ing diplomatic negotiations, proceeds to occupy a territory which never could have been the object of the pending discussion? The limits of Texas are certain and recognised; never have they extended beyond the river Nueces; notwithstanding which, the American army has crossed the line separating Tamaulipas from that department. Even though Mexico could forget that the United States urged and aided the rebellion of the former colonists, and that the principle giving to an independent people the right to annex itself to another nation is not applicable to the case, in which the latter has been the protector of the independence of the former, with the object of admitting it into its own bosom`; even though it could be accepted as an axiom of international law, that the violation of every rule of morality and justice might serve as a legitimate title for acquisition; nevertheless, the territory of Tamaulipas would still remain beyond the law of annexation, sanctioned by the American Congress; because that law comprises independent Texas, the ground occupied by the rebellious colony, and in no wise includes other departments, in which the Mexican government has uninterruptedly exercised its legitimate authority. Fellow-countrymen: With an enemy which respects not its own laws, which shamelessly derides the very principles invoked by it previously, in order to excuse its ambitious views, we have no other resource than arms. We are fortunately always prepared to take them up with glory, in defence of our country; little do we regard the blood in our veins, when we are called on to shed it in vindication of our honor, to assure our nationality and independence. If to the torrent of devastation which threatens us it be necessary to oppose a dike of steel, our swords will form it; and on their sharp points will the enemy receive the fruits of his anticipated conquest. If the banks of the Panuco have been immortalized by the defeat of an enemy, respectable and worthy of the valor of Mexico, those of the Bravo shall witness the ignominy of the proud sons of the north, and its deep waters shall serve as the sepulchre of those who dare to approach it. The flame of patriotism which burns in our hearts will receive new fuel from the odious presence of the conquerors; and the cry of Dolores and Iguala shall be re-echoed with harmony to our ears, when we take up our march to oppose our naked breasts to the rifles of the hunters of the Mississippi. Inhabitants of the frontier: We are not left to our own resources; the supreme government watches indefatigably for our safety and protection. A strong and warlike is ranidly ad لادب we enter upon the gr quest of the territory of which we have been despoiled, and to carry our eagles in triumph to the banks of the Sabine, we, who have the glory to be in front of the invaders, must serve as an impenetrable barrier. Our obligation is great as it is sacred, and there is no sacrifice which we are not bound to make upon the altars of our country. We have to defend the interests most dear to the heart of man: our domestic hearths, our customs, our language, the august faith handed down to us by our ancestors, all are at stake. All these inestimable blessings will vanish if the invaders succeed in establishing their conquest. And what Mexican, worthy of the name of Mexican, can resign himself without fighting to the death to see his noble race degenerate under the abhorred dominion of foreigners? No one; the high sentiment of national honor rules in our hearts, and from the remotest confines of the republic thousands of heroes will fly, animated by the example of Hidalgo and Morelos, to preserve its integrity. Soldiers: The hour of danger is come; you know your duty, and will fulfil it with honor and patriotism. I have the honor to be at your head, and I am persuaded of the ardor with which you will look forward to the moment of combat. Consciousness of your superiority assures to you the most splendid victory. Let the enemy then come, whom you are burning to meet on the field of battle. We will fight and the crown of triumph shall be the merited reward of your valor and discipline. To arms! The Mexican nation forever! Independence forever! MATAMORAS, March 18, 1846. FRANCISCO MEJIA. HEAD-QUARTERS, ARMY OF OCCUPATION, SIR: I respectfully report that I marched on the morning of the 23d instant with the entire army, from the camp near the Colarado, in the order prescribed in my order No. 35, herewith enclosed. After a march of fifteen miles, we reached, on the morning of the 24th, a point on the route from Matamoras to Point Isabel, eighteen miles from the former and ten from the latter place. I here left the infantry brigades under Brigadier General Worth, with instructions to proceed in the direction of Matamaras until he came to a suitable position for encampment, where he would halt, holding the route in observation, while I proceeded with the cavalry to this point to communicate with our transports, supposed to have arrived in the harbor, and make the necessary arrangements for the establishment and defence of a depot. While on my way hither, our column was approached by a party on its right flank, bearing a white flag. It proved to be a civil de putation from Matamoras, desiring an interview with me. I informed them that I would halt at the first suitable place on the road and afford them the desired interview. It was, however, found necessary, from the want of water, to continue the route to this place. The deputation halted while yet some miles from Point Isabel, declining to come further, and sent me a formal protest of the prefect of the northern district of Tamaulipas against our occupation of the country, which I enclose herewith. At this moment, it was discovered that the buildings at Point Isabel were in flames. I then informed the bearer of the protest that I would answer it when opposite Matamoras, and dismissed the deputation. I considered the conflagration before my eyes as a decided evidence of hostility, and was not willing to be trifled with any longer, particularly as I had reason to believe that the prefect, in making this protest, was but a tool of the military authorities at Matamoras. The advance of the cavalry fortunately arrived here in season to arrest the fire, which consumed but three or four houses. The port captain, who committed the act under the orders, it is said, of General Mejia, had made his escape before its arrival. We found two or three inoffensive Mexicans here, the rest having left for Matamoras. I was gratified to find that the water expedition had exactly answered to our land movement; the steamers arriving in the harbor only two or three hours before we reached Point Isabel, with the other transports close in the rear. The "Porpoise" and "Lawrence," brigs-of-war, and cutter "Woodbury," are lying outside. I have thought it necessary to order Captain Porter's company to this place to reinforce Major Munroe. Our great depot must be here, and it is very important to secure it against any enterprise of the enemy. The engineer officers are now examining the ground with a view to tracing lines of defence and strengthening the position. As soon as a sufficient amount of supplies can be thrown forward toward Matamoras, I shall march in the direction of that town and occupy a position as near it as circumstances will permit. I enclose a sketch prepared by my aid-de-camp, Lieutenant Eaton, exhibiting the route of march since leaving the Colorado, and the bearings of important points. