ktoiiwt;T
river--which is tbesouhlesernbtdrx>
ufithe Stateof.ee s nepid(~as
tier. Frocm, this- ua t r;tnyg "t
threatened ;.upont it,.tindin its itnm
vicinity, in the jtilgmnet10. igh ti... ..
experience, are the proper statiogas"fte4A
protecting furces." of the Governmen'r.s
additioti to this-inltportant rconisid : "'t
soveriil others. occurred, to iJ,rce~
maovemrenr. Among ,these, ar te i
itesfor led by.. thepouts "of-Bras
the recelption of suppliesby sea, thestiaZtkiv
gPr nd miar hejaltlafta~mahtary, poasai y ir's
the convenienee frrobtaitnga readly.azihd
it more abundant suipplyufproevadoq,2
tecr, fuel, and _truage. andtlhe asdvja a t'
wvhich are offe'red by the Del' Norfe'mirfor~ww
warditig supplies iosuch~"pntg ?5e
established in. the anteroo8 ;p t R
Thrit novemeiit of tle.trb~p5 to~thie ,aI41
oral, unider posivpinirctaonso fasti '"
tra~m all aggf'Cssi'J acts wrd 'ti
Mexican citizens, ,and towtegerdhl eltt Y
,io~ns beitveen isat republic aadiatbe " es '
States as peiaceful, : inlesuishe'iihonf
stare wvar,.ot, comnmit acts'fb~bI~jI*
cative of a state of war .. -et'.
respect personal jg ;'. 3s~
onThe lritn, tr~r
tamon a erVesi = c
3Miw~t ' .pic
the; ,eicawptnant 'l lhe'
:postiao 'c sa iycon to~ ,
judgtuent of the.general iii co'iinan:
The MThxacao-lo~rces' at'~3alju
sumedl a belligerent aittatdiiiid &? *u2 m ~'l