Sept. 26 Buchanan replied to Rejón that the United States did not wish to ignore in the peace negotiations the causes of the war, since to do that would be to abandon the just claims of the United States (Polk, Diary, Sept. 26; Sen. 1; 29, 2, p. 44). The necessity of explaining his previous despatch illustrated once more the Mexican superiority in diplomatic fencing. Buchanan added that delay would make it the harder to end the conflict. Polk regarded the Mexican reply as a refusal to treat (Diary, Sept. 19). In consequence he proposed aggressive operations in Tamaulipas (chap. xiii, [p. 263]) and the imposition of contributions in lieu of paying for needed supplies (chap. xxxiii, [p. 264]). Buchanan, however, directed Conner to notify Slidell, who was still on waiting orders at New Orleans, whenever the Mexican government should announce that it was “disposed” to treat ([162]Oct. 1).
[5.] Polk, Diary, July 26, 30, 31; Aug. 1, 4, 7, 8, 10, 1846. Id.to Senate, Aug. 4, 8 (Richardson, Messages, iv, 456, 466). Id.., Message, Dec. 8, 1846 (ib., 494–5). Benton, View, ii, 681–2. Cong. Globe, 29, 1, pp. 1211–21. See also the long debates on the subject in Senate and House, Jan. and Feb., 1847 (Cong. Globe). Von Holst, United States, iii, 293. Benton, Abr. Debates, xvi, 40, note, 45 (Sevier), 60 (Cass). Boston Atlas, Feb. 17, 1847. [13]Mora to Palmerston, May 26, 1847. Diario, May 24; June 8, 1847. Republicano, June 11, 1847. [13]Thornton to Bankhead, June 14, 1847. (Consul Black notified) [13]Pakenham, no. 40, Mar. 29, 1847. Wash. Union, Aug. 12, 1846. [108]Polk to Bancroft, Jan. 30, 1847. Daily Telegraph, Oct. 16, 1852.
The request for two millions apparently grew out of the negotiation with Santa Anna; see chap. ix, [note 38]. Polk’s object was probably to be able to supply funds promptly to the Mexican administration making a treaty, and to satisfy it that it would be able to gain the needful military support. The three millions could not be used until after Mexico should have ratified the treaty (Benton, Abr. Deb., xvi, 46 (Berrien), 60 (Cass); Washington Telegraph, Oct. 18, 1852), and the government was required to account for the expenditure of the money (U. S. Stat. at Large, ix, 174; Benton, Abr. Deb., xvi, 45). An improper use of it was therefore impossible.
[6.] The overture of January, 1847. Ho. 85; 29, 2. Washington Union, Oct. 9, 1846 (N. Y.); Apr. 22; June 11, 1847. [162]Matson to Conner, Feb. 20, 1847. Sen. 1; 30, 1, pp. 36–7. [162]Conner to wife, Feb. 17. [132]Benton to Buchanan, Jan. 14. [132]Atocha to Buchanan, July 3. [132]Buchanan to Atocha, Jan. 18; to Scott and Perry, Apr. 23. Niles, May 1, p. 129; May 15, p. 162. Von Holst, United States, iii, 332. Courrier des Etats Unis, Aug. 15, 1846. Buchanan, Works (Moore), vii, 198, 211. [13]Bankhead, nos. 141, Sept. 29, 1846; 16, Mar. 2, 1847. [73]Bermúdez de Castro, no. 444, res., Mar. 1. Tributo á la Verdad, 26. [58]Dobson, Feb. 14. Epoca, Feb. 23. [86]Gefe V. C. dept. to gov., Feb. 9. Don Simplicio, Feb. 17. Diario, Aug. 18. Webster, Writings, ix, 158. [52]Black, Feb. 24. [13]Pakenham, nos. 107, Aug. 13, 1846; 40, Mar. 29; 56, Apr. 28, 1847. Nat. Intelligencer, June 10, 1845; May 3, 1847. [52]Shannon to Cuevas, Mar. 1, 1845. [69]A clipping from Republicano. Polk, Diary, Nov. 7, 1846; Jan. 12–19; Mar. 20, 1847. Picayune, May 6, 1847. Delta, Mar. 13. [76]Morales, Feb. 9.
