sel with a cargo of grain for the city, was prevented by the squadron from entering the river, and in consequence of the alarm excited by the blockade, flour rose, as stated in the papers, to forty dollars a barrel. Taylor, with a frankness bordering on indiscretion, thus avows his reason for ordering the blockade: "It will at any rate compel the Mexicans to withdraw their army from Metamoras where it cannot be sustained, or to assume the offensive on this side of the river."*

Yet in this very letter he reports that since his last of the 15th, "the relations between me and the Mexicans have not changed," that is, the Mexicans had not commenced hostilities. Notwithstanding the blockade, the Mexicans did not attack Taylor; whereupon he determined, it seems, not to remain any longer idle. Accordingly, the very day on which he informs the Secretary that the relations between himself and the Mexicans remained the same, and when not a single shot had been fired by the latter, he reports, "with a view to check the depredations of small parties of the enemy on this side of the river, Lieutenants Dobbins of the 3d Infantry, and Porter, 4th Infantry, were authorized by me a few days since to scour the country for some miles with a select party of men, and capture and destroy any such parties that they might meet. It appears they separated, and that Lieutenant Porter at the head of his own detachment drove surprised a Mexican camp, away the men, and took possession of their horses." In this affair, Porter and one man were killed-whether any, or how many lives were sacrificed, does not appear.

Mexican

Thus it seems, that notwithstanding all the contrivances of the administration to compel the Mexicans to strike the first blow, it was in fact given by ourselves.

* Letter to Secretary of War, April 23, 1846.

The idea of small parties committing depredations, is a paltry apology for commencing a war. There were no Americans, no Texans, except the American army in the country, upon whom these small parties could commit depredations. What were the depredations complained of, and who were the sufferers, the General did not think proper to specify. But, moreover, the detachments were not authorized to arrest the depredators, but to capture and destroy ANY small parties they might meet, guilty or innocent. The General was instructed not to molest "the military establishments" on this side of the river; yet he resolves that any small parties from these establishments who might leave their barracks, were to be captured and destroyed. His next letter, 26th April, reports, “that a party of dragoons sent out by me on the 24th instant to watch the course of the river above on this bank, became engaged with a very large force of the enemy, and, after a short affair in which some sixteen were killed and wounded, appear to have been surrounded and compelled to surrender." The very peculiar phraseology used to express this battle, "became engaged," was not perhaps accidental. Did the party of dragoons gallantly attack the very large force of the enemy, and were they in consequence of their rashness taken prisoners after losing sixteen in killed and wounded? Or did the large party commence hostilities by attacking the dragoons? these very natural inquiries no response is found in the General's despatch. The particulars of the case were, however, disclosed in letters from the army, and published in the newspapers. It appears that Thornton the commander of the party, discovering a small body of Mexicans on the summit of a rising ground, "immediately charged upon them;" but the main body who were on the other side of the hill, and therefore unseen, coming up,

То

captured the assailants.* Another letter, published in the Philadelphia Inquirer, says, "Captain Thornton, when about twenty-five miles above the army, discovered some Mexicans on a hill, when he immediately charged upon them.` When he got to the top of the hill, he found himself in a trap. The Mexicans were on the opposite side of the hill in a field."t

866

General Taylor, after mentioning the affair in the words we have given, announces to the Cabinet the attainment of the long desired result. "HOSTILITIES MAY NOW BE CONSIDERED AS COMMENCED." Upon the strength of this despatch, the President announced to Congress and the world, MEXICO HAS PASSED THE BOUNDARY OF THE UNITED STATES, HAS INVADED OUR TERRITORY AND SHED AMERICAN BLOOD UPON THE AMERICAN SOIL. She has proclaimed that hostilities have commenced, and that the two nations are now at war." How far the unqualified assertions contained in the first sentence of the passage quoted, are in accordance with truth, those who have read the preceding pages are qualified to judge for themselves. The following facts may tend to test the veracity of the last averment.

General Arista arrived at Metamoras on the 24th April, and finding the supplies intended for the army cut off by the blockade of the river, the great square of the city commanded by Taylor's cannon, American parties scouring the country, breaking up Mexican camps, and seizing their horses, he gave notice that he considered, as well he might, hostilities commenced, and that he should prose

* See New Orleans Picayune, May 2d, 1846.

Nearly a year after the commencement of the war, Thornton's official report of this affair was made public. It differs in some particulars from the newspaper accounts, but the fact of the charge is admitted, though under the plea of self-defence. The charge was made before the Mexicans had fired a shot.

war.

cute them. He thus plainly disavowed commencing the How far Arista's declaration, that he considered hostilities commenced by the Americans, justifies Mr. Polk's solemn asseveration that Mexico had "proclaimed that hostilities had commenced, and that the two nations are now at war," the reader will decide. Should the notice of the 24th April, fail to establish the veracity of Mr. Polk's announcement to Congress, the friends of that gentleman call to his defence an order issued by the President of Mexico on the 18th April, more than a month after Taylor had left Corpus Christi, and commenced his invasion of the Mexican territory; "From this day," says the order, "begins our defensive war, and every point of our territory attacked or invaded shall be defended." As the invasion continued, a proclamation was issued by the Mexican President on the 24th April in which he says, "The flag of the stars waves on the left bank of the Rio Bravo del Norte, opposite to the city of Metamoras, after taking possession of the river with their ships of war. The town of Laredo was surprised by a party of their troops, and a picket of ours on the watch was disarmed. Hostilities then have been commenced by the United States of America, in making new conquests upon our territories within the boundaries of Tamaulipas and New Leon. I have not the right to declare war. It is for the august Congress of the nation, as soon as they assemble, to take into consideration all the consequences of the conflict in which we are involved. But if, during this interval the United States should without notice, attack our sea coasts on the Texan frontier, then it will become necessary to repel force by force, and a beginning once made by the invaders, to make fall upon them the immense responsibility of disturbing the peace of the world."

It will be observed that in no instance is the annexation

of Texas cited as an evidence of the existence of hostilities; but solely the invasion of the Rio Grande, and the acts of General Taylor connected with the invasion.

General Taylor lost no time in prosecuting the war with his utmost energy without waiting for further orders. On the 17th of May, only four days after Congress had declared, "that war existed by the act of Mexico," and of course before he had received advices that the war he had commenced had been recognized by either government, General Arista sent a flag of truce to him requesting an armistice for six weeks, giving as a reason, his wish to communicate with his own government. But General Taylor was too well acquainted with the designs of his own government to accept a proposition so much in accordance with the dictates of humanity, and which possibly might have led to the restoration of peace. The armistice was rejected; and the next day he crossed the river and took possession of the city of Metamoras.*

In the fierce strife of contending factions, the awful guilt of commencing an offensive and unnecessary war, will be imputed to different parties; but the punishment due to guilt so enormous will be awarded by a tribunal before which all hearts will be open, and from which no secrets will be hid.

* General Taylor, informing the War Department of his rejection of this proposal, states, that he replied to Arista, "I was receiving large reinforcements and could not now suspend operations which I had not initiated nor provoked-that the possession of Metamoras was a sine qua non. It is to be supposed that the General reconciled this extraordinary declaration to his conscience, on the principle of qui facit per alium, facit per sé, and that, being a mere instrument, the war was initiated and provoked, not by himself, but the President.