2 840 CHAP. VI. COL. ZACHARY TAYLOR. PT IV. public, war would have resulted during Jackson's adPD III. ministration. Mr. Van Buren recommended measures leading to war;-when the Mexicans resorted to ne1839.gotiation. In 1839 a treaty was made, by which Mexican they agreed to pay large indemnities to American treaty. sufferers. This treaty was modified in 1843, but its 1843. stipulations, the Mexican government had mostly failed It is mod ified. to observe. Annexa (Com 17. The assent of Texas, by which she became a 1845. part of the American Union, was expressed in the tion com. Ordinance of July 5, 1845. Two days thereafter, a pleted. request was dispatched to President Polk to send an armed force to protect Texas against the threatened invasion of Mexico. The administration judiciously mander chose, as commander of the forces to be sent, Col. at Okee ZACHARY TAYLOR. On the 30th of July he was orSoon dered by the war department to move as near to the Briga Rio Grande as prudence would dictate. Thereupon he marched, and took post at Corpus Christi. A Mexican force, in the mean time, had collected on the western bank of the Rio Grande. Chobee. made a dier.) Mr. Pulk overtures for peace. He 18. Although regular pacific negotiations were 1845. closed, yet the American executive made overtures makes for peace through Mr. Black, the American consul at Mexico. General HERRERA, one of the wisest patriots of Mexico, was now at the head of her affairs. was disposed to peace, and he gave private assurances that he would receive a special commissioner to treat respecting Texas; but the American government, he said, must first withdraw a fleet, with which they menaced Vera Cruz. This was done. 19. The ancient aversion of the Mexicans had been, by the annexation, wrought into jealousy and fierce 16. What was done during Mr. Van Buren's administration respecting a treaty ?-17. When did Texas by her own ordinance actually become a part of the American Union? What was done two days thereafter? Who was chosen to command the military defenders of Texas? What orders did he receive, and what do ?-18. Who was at the head of affairs in Mexico 1 What was done by Mr. Polk (the American Executive) in regard to peace?-19. How did the aversion of the Mexicau www manifest itself? Dec. 20. jected. (Revolu revenge; and he who most vilified the Americans, P'T IV. and the loudest blustered for war, was most the PD ILL popular favorite; and such was PAREDES, by whose CHAP. VI. party, Herrera was denounced as a traitor for suspected intercourse with the foes of the nation. He was still Mr. Slistruggling for his place, when Mr. Slidell, sent by Mr. dell rePolk, arrived in Mexico, and demanded to be received. Herrera rejected his mission on the ground Dec. 29. that the American government had sent him as an tion in envoy to settle the whole difference between the two nations, and not as a commissioner to consider merely the Texan question. He had brought the American account-book; when it had been proposed by the Mexicans to settle such items only, as appeared 1846 upon their own. Herrera, even with this rejection, was not found violent enough to please the Mexicans, made and they displaced him, and elevated Paredes. Mexico. Paredes presi dent. Jan. 16. 20. On the 16th of January, 1845, the United States senate ratified a treaty with China, which had 1845 been there negotiated between Mr. Cushing, the Chinese American Envoy Extraordinary, and the Commissioner of the Chinese Emperor. treaty. Grey, the Co 21. OREGON.-England and America both claimed the extensive portion of this country, north of the Columbia river, to the Russian settlements.-Columbia river and its vicinity belongs to the Americans by right 1792 of the discovery made in 1792, by Captain Grey of (Captain Boston, and by the explorations of Lewis and Clark, sailing in in the employ of the American government, made in lumbia, the years 1804-5.-John Jacob Astor of New York, the river founded Astoria, at the mouth of the Columbia, in 1811. The first house on its waters, was, however, established on Lewis river, by the Missouri Fur Company, in 1808. 22. The difficulty with England became so serious 19. How was Mr. Slidell received? Who was raised to honor in Mexico?-20. Give an account of the Chinese treaty.