incontrovertible rights of the most unquestionable ownership and the most uninterrupted possession.

"Here, then, is the true position of the Mexican republic; despoiled, outraged, contemned, it is now attempted to subject her to a humiliating degradation." - pp. 57- 59.

"It is manifest that it was the firm intention of the Mexican government to admit only a plenipotentiary from the United States clothed with powers ad hoc-that is to say, special powers to treat upon the question of Texas, and upon this alone, as preliminary to the renewal of friendly relations between the two countries, if the result should be such as to admit of their restoration, and then, but not before, of an envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary near the same government.

"Nor could the government of the republic on that occasion extend its engagement beyond this; for to admit any person sent by the United States in the character simply of the ordinary agents between friendly nations, whilst the grave question of Texas was still pending, would be equivalent to an acknowledgment that the question was at an end, thus prejudging it without even touching it, and to a recognition that the relations of friendship and harmony between the two nations, were from that moment in fact reëstablished.

"In the actual state of things, to say that Mexico maintains a position of quasi hostility with respect to the United States, is to add a new offence to her previous injuries. Her attitude is one of defence, because she has herself been unjustly attacked; because a portion of her territory is occupied by the forces of a nation, intent, without any right whatever, to possess itself of it; because her ports are threatened by the squadrons of the same

power.

"It is then not upon Mexico, seeing her present state, that it devolves to decide if the issue shall be a friendly negotiation or an open rupture. It is long since her interests have made this necessary, and her dignity has demanded it; but in the hope of an accommodation at once honorable and specific, she has silenced the claims of those imperious exigencies.

“ It follows, that if war should finally become inevitable, and if in consequence of this war, the peace of the civilized world should be disturbed, the responsibility will not fall upon Mexico. It will all rest upon the United States; to them will the whole of it belong. Not upon Mexico,-who, with a generosity unequalled, admitted the American citizens who wished to colonize in Texas,but upon the United States, who, bent upon possessing themselves, early or late, of that territory, encouraged emigration thither with that view, in order that in due time, its inhabitants, converting themselves from colonists into its masters, should claim the country as their own, for the purpose of transferring it to the United

States; not upon Mexico, who, having in due season protested against so enormous a transgression, wished to remove all cause for controversy and hostilities, but upon the United States, who, to the scandal of the world, and in viclation of treaties, gave protection and aid to those guilty of a violation so iniquitous. Not upon Mexico, who, in the midst even of injuries so great and so repeated, has shown herself disposed to admit propositions for conciliation, but upon the United States, who, pretending sincerely to desire a friendly and honorable accommodation, have belied by their acts the sincerity of their words. Finally, not upon Mexico, who, putting out of view her ever dearest interests, through her desire for peace, has entertained as long as was wished the propositions which, with this view, might be made to her, but upon the United States, who, by frivolous pretexts, made the conclusion of such an arrangement, proposing peace at the very moment when they are causing their squadrons and their troops to advance upon the ports and frontiers of Mexico, exacting a humiliation impossi ble to be submitted to, in order to find a pretext, if no reason can be found, which may occasion the breaking out of hostilities."

"It is therefore upon the United States, and not upon Mexico, that it devolves to determine in the alternative presented by Mr. Slidell that is, between a friendly negotiation and an open rupture." pp. 59-61.

Mr. Slidell, who all along had given so many indications of ignorance and folly-wrote such a letter as might have been looked for, demanded his passports, and returned home.

Attempts had been made to throw the responsibility and the odium of war upon Mexico, but Mexico would not take the initiative and declare war, nor commence an invasion without declaring it. What was to be done; shall the President ask Congress to declare war? The success of that would be hopeless. Shall he himself take the responsibility, and commence hostilities without the advice of Congress? There were yet other tricks to be tried — which were parallel in time with Mr. Slidell's mission to Mexico. We shall expose this matter by some quotations from the correspondence between the War Department and General Taylor. It is contained in the same document (No. 196) with the letters of Mr. Slidell. July 8th, 1845, Mr. Marcy-then Secretary of War- thus wrote to General Taylor:

"Mexico has some military establishments on the east side of the Rio Grande, which are . . . in the actual occupancy of her

...

troops.. The Mexican forces at the posts in their possession ... will not be disturbed so long as the relations of peace. . . continue."

July 30th, he adds,

"The Rio Grande is claimed to be the boundary, . . . and up to this you are to extend your position, only excepting any posts on the eastern side thereof, which are in the actual occupancy of Mexican forces, or Mexican settlements over which Texas did not exercise jurisdiction at the period of annexation, or shortly before that event. It is expected that you will approach as near the boundary line the Rio Grande- as prudence will dictate. The President desires that your position should be near the river Nueces." pp. 70, 71.

...

...

