Page:History of the War between the United States and Mexico.djvu/72

60 the military authorities in Matamoras, and after the capture of that city, he proved himself to be as corrupt as he was pusillanimous.

The diplomatic relations. between the United States and Mexico having been interrupted by the act of the latter, it was thought advisable to prepare for the prompt assertion of the claim of Texas to the left bank of the Rio Grande, as the only remaining alternative. Immediately on the issuing of the proclamation of the President of Texas, in April 1845, calling a convention, and an extra session of Congress, to take into consideration the joint resolutions of annexation, it was ofﬁcially announced by the government of Mexico that preparations for an invasion would be forthwith made. Upon the receipt of this information, confidential instructions were issued from the "far Ofﬁce of the United States. to General Taylor, then in command of the forces at Fort Jesup, to put himself in communication, at once, with the authorities of Texas, and the diplomatic agents of the United States in that republic, and, after he should be advised that her convention had acceded to the terms of annexation, to employ his command in defending her territories against foreign invasion, and Indian incursions. He was also instructed to regard the