-21. What part of Oregon was in dispute, and with whom? On what was the American claim to the Columbia river and its valley founded? What were the first settlements in Oregon ? gives to the name of his ship,) as to threaten war. It was, however, compromised by PT IV. a treaty negotiated at Washington between Mr. Pack- P'D III. enham, the British Minister, and Mr. Buchanan, the CH. VII. 1846. American Secretary, - which makes the northern June 18. boundary of Oregon, the line of lat. 49 deg.; but Trenty of gives to the British the whole of Vancouver's Island, ington and a right to the joint navigation of the Columbia river. Wash CHAPTER VII. Mexican War.-Army of Occupation. sending Rio Grande. 1. GEN. TAYLOR was ordered by the secretary of war, Jan. 13, 1846, to take post at the mouth of the Rio Grande. The effect of the order was to precipitate Effect of the collision of arms, and to give to the Mexicans, the Gen.Tay. advantage of the cry of invasion. Gen. Taylor moved lor to the from Corpus Christi on the 8th of March. On the 18th he met a party of mounted Mexican marauders called rancheros, who warned him that he had passed the limits of Texas. On the 25th, the army reached Point Isabel. The Mexican authorities in leaving this place had set it on fire; but Taylor with exertion saved most of the buildings. From the nature of the coast he must make this place the depot for his stores. Leaving them here, with 450 men under Major Mun- March 28. roe, he advanced, and took post at the mouth of the Taylor Rio Grande opposite to Matamoras. Here batteries encamps were soon erected by the Mexicans, pointing at his camp. This he intrenched, and immediately commerced a fort, whose guns threatened the heart of the 22. How was the difficulty with England settled? CHAPTER VII-1. What order did Gen. Taylor receive? What was its effect? Give an account of Gen. Taylor's march from the mouth of the Nueces to that of the Rio Grande. What was here done by the Mexicans and the Americans? Gen. opposite Matamo ras. 344 PT IV. city. P'D III. ACTUAL WAR. Yet Gen. Taylor was strictly courteous to all. He had come, in peace, he said, to protect Texas, not CH. VII. to invade Mexico; but if attacked, he should know 1846. how to defend himself. (April 10. camp and was Mexican 2. This attack he had hourly reason to expect. From the Paredes had put in requisition the best troops of Mexaloe, ico, headed by her ablest generals, and they were killed by gathering towards the Rio Grande. On both sides ranche of the river, all was warlike action;-here, mounting ros.) cr relieving guards, and there, planting artillery. Gen. Arista now arrived, and took the command at Matamoras. The Mexican government made a forApril 24. mal declaration of war on the 23d of May. On the ties com. 24th Capt. Thornton with sixty-three dragoons was sent by Gen. Taylor a few miles up the river to ton's can reconnoitre. They fell into an ambuscade, and findwing themselves surrounded by a far superior force, they attempted to retreat, cutting their way; but they were obliged to surrender, with the loss of 16 killed and wounded. Hostili mence by Thorn ture. Am. ment and Presi :ra mes 3. The American congress and people were astonished and agitated, when Gen. Taylor's account of this Astonish- first bloodshed was received. Their army was suranxiety. rounded, and in danger, from the soldiers who had committed the massacres of Goliad and the Alamo ! May 11. A kind of monomania pervaded the nation. The dent's ex-President announced to congress that the Mexicans sage. had "invaded our territory, and shed the blood of our citizens upon our own soil." Congress responded, that " war existed by the act of Mexico," and in two May 13. days passed a law authorizing 50,000 volunteers to Act of be raised for twelve months; and appropriating totorais wards the carrying on of the war, ten millions of money. dollars. Thus were the means at once provided. congress men and 4. Declared war being upon the hands of the Ex 1. What was Gen. Taylor's course of conduct?-2. What was now the aspect of things in regard to war? How did hostilities actually commence? When did the Mexicans declare war?-3. How was news of the breaking out of the war received in America? and what was done by the President and by Congress? |