Here a snare is laid for the American general. He is to take the initiative and bear the responsibility, if Mexico will not. He is to decide what places were in the possession of Texas at the time of annexation, "or shortly before it." Let it be remarked, besides, that Texas exercised no more jurisdiction on the Rio Grande than she did on the Danube. Should General Taylor advance, should Mexico regard herself invaded, and Congress refuse to sanction that invasion-the President can say: General Taylor exceeded his instructions, went nearer than "prudence will dictate," entered places over which Texas did not "exercise any jurisdiction.'

Again, Aug. 23d, Mr. Marcy writes,

"There is reason to believe that Mexico is making efforts to assemble a large army on the frontier of Texas, for the purpose of entering its territory. . . . Should Mexico assemble a large body of troops on the Rio Grande, and cross it with a considerable force, such a moment must be regarded as an invasion of the United States and the commencement of hostilities."

p. 72.

And again, in the letter of Aug. 30th, p. 76, he is authorized, in case of need, to call for volunteers from Texas, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. pp. 74, 75, et al. Here is the same trick repeated:- what is a large body of troops; what a considerable force?

General Taylor took position at Corpus Christi," the most western point in the possession of Texas," as Mr. Donelson has often told us, though the General says, "I would have preferred a position on the left bank of the river." He could

not find any considerable force on the Rio Grande at all, still less, any thought of invasion.

Again, Mr. Marcy writes, "There may be other acts on the part of Mexico which would put an end to the relations of peace. p. 76. In such a case he is told that he may cross the Rio Grande," and "take and hold possession of Metamoras."

66

General Taylor did not fall into the snare thus adroitly laid for him. He kept within the Texan limits. He writes that he does not want any volunteers, and hopes no more will be sent till called for; "that the consul is of opinion there will be no declaration of war" by Mexico; "the mass of the people is opposed to war with us." "I must express the hope that no militia force will be ordered to join me without my requisition." "I cannot believe that it will become necessary to employ volunteers from the United States."

After Marcy had finished his trap, set it, baited it with such instructions for General Taylor on the 30th of August, he waited till the 16th of October, as it appears from the published correspondence. Perhaps he was making arrangements for the mission to Mexico to negotiate a peace. Be that as it may, month after Mr. Buchanan had written to Mexico, desiring that "all existing difficulties should be terminated amicably by negotiation and not by the sword," stating, also, that the President "is anxious to preserve peace," and while the American government was expecting pacific overtures from Mexico - he writes again to urge the General into the toils laid for him.

"Previous instructions will have put you in possession of the views of the government of the United States, not only as to the extent of its territorial claims, but of its determination to assert them. In carrying out these instructions, you will be left very much to your own judgment." "You will approach as near the western boundary of Texas (the Rio Grande) as circumstances will permit. . . . Ought your present position [at Corpus Christi, 'the most western point in the possession of Texas,'] to be changed? . . . You need not . . . wait for directions from Washington to carry out what you may deem proper to be done.” - pp. 76, 77.

Then he speaks of "the contingency of your selecting or being directed to take a position on the banks of the Rio Grande."-p. 77.

General Taylor, however, continued at Corpus Christi.

Perhaps he saw the snare; perhaps he thought it was not his business to take the responsibility of beginning a war with Mexico; at any rate, Nov. 7th, he writes,

"The position now occupied by the troops may, perhaps, be the best while negotiations are pending, or at any rate until a disposition shall be manifested by Mexico to protract them unreasonably. Under the supposition that such may be the view of the department, [he had not then received the note of Oct. 16th,] I shall make no movement from this point . . . until further instructions are received." - p. 97.

After the receipt of this letter, it became plain that General Taylor was not thus to be caught with chaff. But the American government had yet other advices. On the 23d of September, Mr. Marks, a short time before American consul at Metamoras, wrote a letter to General Taylor-which of course was forwarded to the American government, from which we make the following extract:

“General Arista, . . . [the Mexican commander,] assured me that there will be no declaration of war on the part of Mexico. ... General Arista pledged his honor to me that no large body of Mexican troops should cross the left bank of the Rio Grande; that only small parties, not to exceed two hundred men, should be permitted to go as far as the Arroyo Colorado, twenty leagues from the Rio Grande, and that they should be strictly ordered only to prevent Indian depredations and illicit trade. I then had no hesitation in assuring him that you [General Taylor] would not commit any aggressive act against Mexico, or her citizens, and that you would solely maintain the position you at present occupy, at or near the Nueces river. I trust, in having made this assurance to him, . . . it will meet with your approbation and be adhered to, as in a great measure peace depends on your prudent movements in this particular."

For very obvious reasons, the American government never published this letter. But what must be done?

True, Mr. Slidell was in Mexico, pretending to negotiate a settlement of all our difficulties with Mexico. He had not been refused by the actual government of Mexico. True, Congress was in session, and might have been consulted, as in the settlement of the Oregon question. Shall the government wait for the result of Mr. Slidell's mission? No, that was "anticipated," as well it might have been. Shall Congress