At Atocha’s suggestion the American commissioners were to have power to suspend hostilities after actually meeting Mexican commissioners. Such was Webster’s idea (Writings, ix, 158). The plan would have given Mexico a fine opportunity to protract the negotiations, let our war expenses accumulate, and cause our war spirit to languish. The Mexican reply said that the Texas affair [besides being atrocious in itself] was “a cover to ulterior designs, which now stand disclosed” (Sen. 1; 30, [1], p. 37). The failure of the overture naturally angered Polk, and he declared for a most energetic military movement against the capital (Diary, Mar. 20). In April Atocha, who loved to represent himself as “sole agent for Santa Anna’s gamecocks and all, and his particular friend in every respect” ([162]Conner, Feb. 17), returned to Mexico ostensibly on private business, but with [132]letters of introduction from the government to Scott, Shields and Perry. “O God”, exclaimed El Republicano, “send unto us shells, rifles, shot and every kind of projectiles and misfortunes; burn and destroy us, reduce us to ashes, annihilate us, but ... permit not that Atocha be the broker of a treaty of peace!”
[7.] The Mexican attitude. Sen. 52; 30, 1, pp. 190, 205–12 (Trist), 174. Picayune, May 12; July 8; Oct. 15, 17. Apuntes, 264. [13]Bankhead, nos. 42–3, Apr. 30; 58, May 29; 83, Aug. 29. Polk, Diary, Apr. 16. Ramírez, México, 224, 234, 239, 248, 263, 271, 275. Meade, Letters, i, 180. Sen. 1; 29, 2, p. 44. México en 1847, 34. [77]Undated clipping from N. Y. Sun describing a Mexican society to promote annexation to U. S. [47]Mexican letter, Orizaba, [Sept., 1847]. [13]Pakenham, no. 40, Mar. 29. [13]Bankhead to Pak., Oct. 10, 1846. Semmes, Service, 426. [335]Belton to Hitchcock, Aug. 23. Ocampo, Obras, 263. Republicano, Oct. 24, 1846; May 8, 11; June 9, 11, 1847. Esperanza, Aug. 8, 1846. Eco de Tampico, Nov. 11, 1846. Zempoalteca, July 15, 1847. [80]Speaker in México legislature, Apr. 21. London Times, July 15; Oct. 27; Nov. 6, 16, 1846; Jan. 8, 13; Feb. 9; Mar. 15; May 10, 1847. Tributo á la Verdad, 27. M’Sherry, El Puchero, 189. [73]Bermúdez de Castro, no. 332, res., Sept. 24, 1846. Encarnacion Prisoners, 83. Opinion del Ejército, Nov. 13, 1846. Cong. Globe,29, 2, app., 211 (Corwin); 323 (Calhoun). [335]Eayres to S. Anna, Oct. 10, 1846; reply, Oct. 21. [52]Black, Sept. 22, 28, 1846. [92]Mex. ayunt. to gov. Fed. District, Sept. 3, 1847. Sen. 1; 30, 1, p. 36. Wash. Union, Sept. 28; Oct. 6, 27, 1846; Apr. 22; May 22; July 10; Aug. 5; Oct. 5, 1847. Nat. Intelligencer, Nov. 7, 1846; Feb. 5, 1847. N. Y. Express, Nov. 12, 1846. Iris Español, Oct. 30, 1846. Regenerador Repub., Dec. 23, 1846. Benton, Abr. Debates, xvi, 58–9 (Calhoun). [132]Cushing to Buchanan, Oct. 31, 1847. Constitutionnel, Nov. 10; Dec. 5, 1846; Aug. 17, 1847. Correspondant, Sept. 15, 1846. London Globe, Nov. 16, 1846. Hitchcock, Fifty Years, 270. Lawton, Artill. Officer, 144. Monitor Repub., Sept. 2; Nov. 14, 18, 1846; Apr. 21, 29; May 15, 17, 27, 1847. Diario, Oct. 8; Nov. 21; Dec. 20, 23, 1846; Feb. 13, 14; Mar. 31; Apr. 11; May 5, 21, 23, 25; June 10, 18; July 8; Aug. 29, 1847. [76]Mora, Apr. 23, 1847. See also chap. xxxiv, [note 21], and the corresponding text.