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Brevet Brig. Gen. U. S. Army, commanding. The ADJUTANT GENERAL of the Army, Washington, D. C. [Original.] PREFECTURA DEL NORTE DE TAMAULIPAS. Aunque la cuestion pendiente sobre agregacion del departamento de Tejas á los E. U., se encuentra sujeta á la resolucion del go-. bierno supremo Mejicano, el hecho de habor abanrado el ejercito que se halla á las ordenes de V. S., traspasando la linea que ocupaba en Corpus Christi, me pone en la obligacion como prima autoridad politica del distrito del Norte de Tamaulipas de dirigirme á V. S. como tengo e! honor de verificarlo por me dio de la comission que pondrá esta nota en sus manos, manifestandole; que alarmados justamente los pueblos que dependen de esta prefectura con la invacion de un ejercito que sin previa declaracion de guerra, y sin anunciar explicitamente el objeto que se propone viene ocupando un territorio que nunca ha pertenecido á la colonia subleveda, no han podido veer con indiferencia un procedimiento tan contrario á la conducta que observan las naciones civilizadas y á los principios mas claras del derecho de gentes; que dirigidos por el honor y patriotismo, y ciertos de que nada se ha dicho oficialmente por el gabinete de la Union al gobierno Mejicano, respecto á en sanchar los limites de Tejas hasta la orilla izquierda del Rio Bravo, y que confiados los ciudadanos de este distrito en la notoria justicia de ser causa y en uso del derecho natural de la defenza, protestan por un organo de la manera mas solemne que ni ahora ni en tiempo alguno consienten, ni consentiran en separarse de la republica Mejicano y unirse á la de los E. U. del Norte, y que se encuentran resueltos á llevar á cabo esta firme determinacion, resistiendo hasta donde alcansen sus fuerzas siempre y cuando el ejercito que marcha á las ordenes de V. retroceda á ocupar sus antiguas posiciones; pues permaneciendo en el territorio de Tamaulipas deben considerar sus habitantes, que cualquiera que sean las protestas sobre la paz con que viene convidando, por parte de V. S. se han roto abiertamente las hostilidades, cuyas lamentables consecuencias serán ante el mundo entero de la esclusiva responsabilidad de los invasores. Tengo el honor de dicirlo á V. S. con el fin indicado, manifestandole mi consideracion y aprecio. Dios y Libertad. Santa Rita, Marzo 23, de 1846. P. E. S.: JUAN JOSE PINEDA: Señor Gen. Don. Z. TAYLOR. JENES CARDENAS. [Translation.] GOD AND LIBERTY! Office of the prefect of the northern district of the department of Tamaulipas. SANTA RITA, March 23, 1846. SIR: Although the pending question respecting the annexation of the department of Texas to the United States is subject to the decision of the supreme government of Mexico, the fact of the advance of the army under your excellency's orders, over the line occupied by you at Corpus Christi, places me under the necessity, as the chief political authority of the northern district of Tamaulipas, to address you, as I have now the honor to do, through the commissioners, who will place this in your hands, and to inform you that the people, under this prefecture, being justly alarmed at the invasion of an army, which, without any previous declaration of war, and without announcing explicitly the object proposed by it, comes to occupy a territory which never belonged to the insurgent province, cannot regard with indifference a proceeding so con trary to the conduct observed towards each other by civilized na tions, and to the clearest principles of the law of nations; that, directed by honor and patriotism, and certain that nothing has been said officially by the cabinet of the Union to the Mexican government, respecting the extension of the limits of Texas to the left bank of the Rio Bravo, trusting in the well-known justice of their cause, and using their natural right of defence, they (the citizens of this district) protest, in the most solemn manner, that neither now nor at any time do they, or will they, consent to separate themselves from the Mexican republic, and to unite themselves with the United States, and that they are resolved to carry this firm de-termination into effect, resisting, so far as their strength will enable them, at all times and places, until the army under your excellency's orders shall recede and occupy its former positions; because, so long as it remains within the territory of Tamaulipas, the inhabitants must consider that whatsoever protestations of peace may be made, hostilities have been openly commenced by your excellency, the lamentable consequences of which will rest before the world exclusively on the heads of the invaders. I have the honor to say this to your excellency, with the object indicated, and to assure you of my consideration and esteem. JENES CARDENAS. JUAN JOSE PINEDA. To General Z. TAYLOR, &c. [Extract.] CAMP ON THE LEFT BANK OF THE RIO GRANDe, SIR: I have the honor to report that I arrived at this camp yesterday with the forces under my command, no resistance having been offered to my advance to the banks of the river, nor any act of hostility committed by the Mexicans, except the capture of two of our dragoons, sent forward from the advanced guard. I deem it possible that these two men may have deserted to the enemy, as one of them, at least, bears a bad character. Our approach seems to have created much excitement in Matamoras, and a great deal of activity has been displayed since our arrival in the preparation of batteries. The left bank is now under reconnoissance of our engineer officers, and I shall lose no time in strengthening our position by such defensive works as may be necessary, employing for that purpose a portion of the heavy guns brought round by sea. The attitude of the Mexicans is so far decidedly hostile. An interview has been held, by my direction, with the military authorities in Matamoras, but with no satisfactory result. Under this state of things, I must again and urgently call your attention to the necessity of speedily sending recruits to this army. The militia of Texas are so remote from the border that we cannot depend upon their aid. |