set in the latter end of the month of December, 1845, and fell
into the hands of those who had denounced him for having listened to
overtures of an arrangement of the difficulties between the two nations.

When Mexico felt its inability to contend with the United States; and,
instead of considering the annexation of Texas to be, as it really was,
tantamount to a declaration of war, only suspended the ordinary
diplomatic relations between the two countries, its Government, if
directed by wise counsels, and not impeded by popular irritation, should
at once, since it had already agreed to recognize the independence of
Texas, have entered into a negotiation with the United States. At that
time there would have been no intrinsic difficulty in making a final
arrangement founded on an unconditional recognition of the independence
of Texas, within its legitimate boundaries. Popular feeling and the
ambition of contending military leaders, prevented that peaceable
termination of those unfortunate dissensions.

Yet, when Mexico refused to receive Mr. Slidell as an Envoy
Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary, the United States should
have remembered, that we had been the aggressors, that we had committed
an act acknowledged, as well by the practical law of nations, as by
common sense and common justice, to be tantamount to a declaration of
war; and they should have waited with patience, till the feelings
excited by our own conduct had subsided.

General Taylor had been instructed by the War Department, as early as
May 28, 1845, to cause the forces under his command to be put into a
position where they might most promptly and efficiently act in defence
of Texas, in the event that it should become necessary or proper to
employ them for that purpose. By subsequent instructions, and after the
people of Texas had accepted the proposition of annexation, he was
directed to select and occupy a position adapted to repel invasion, as
near the boundary line, the Rio Grande, as prudence would dictate; and
that, with this view, a part of his forces at least should be west of
the river Nueces. It was certainly the duty of the President to protect
Texas against invasion, from the moment it had been annexed to the
United States; and as that republic was in actual possession of Corpus
Christi, which was the position selected by General Taylor, there was
nothing, in the position he had taken, indicative of any danger of
actual hostilities.