[8.] Appointment of Trist. Polk, Diary, Dec. 3, 4, 9, 1846; Jan. 18; Apr. 10, 14, 16, 21–2, 1847. [335]Buchanan to Trist, July 13, 1847. Mansfield, Mexican War, 275. Hitchcock, Fifty Years, 310. [52]Trist to Buchanan, July 31, private. Ho. 69; 30, 1, p. 43 (Buchanan). [57]Trist, reports. Polk, Message, Dec. 7, 1847 (Richardson, iv, 536). Benton, View, ii, 704. Chase, Polk Administration, 215–6. [335]Mrs. Trist to T., July 13. [345]Blair to Van Buren, Dec. 26, 1846; July 7, 1847. Delta, May 1, 1848. [335]Trist to Mann, Dec. —, 1853 (draft). [335]Document by Trist re his wife. [335]Trist, draft of letter to the Times. Amer. Hist. Review, x, 312–4 (Reeves). [335]Trist to Felton, June 14, 18—. [335]Id.., memorial (draft). [335]Buchanan, Aug. 28, 1845 (appointing Trist chief clerk). For Buchanan: [354]Welles papers; Monitor Repub., Mar. 10, 1848 (Landa); Poore, Perley’s Remins., i, 332.
[9.] Trist’s early relations with Scott in Mexico. [335]Trist’s credentials, etc. [335]Walker to Trist Apr. 15. [335]Buchanan to Relaciones, Apr. 15. Pennsylvanian, Apr. 18. Boston Post, Apr. 15. [335]Trist to wife, Apr. 18, 25, 28; May 4, 8, 15, 21, etc.; to Buchanan, May 21. [335]Trist’s sister to T., May 22. [335]Trist, drafts and memoranda. Scott, Mems., ii, 399–401, 576, 579. Sen. 52; 30, 1, pp. 150, 153, 159, 181 (Trist); 126, 135, 157, 172 (Scott); 123, 128, 131 (Marcy); 108–9. [335]Buchanan to Trist, July 13, private. Ho. 69; 30, 1, pp. 43, 47, etc. [52]Trist to Scott, May 9. Ho. 60; 30, 1, pp. 940 (Marcy); 993, 1218 (Scott). Kenly, Md. Vol., 336. Mansfield, Scott, 364. Polk, Diary, Apr. 15, 16; June 12–15; July 9, 13, 15, 17; Aug. 24. [52]Buchanan to Trist, July 13. London Times, July 15; Aug. 16 (Genevese traveller: Scott warned). Sen. 1; 30, 1, p. 38. Polk, Message, Dec. 7, 1847 (Richardson, iv, 535). [47]Scott to Semmes, May 9. [48]Mason to Perry, Apr. 15, confid. [335]Trist to Scott, Sept. 30 (draft). Oswandel, Notes, 155–6. Semmes, Service, 197–201. [345]Blair to Van Buren, Mar. 3, 1848. [335]Trist to Ho. Repres., Feb. 12, 1848 (draft). Sen. 107; 29, 2, p. 3 (Buchanan to Conner, July 27, 1846). [132]Mason to Buchanan, June 28. N. Y. Courier and Enquirer in Niles, July 10. Buchanan, Works (Moore), vii, 270–9. So. Qtrly. Review, Apr., 1852, pp. 386–93. (Semmes episode) Ho. 60; 30, 1, pp. 976–92. [335]Trist to Felton, June 14, 18—.
