arrive at only one conclusion; that the march of our army to the Rio Grande was a deliberate and intentional act of war against Mexico,

CHAPTER VII.

THE Invasion of Mexico the sole cause of the War. Tone of the Mexican Minister. Proclamation of Mejia. Progress of General Taylor. Order of Paredes. His Proclamation. Letter of Ampudia. Arista gives notice that he shall prosecute hostilities.

WE have now advanced far enough in our investigation to see clearly that the march to the Rio Grande was an act in direct violation of the rights of Mexico; that it was not only a violent disregard of her claims which we had recognized as entitled to our respect, but was an invasion of her territory, and that too committed with the full knowledge of its hostile character.

We shall in the present chapter show that this invasion was the sole cause of the hostilities in which we became engaged. We shall then have established the truth of our position that on this act of our government, and on this alone, the responsibility of the war must forever rest.

In pursuance of his orders, General Taylor broke up his camp on the eleventh of March, 1846, and commenced his advance. Paredes had then been nearly two months and a half in power, and had as yet evinced no hostile disposition. On the 12th of March, the day after our army began its movement, the Mexican minister writes to Mr. Slidell that "the position of Mexico is one of defence." In this communication her determination is distinctly set forth to refrain from the commencement of hostilities, and to hold herself open for what she conceived to be honorable negotiation.

On the same day General Mejia, who commanded the forces of the department of Tamaulipas, made a proclamation, declaring that the limits of Texas were certain and recogniz ed, and had never extended beyond the Nueces, and that the American army was then advancing to take possession of a large part of Tamaulipas. On the 19th, approaching the river San Colorado, the boundary of the settled portion of that department, General Taylor was met by a party of rancheros, who informed him that they were instructed to oppose his passage, and that if he crossed that river, the

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act would be considered a declaration of war. This was the first evidence of hostility that he had met with.

Before his column reached Point Isabel, he was met by a civil deputation from Matamoros, which delivered to him a formal protest from the prefect of the northern district of Tamaulipas against his occupation of the country. The Mexican authorities setting fire to their public buildings, fled from Point Isabel at his approach, while our fleet blockaded its harbor, and the 28th of March saw our army arrived at the Rio Grande. On a bluff which rises from the river opposite Matamoros, and commanding that town, General Taylor pitched his fortified camp, which afterwards, in memory of its brave defender, received the. name of Fort Brown.

In the conference between Generals Worth and Le Vega, above alluded to, the latter stated that Mexico had not declared war against the United States, and that the two countries were still at peace; but added, that the march of the American troops through a large part of the Mexican territory was an act of war. On the 4th of April, President Paredes issued an order

to the Mexican commander at Matamoros, to attack our army "by every means that war permits." It has been said that this order was issued before the news of the advance of our forces had reached the city of Mexico, and in accordance with a predetermination of Paredes to wage war for the recovery of Texas.

Let us look at the facts. Nineteen days had elapsed since, on the 15th of March, scouting parties had been seen by General Taylor, sent out evidently, as he says, for the purpose of ascertaining his movements. The distance from Matamoros to Mexico is but a trifle over five hundred miles. The news of an invasion would probably travel not less than thirty miles in a day, at which speed the distance could be accomplished in nineteen days and less. Undoubtedly it flew a hundred miles a day at least. Paredes must then on the 4th have been informed of the advance of General Taylor.

On the 23d of the same month, Paredes made a proclamation to the people of Mexico, which, taken in connection with the attendant circumstances, must be considered as showing conclusively the motives which led to the order of the 4th, the only one which had been is