[24.] Journal des Débats, Sept. 24, 1845. [13]Pakenham, no. 22, Apr. 14, 1844. (Blockade) [13]Bankhead, no. 162, Oct. 30, 1846.
[25.] (Fear) Boletín Oficial, Apr. 15, 1845. (Guarantee) [13]Bankhead, no. 117, Nov. 29, 1845.
[26.] [13]Bankhead, nos. 113, Nov. 29, 1845; 125, Dec. 30, 1845; 14, Jan. 30, 1846; 28, Feb. 27, 1846; [52]McLane, nos. 8, Sept. 26, 1845; 55, June 18, 1846; [52]Shannon, no. 9, Mar. 27, 1845; [52]Slidell, Jan. 14; Feb. 6, 1846; Correspondant, May 1, 1846; Times, Mar. 13, 1846; Ho. 2; 29, 1, pp. 139–92; [52]J. Parrott, June 4, 1846. [52]Dimond, no. 332, Apr. 22, 1846: The Mexican thermometer for peace or war is governed by the prospects of war between us and England. The contemptuous and abusive tone of the British journals with reference to the United States encouraged Mexico. Our minister at London reported that the British press as a whole represented that the United States could not wage war successfully against Mexico ([297]McLane to Polk, received, June 21, 1846). [77]Murphy, no. 9, Aug. 1, 1845 (Aberdeen would like to see, etc.).
[27.] [52]Slidell, Jan. 14, 1846. Times, Mar. 13, 1846. [52]McLane, no. 55, June 18, 1846. (Hoped) [13]Bankhead, no. 31, Mar. 10, 1846; Tornel, Tejas, 97.
28. Diario, Mar. 25, 1845. (Enthusiasm, veil) Memoria de ... Relaciones, Jan., 1849. [77]Almonte, no. 72, priv., June 19, 1844. Monitor Constit., supplmt., Dec. 21, 1844. Almonte (who, as recently minister to the United States, had great influence on the question of peace or war) held that Mexico ought to fight and protract the war as long as possible in order to make us so tired of it that we should never repeat the experiment ([13]Pakenham, no. 119, Sept. 28, 1846). Espectador, Apr. 25, 1846 (“We are profoundly convinced of the triumph of the Mexican arms”). Reforma, Mar. 9, 1846. [13]Bankhead, nos. 130, Sept. 7, 1846 (“They cannot be convinced” of their inability to fight the U. S.); 151, Oct. 10, 1846 (The cry of the government is, “a levy of 40,000 men and make terms only on the other side of the Nueces”). (Prussian) [256]Memo. (Historians) Roa Bárcena, Recuerdos, 19–20; Balbontín, Estado Militar, 58. Ramírez, México, 235. S. Anna, proclam., Sept. 16, 1847, in Monitor Repub., Oct. 2, 1847. Memoria de ... Relaciones, Jan., 1849. Kenly, Md. Volunteer, 57: After a long stay in Mexico, I believe the sentiment of the people was “unanimous for war.” Franklin Pierce, speech, Jan. 27, 1848: After conversing with the most intelligent men in Mexico I was satisfied that the war was unavoidable (N. Y. Herald, Feb. 5, 1848). Other documents, too numerous to be cited, assisted the author in reaching his conclusions. This condition of the Mexican mind helps to explain the rejection of Slidell. See also chap. ix, [pp. 221–2].
VI. THE AMERICAN ATTITUDE ON THE EVE OF WAR
[1.] Buchanan in Cong. Globe, 28, 1, app., 723. For public sentiment regarding the Santa Fe prisoners see the New Orleans papers of March, 1842 (e.g. Com. Bulletin, Mar. 18), and Smith, Annex. of Texas, 31–2. [52]Consul Dimond, Jan. 20, 1843. (Sentmanat) [52]Consul Porter, July 20, 1844. Sentmanat’s party included several Americans. (Reptiles) [77]Clipping from New Orleans Bee. State Sentinel, Sept. 27, 1845. (American prisoners) N. Orl. Comm. Bull., Mar. 18, 1844. Ark. Hist. Comm., Bulletin no. 6, p. 182.
[2.] The statements regarding American feeling appear to be self-evident. In the daily press the author has found abundant proof of them, but it would require a great deal of space to prove inductively the state of public sentiment. [42]Delegates, Feb. 12, 1847.
[3.] These statements also are presented as conclusions based upon an extended examination of the daily press (see Smith, Annex. of Texas, 472), speeches in Congress, etc. For example, the remarks made in Congress with reference to Jackson’s request for authority to adopt forcible measures (p. 77 of this volume) contained many kind references to Mexico. This feeling persisted. In the Richmond Enquirer, Dec. 9, 1845, its Washington correspondent stated that he found the Democrats of both houses of Congress sincerely desired the friendship and confidence of that country. Id., Oct. 17, 1845. Note the first page of chap. xxxvi. For anti-slavery accusations: J. Q. Adams in Boston Atlas, Oct. 17, 1842 (Smith, Annex. of Texas, 131). For the use of money to influence the American press: ibid., 184.
[4.] (Forbearance) N. Orl. Bee, Feb. 19, 1846; Picayune, May 5, 1846; Guard, May 15, 1846; N. Orl. Comm. Bull., Mar. 16, 1846, and infra. [52]Van Buren to Butler, Oct. 16, 1829. [13]Count E. de Lillers to Gutiérrez [Mar., 1830]. (Jackson) Chap. iii, p. 77. (Imbecility) Picayune, June 23, 1842.