near the Rio Grande del Norte, such a site as will consist with the health of the troops, and will be best adapted to repel invasion, and to protect, in the event of annexation, what will be our western border." Mr. Donelson to Captain Stockton, June 22, 1845. "Your coöperation with our land troops I should think sufficient, (in case of war with Mexico,) without much aid from Texas herself, to drive the Mexican arms west of the Rio Grande." THE RIO GRANDE QUESTION ANTICIPATED. Mr. Donelson to Mr. Buchanan, June 23, 1845. "It is the policy of those who are on the side of Mexico in the present crisis to throw upon the United States the responsibility of a war for the country between the Nueces and the Rio Grande. That territory, you are aware, has been in possession of both parties." Regarding this point, in a letter to Mr. Buchanan, dated July 11, 1845, Mr. Donelson says, "Texas has at pleasure taken possession of her posts there, and has only suspended jurisdiction because it was inconvenient to maintain it, and because she knew that in a short period her resumption of it would be acquiesced in by the inhabitants, if they were assured of protection." POSTS ON THE RIO GRANDE ADVISED BY TEXAS. Mr. Allen to Mr. Donelson, June 26, 1845. "The undersigned would suggest to Mr. Donelson the propriety and NECESSITY of an immediate introduction of the troops referred to, (U. S.,) and that they proceed at once to occupy positions upon the Rio Grande, and at other points of the frontier, without waiting for the action of the convention relative to the measure of annexation." PRUDENTIAL SUGGESTIONS WITH REGARD TO THE USE OF FORCE. Mr. Donelson to Mr. Buchanan, July 6, 1845. "You are already advised of my letter to General Taylor of the 28th ultimo, in which I leave the question of marching to the Rio Grande to be decided by developments yet to be made. If Mexico passes that stream, menacing Texas, or otherwise threatening to disturb the territory of Texas, as it stood when our joint resolution passed, our right to repel her commences, and we may force her to retire west of the Rio Grande." Mr. Donelson to General Taylor, July 7, 1845. "In this event (of war) a bold movement on the Rio Grande would be justified as the one best calculated to give general security to the frontier of Texas, and take from the enemy his power to injure us." IF PEACE MEASURES FAIL, WAR JUSTIFIABLE. "If Mexico undertakes the invasion, &c., Texas would have the immediate right, and so will the United States, to repel the invasion; and in doing so, Mexico may be disarmed by the occupation of the Rio Grande by our troops," &c. ENTIRE PROTECTION TO TEXAS ENFORCED BY THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT. Secretary of War to General Taylor, July 30, 1845. "While avoiding, as you have been instructed to do, all aggressive measures towards Mexico, as long as the relations of peace exist between that Republic and the United States, you are expected to occupy, protect, and defend the territory of Texas to the extent that it has been occupied by the people of Texas. The Rio Grande is claimed to be the boundary between the two countries, and up to this boundary you are to extend your protection," &c. MEXICANS TO BE DRIVEN BEYOND THE RIO GRANDE IN CASE 66 OF INVASION. Mr. Donelson to Mr. Allen, August 5, 1845. 'If, however, contrary to present appearances, this invasion should be made by a larger force than would be prudent for the present United States troops to repel alone, the undersigned doubts not that the patriotism of the president of Texas will call into the field such additional aid from the Texas militia as will at once drive the Mexicans beyond the Rio Grande, and give security to the frontier." FRONTIER POSTS TO BE ESTABLISHED BY GENERAL TAYLOR, AIDED BY TEXAS. General Taylor to Anson Jones, President of Texas, August 16, 1845. "When our relations with Mexico, and the state of the service in this quarter, shall permit my absence, I will take great pleasure in proceeding to the seat of government, and conferring with you personally in relation to the proper dispositions to be made for the permanent occupation of the frontier." VIGILANCE OF GENERAL TAYLOR IN PROTECTING THE BOUNDARY TO THE RIO GRANDE. General Taylor to Adjutant-General Jones, August 20, 1845. "I still deem it my duty to look to the possibility of such an event, (crossing of the Rio Grande by the Mexican troops,) and to prepare for a forward movement, should circumstances require it." CROSSING OF THE RIO GRANDE BY THE MEXICANS TO BE CONSIDERED AS THE COMMENCEMENT OF HOSTILITIES. Secretary of War to General Taylor, August 23, 1845. "Should Mexico declare war, or commence hostilities by crossing the Rio Grande with a considerable force, you are instructed to lose no time in giving information to the authorities of each or any of the above-mentioned States, as to the number of volunteers you may want from them respectively." * "Such a movement (crossing the Rio Grande by the Mexicans) must be regarded as an invasion of the United States, and the commencement of hostilities." In a letter from Adjutant-General Jones to General Taylor, dated August 26, 1845, he requests him to "keep the department advised of the state of the service on the Texan frontiers." An inspection of General Taylor's letters subsequent to this order will show how strictly he conformed to its requisitions. In almost every letter before the commencement of hostilities, he speaks of news, or the want of news, from the Rio Grande. SOLICITUDE OF THE U. S. GOVERNMENT THAT TEXAS SHOULD BE PROTECTED TO THE RIO GRANDE. Secretary of War to General Taylor, August 30, 1845. "Instructions heretofore issued enjoin upon you to defend Texas from invasion and Indian hostilities; and, should Mexico invade it, you will employ all your forces to repulse the invaders, and drive all Mexican troops beyond the Rio Grande." * "An attempt to cross that river (Rio Grande) with such a (large) force will also be considered in the same light," (as the commencement of hostilities.) NO BOUNDARY THOUGHT OF BY GENERAL TAYLOR BUT THE RIO GRANDE. General Taylor to Adjutant-General Jones, September 14, 1845. "The commander of the rangers at San Antonio, Major Hays, has reputation as a partisan, and to him I have specially intrusted the duty of keeping me advised of any movements on the Rio Grande." LETTER OF ADVICE OF GENERAL TAYLOR TO ADVANCE TO THE RIO GRANDE. General Taylor to Adjutant-General Jones, October 4, 1845. "It is with great deference that I make any suggestions on topics which may become matter of delicate negotiation; but if our government, in settling the question of boundary, makes the line of the Rio Grande an ultimatum, I cannot doubt that the settlement will be greatly facilitated and hastened by our taking possession at once of one or two suitable points on or quite near that river. Our strength and state of preparations should be displayed in a manner not to be mistaken. However salutary may be the effect upon the border people by our presence here, we are too far from the frontier to impress the government of Mexico with our readiness to vindicate, by force of arms if necessary, our title to the country as far as the Rio Grande." This advice of General Taylor proceeded from no new manifestations on the part of Mexico, for, in the same letter he says, that Mexico had committed "no overt act of hostilities;" and that he "does not conceive that it will become necessary, under any circumstances, to call for volunteers from the United States." Indications, indeed, appeared to be favorable to peace, but peace without promptitude. Although the advice was characterized by good judgment, and was in confirmation of its own views, still, the government was slow to adopt it. It was made in ignorance of the mission of Mr. Slidell, and wholly with the view to move the government of Mexico to prompt and decisive action. It is certainly not a little remarkable, that, when it was adopted by the government of the United States, more than three months afterwards, — it was adopted with similar motives. - "On the 5th of November, General Taylor received a letter from Commodore Conner, from which we make the following extract. It was dated, off Vera Cruz, October 24, 1845. “I hasten to inform you that the Mexican government has |