The government desired to keep the despatch of the peace commissioner secret, lest Whigs should defeat the plan (Polk, Diary, Apr. 16), but a member of the Cabinet betrayed the fact ([335]Trist to Mann, Dec. —, 1853). Scott had been given some reason to expect that he would be (as he naturally desired to be) one of a peace commission (Mems., ii, 576), as would have been very proper, and no doubt he was not pleased to find he had been ignored. He was further exasperated at this time by the arrival of Lieut. Semmes, as a representative of the navy, to see about the case of a naval prisoner (Rogers: chap. xxx, p. 444), as if Scott had not been able and willing to attend to the business, and in fact had not already attended to it (Ho. 60; 30, 1, p. 989), and by Semmes’s demand (which had to be refused) for an escort (Semmes, Service, 198, etc.; Ho. 60; 30, 1, pp. 977–92). It would not have been proper to detach one soldier unnecessarily. May 31 Marcy wrote to Scott that Trist was “directed” to show the General his instructions (Sen. 52; 30, 1, p. 123); but Buchanan used the word “authorised” ([52]to Trist, July 13). So did Polk (Message, December 7, 1847) and Marcy to Scott on July 12 (Sen. 52; 30, 1, p. 133). Polk and the Cabinet were greatly disturbed by the quarrel between Scott and Trist, blaming both but of course blaming Scott most. Polk proposed to recall them, but Marcy said Scott could not be spared at that time, and the rest of the Cabinet agreed with him (Polk, Diary, June 12, 14; July 9). Polk said Scott had thrown away “the golden moment” to make peace. But, as Scott knew (Sen. 52; 30, 1, p. 120), the Mexican Congress by its law of April 20 (vol. ii, p. 81) had made peace negotiations practically impossible. A military officer is not expected to execute an order if the condition of things when he receives it is essentially different from that known or assumed by his superior at the time of issuing it. Trist admitted later that he had been misinformed about the Mexican situation, and was not sorry Scott did not promptly forward the despatch (Ho. 60; 30, 1, pp. 819, 825). As for the power to grant an armistice, Scott held that the army, cut off without supplies in the heart of a hostile country, must be free to take military security for its own safety (Sen. 52; 30, 1, p. 121). Trist was given authority to draw any part of the three millions appropriated to facilitate making a treaty. Buchanan to excuse himself wrote ([52]to Trist, June 14) that Scott would not have replied to Trist as he did, had he waited to see Trist’s instructions. This amounted to saying that, since Scott knew nothing about those instructions, his letter was natural. Marcy admitted (May 31: Sen. 52; 30, 1, p. 122) that Scott ought to have seen the instructions, the projet and Buchanan’s despatch, of which Trist had a copy. Dec. 26 [256]Scott had written privately to Marcy that he had heard from Congressmen of a plan to place Benton over him, but did not believe a word of it; and Jan. 16 he again had expressed his gratitude and loyalty to the President. But it should not be forgotten that while the administration was entitled to full credit for its meanness and blundering, the trouble arose primarily from Scott’s having gone deeply into politics. He was not politically active now. Jan. 16 he [256]wrote privately to Marcy, “On setting out, on my present mission, I laid down whiggism, without taking up democracy,” but the politicians were not fitted to believe this manly and truthful declaration. The Whigs insisted that Trist had been sent to embarrass and perhaps to ruin Scott.
[10.] Thornton, later Sir Edward Thornton, British minister to the United States, saw Scott also, who gave him to understand that he should advance against Mexico July 1 or 2 unless a reply to Buchanan’s despatch should seem probable ([13]T. to Addington, June 29). Thornton believed that Rejón was intriguing with Scott to have the Americans come to Mexico, install the Puros and make peace with them, and that Rejón’s party were insisting upon war for this reason (ibid.). Baranda had tried to catch Scott in some entanglement by means of secret negotiations through the British legation, but had failed ([13]Bankhead, nos. 47, 54, 1847). Bankhead exerted all his influence with the government in favor of negotiations. June 22 the minister of relations replied politely to Buchanan that his despatch had been referred to Congress, with which the settlement of the matter rested (Diario, June 26).