CHAPTER VI.

ADMISSION OF TEXAS-MEXICAN WAR-ADMISSION OF CALIFORNIA-COMPROMISES OF 1850.

Texan Revolution-She asks a Recognition of her Independence - Strongly supported by the South-Postponement - Renewal-Treaty of Annexation Proposed -Joint Resolution Passed-War with Mexico-Speech of Gen. Dix-Message of President Taylor-California-Deseret and New Mexico -Debate-Compromise Measures-"Omnibus Upset."

Texas, a State of the Mexican Republic, after a successful revolution, established an independent Government. Her independence had not been acknowledged by Mexico. She, however, applied to our Government for its recognition. The friends of slavery in the South, seized with avidity this opportunity for its extension; and, led on by Mr. Calhoun, vigorously pressed her acknowledgment by our Government. In debating this proposition in the Senate, in 1837, Mr. Calhoun declared himself not only in favor of the recognition, but of immediate admission of the State into the Union. The safety of the Southern States, having a large slave population, required that there should be no intervening State between them and Mexico. He was for meeting the subject boldly, of acting upon it fearlessly, of acting on both questions simultaneously, of recognizing the independence of Texas, and admitting her into the Union. He was certain that the interests of both Governments would be promoted by the union.

The acknowledgment of Texan independence, was, however, not made at this session. The question was postponed, and renewed in January, 1838, by Senator Preston, of South CarCarolina, who moved a resolution to annex that State to the United States. The same subject was debated in the House

108

TEXAN INDEPENDENCE.

of Representatives, on which Mr. Adams took occasion to state that he had presented one hundred and ninety remonstrances, signed by over twenty thousand inhabitants of Massachusetts, expressing great alarm at the conduct of the Government thus far in relation to the annexation of Texas; that as early as 1824, the Republic of Mexico passed a law for the emancipation of slaves, and the abolition of slavery; that the real ground of the rebellion of Texas was the passage of that law and a desire to re-establish the system which it abolished; and that this was abundantly proved by the testimony lately published by Dr. Mayo, of Virginia, and by the clause in the Texan Constitution denying to her Legislature even, the power of ever emancipating her slaves.

The proposition was again postponed, and lay dormant until Mr. Calhoun was called to the office of Secretary of State. In that position he sought to accomplish by a treaty of annexation, what, so far, he had not been able to do by legislation. The treaty was negotiated, but not ratified by the Senate.

Two days after the rejection of the treaty, Colonel Benton, whom the Calhounties sought to place in a false position before the country, introduced a bill into the Senate conferring authority on the President to open negotiations with Mexico and Texas, for the adjustment of boundaries and the annexation of the latter to the United States, the assent of Mexico to be obtained by treaty; that of Texas by an act of her Legislature; and after erecting out of Texas a State not exceeding the size of the largest State in the Union, slavery to be excluded from the Northern half of the remainder; which was ordered to be printed. The subject then went over to the ensuing session.

In his annual message of December 3d, to the second session of the same Congress, President Tyler recommended annexation, especially, and without reservations or conditions,

ANNEXATION OF TEXAS.

109

and averred, that which had not been generally understood in the North, that in the election of his successor, the people of the United States had pronounced in favor of annexation. The mode suggested by the President was a joint resolution, or act, to be perfected and made binding upon the two Governments, when adopted in like manner by the Government of Texas.

In accordance with that recommendation, joint resolutions for the annexation of Texas were offered, and finally passed, and approved on the first day of March, 1845.

The annexation was thus consummated, and with a proviso allowing four more States to be set off from its territory, whenever its population was sufficient, and which, the South was well assured, would be slave States, as they were to be slave or free, as the people might decide.

This led to the war with Mexico. When the news of the annexation reached that Government, the greatest indignation was excited, and all diplomatic intercourse was, at once, suspended.

In Texas, President Jones, on the 4th of June, issued a Proclamation, to the effect, that Mexico was disposed to a peaceful settlement of difficulties by acknowledging Texan independence, if the latter would maintain her separate existence, and directing hostilities against Mexico to cease until the subject could be laid before the Congress, which was ordered to convene on the 16th. This was a manoeuver to gain time. On the assembling of the Texan Congress he submitted to that body both the proposal of Mexico and the offer of annexation, under the act passed by our Congress, whereupon the former was rejected and the latter accepted. A Convention of the people of Texas was then assembled, on the 4th of July, 1845, at which the action of their Congress was formally ratified and confirmed.

Mexico regarded the annexation of Texas to the United

110

RESULTS IN WAR WITH MEXICO.

States as just cause of war, and declared her intention to resent the insult. The President thereupon sent an army of occupation into Texas, and a squadron to the Gulf of Mexico. Finding that Mexico did not resist, he undertook to renew diplomatic relations with her, and sent Mr. Slidell there, to settle the difficulty. But the Mexican Government, on learning that he had not plenipotential powers, declined to receive him as a full minister; and he retired to Jalapa, where he remained awhile, and then returned home. When Congress assembled in December, he submitted the situation of our affairs with Mexico to that body in his message.

General Zachary Taylor commanded the army of occupa tion, who reported a collision with the Mexican troops in the early days of May, 1846; and on the 11th of that month the President announced to Congress, in a special message, the commencement of hostilities. This was in accordance with the predictions of those who opposed the forcible annexation of Texas. In that communication the President said that war existed by the act of Mexico. It is literally true that Mexico fired the first hostile gun, yet the most heated zealot in that project is compelled to admit that the war was provoked by our own Government, and therefore resulted from its acts. The President then appealed to Congress to recognize the existence of the war, and to vote money and men to carry it on. Ten millions of dollars was thereupon placed at his disposal, to prosecute the war with Mexico.

This placed the Senators and Representatives who, foreseeing all these consequences, had opposed the annexation of Texas, in a very unpleasant position. They felt that the measure was inexpedient, impolitic, and grossly unjust, and that Mexico was doing nothing more than what our Government would have done, with less provocation. And yet, in view of the necessity of preserving the character of our nation for energy, and of our arms for invincibility, a majority of them

brought themselves to the conclusion that it were better to appropriate the necessary funds. But to cover the iniquity in which the project was conceived, the Administration was resolved that the act should be preambled with a declaration that the war existed "by the act of the Republic of Mexico" -an untruth which several of the Senators and Representatives would not endorse.

The details of that war, although abounding in thrilling incidents and brilliant military achievements, do not belong to our sketch. Suffice it to say, that a bloody and destructive conflict ensued, which was attended with the usual concomitants—carnage, death, sickness, bodily and mental suffering,, ruptures of domestic relations, sorrows, widowhood, and orphanage; and all for the principal purpose of extending the power and augmenting the influence of the slave oligarchy. If the national honor was invaded, it was only a resulting consequence of the object in view, and the violent measures adopted to attain it.

On the 4th of August, 1846, the President intimated to Congress his determination to open negotiations with Mexico, and asked for an appropriation to enable him to negotiate a peace. The professed object for which the money was required, was to enable him to pay for a section of Mexican territory, in the event that he should find a cession of the same feasible, desirable, or expedient. A bill appropriating two millions of dollars for that object was introduced into the House of Representatives and put on its passage, when, on motion of the Honorable David Wilmot, of Pennsylvania, a proviso was annexed to it, to the effect that slavery should never be permitted to exist in the territory which might be acquired. But it failed to pass the Senate, for want of time, and so the measure went over to another session of Congress. In his message to Congress, which re-assembled in December, the President elaborated the subject of the Mexican war, and