. t Nearly a year after the commencement of the war, Thornton's of&cial report of this affair was made public. It differs in some particulars from the newspaper accounts, hut the fact of the charge is admitted, though under the plea of self-defence. The charge was made before the Mexicans had fired a shot.
cute them. He thus plainly disavowed commencing the war. How far Arista's declaration, that he considered hostilities commenced by the Americans, justifies Mr.
Polk's solemn asseveration that Mexico had " proclaimed that hostilities had commenced, and that the two nations are now at war," the reader will decide. Should the no- tice of the 24th April, fail to estabhsh the veracity of Mr.
Polk's announcement to Congress, the friends of that gen- tleman call to his defence an order issued by the Presi- dent of Mexico on the 18th April, more than a month after Taylor had left Corpus Christi, and commenced his invasion of the Mexican territory ; " From this day," says the order, " begins our defensive war, and every point of 'our territory attacked or invaded- shall be defended.'' As the invasion continued, a proclamation was issued by the Mexican President on the 24th April in which he says, ' The flag of the stars waves on the left bank of the Rio Bravo del Norte, opposite to the city of Metamoras, after taking possession of the river with their ships of war. The town of Laredo was surprised by a party of their troops, and a picket of ours on the watch was disarmed.
Hostilities then have been commenced by the United States of America, in making new conquests upon our territories within the boundaries of Tamaulipas and New Leon. / have not the right to declare ivar. It is for