[31.] Slidell, Mar. 18 (Ho. 60; 30, 1, p. 66). [52]Dimond, no. 265, Oct. 1, 1845. British minister in Siglo XIX, Sept. 24, 1845.
[32.] Times, Jan. 8, 15. Picayune, Dec. 30, 1845. Buchanan to Slidell, no. 7, Mar. 12, 1847 (Information received from various quarters that several European powers may be aiming to establish monarchy in Mexico). Dec. 1, 1847, Olozaga showed in the Spanish Cortes a statement of large sums spent by Spain in 1846 to place a Spanish prince on the throne of Mexico (Dix, Speeches, i, 214, note). See also chap. x, [note 21].
[33.] Vattel, Law of Nations (Chitty), book ii, chap. iv, secs. 49–51.
[34.] American trade with Mexico declined from $9,029,221 in 1835 to $1,152,331 in 1845 (Niles, Oct. 17, 1846, p. 104). (Contrary) [52]Buchanan to Slidell, Nov. 10, 1845. The protest of the Mexican minister at Washington against the annexation of Texas asserted the right of his country to recover Texas at any time and by all the means in her power (Cong. Globe, 30, 1, 334).
[35.] (Oregon) London Times, Sept. 30, 1847. Polk, Diary, Apr. 22, 1846.
VII. THE PRELIMINARIES OF THE CONFLICT
[1.] The claims did much to embitter feeling in both countries, were one reason for Mexico’s breaking off and refusing to resume diplomatic relations, and brought Polk to the point of resolving to recommend forcible action to Congress (p. 181). The series of diplomatic clashes led to the danger of a Mexican attack and hence to Taylor’s advance; and his movement, besides exciting further displeasure in Mexico, offered her a convenient and promising opportunity to strike.
[2.] Smith, Annex. of Texas, 445, 449. [56]Wickliffe, private, May 21, 1845. [63]Marcy to Taylor, confid., May 28, 1845. Ho. 60; 30, 1, pp. 79, 804. Donelson, June 4, 1845, in Sen. 1; 29, 1, p. 66. [297]Polk to Dallas, confid., Aug. 23, 1845.
[3.] Richardson, Messages, iv, 388. [52]J. Y. Mason to Donelson, Aug. 7, 1845.
[4.] M. B. de Arispe in Niles, Aug. 17, 1816. Ho. 60; 30, 1, pp. 130 (Cárdenas); 140 (Ampudia); 430 (Taylor, no. 93). Cong. Globe, 30, 1, p. 911 (Stephens). [245]Bliss to Lamar, Oct. 15, 1846. [52]Buchanan to Slidell, Nov. 10, 1845. Wilson, Slave Power, ii, 8. Z. T. Fulmore in Tex. State Hist. Assoc. Qtrly., v, 28. T. M. Marshall, ibid., xiv, 277. I. J. Cox, ibid., vi, 81. Aguila del Norte, Mar. 11, 1846. Nat. Intelligencer, Nov. 5, 1845; Dec. 12, 1846. Ho. Report 70; 29, 2. Kennedy, Texas, ii, 30. Hitchcock, Fifty Years, 200. Fisher, Memorials. Bolton, Texas, 1. Bancroft, No. Mex. States, i, 375, 604. Garrison, Extension, 100, 103–7. Tex. Dipl. Corres., i, 257 (Irion). [52]Consul Belt, July 5, 1844. Jones, Memoranda, 299 (Hockley). Sen. 18; 30, 1, p. 8 (Marcy). Garrison, Texas, 262. México á través, iv, 375–6. Sen. 1; 29, 1, p. 90 (Donelson). [351]Storrs to Webster, Oct. 23, 1847. [52]Woll, proclam., June 20, 1844. Boston Advertiser, July 13, 1843. [64]Ayunt. of Matamoros to Taylor, June 10, 1846. [82]Gov. Tamaul. to govs., Nov. 27, 1846. South. Hist. Assoc. Pubs., v, 351.