of one million dollars was first offered by President Jackson, and then five million; but both offers were promptly rejected.

The plans for acquiring the state by lawless irruption and by purchase, having failed, the next method tried was that of colonization; in other words, making the country, by immigration, so decidedly American, that its future acquisition would be assured. Several joint-stock companies were also formed in the city of New York, who dealt in the Texan land-scrip, and hence the interested holders of this scrip constituted a party who were very desirous that Texas, whatever the means employed, should be brought into the Union. In the year 1836, the American settlers, finding themselves fully in power, issued a declaration of independence of Mexico; and only fifteen days later, adopted a constitution establishing perpetual slavery in the province. Fifty of the 57 signers of this declaration were emigrants from the slave states, and only three were Mexicans by birth.

At the time of the declaration, SANTA ANNA, who had made himself dictator of Mexico, demanded that Texas should return to its allegiance. This being refused, a contest resulted, in the course of which Santa Anna was taken prisoner by the Texans, who were led by General SAMUEL HOUSTON. The Mexican general, however, was soon released. Houston was inaugurated president of Texas in the same year (1836), and the independence of the state was acknowledged the following year by the United States government. In the meantime, demand was made upon Mexico for a settlement within two weeks, of certain alleged wrongs and indignities committed against United States citizens. Mexico offered to submit them to arbitration, but our government appeared to be so anxious to have a plea for a war by which Texas could be secured, that it delayed four months before accepting this equitable method of settling the difficulty.

1844]

TEXAS ANNEXED.

399 As to the nature of these claims, their extravagant character may be inferred from the fact that of 11 million dollars demanded as damages, the umpire allowed the United States less than onefifth of that sum. As an instance: a certain Mexican schoolmaster and printer, who afterward became a naturalized citizen of the United States, produced a bill of nearly $400,000, for damages in having to leave his school and press during one of the revolutionary struggles in Mexico. The umpire cut down the claim to oneeighth of the original demand. Another, claimed the astonishing sum of over $8000 for the loss of 56 dozen of bottled porter, probably worth not over $200.

Such was the aspect of Mexican and Texan matters when Tyler became president. But Mexico itself had claims for damages against the United States, which it, also, requested should be settled by arbitration; and that, as the referees in the previous case had met in Washington, they should in the present instance convene in the city of Mexico. A treaty to this effect was agreed to, but the Senate of the United States refused to accept the proposition. A motion in the Senate to ratify a treaty with Texas, providing for its annexation to the Union, was defeated in 1844; but, in the following year, was carried. This act, however, was only secured by the subterfuge of voting on a resolution of annexation, which merely required a majority of the votes; whereas the ratification of a treaty would have required two-thirds of the whole number.

Under the old colonial charter of Rhode Island, only those of its citizens owning a certain amount of property were entitled to vote. In order to effect the abrogation of this restrictive law, the "Suffrage" party arose in the state. At the election of 1842, the candidate of the "Law and Order" party was defeated, and DORR, the governor-elect, took possession of the state arsenal, so as to be prepared to maintain his position. But the militia being called out by the party of Law and Order, the Suffragist governor sought safety in

flight. Subsequently, the Suffragists were overpowered by United States troops, and Dorr was arrested, tried for treason, and sentenced to imprisonment for life. He was, however, afterward pardoned, and in the meantime a new and more liberal constitution was adopted by the people.

Iowa and Florida were admitted into the Union as states in 1845. In the same year, JAMES K. POLK, of Tennessee, the nominee of the party of annexation, was inaugurated president.

WAR WITH MEXICO. ANNEXATION OF CALIFORNIA AND

NEW MEXICO.

It was not only the territory of Texas which had been coveted by many of the people of the United States, but also those parts of the Mexican possessions known as California and New Mexico. An envoy who was sent to Mexico to treat for the latter provinces, was also instructed to offer, in part pay for the said territory, the extravagant claims for damages made by United States citizens. But the envoy, Slidell, not being promptly received by the Mexicans, General ZACHARY TAYLOR was ordered, in the spring of 1846, to proceed with an army to the Rio Grande. Now, the Mexican government asserted that the Nueces river (east of the Rio Grande), was the true Texan boundary, and consequently that the United States troops had invaded their territory.

A Mexican army which had assembled at Matamoras, near the mouth of the Rio Grande, having crossed that river, a battle was fought with the army of General Taylor, at Palo Alto; but the Mexicans were badly defeated. The following day they were routed again, at Resaca de la Palma, and General Taylor crossing the Rio Grande, occupied Matamoras. The party of annexation, in Congress, rejoicing that they had forced the Mexicans to strike the first blow, and being aided by the votes of most of the opposition,-who

1846]

WAR WITH MEXICO.

401

had not the moral courage to stand by their convictions of right, at once declared war, voted money for carrying it on, and authorized the president to order out an army of 50,000 volunteers.

Nearly at the same time that war was declared against Mexico, a treaty was concluded with Great Britain relative to the Oregon boundary. The settlement of the north-western boundary, like that of the north-east, had long been a subject of negotiation, and for awhile the discussion wore a threatening aspect. The United States, by virtue of the treaty of 1819 with Spain, claimed all the "Florida" territory on the Pacific, north of the 42d parallel-or northern boundary of California-as far as the Russian possessions. Their claim was also based on the explorations of LEWIS and CLARKE (1804-1806), and the founding of the colony of Astoria. the other hand, the claim of Great Britain rested upon the fact of settlements having been made by subjects of that country, on the north branch of the Columbia, and on Fraser's river. By the treaty of 1846, the 49th degree of north latitude was agreed upon as the international boundary-line.

There being now no fear of a disagreement with Great Britain, the war against Mexico was prosecuted with vigor. General Taylor advanced his army to Monterey, the capital of the province of New Leon, and after a sanguinary struggle of three days, the Mexican general Ampudia agreed to terms of capitulation. At this juncture the existing government of the country was overthrown by Santa Anna (who had been previously banished by his political enemies), whose influence it was thought would be exerted in favor of peace. Yet such, was not the result, for he soon appeared at the head of an army of 20,000 men not far from the American lines at Buena Vista. But, the Mexicans were again repulsed, and, abandoning their camp in great disorder, retreated southward.

In the early part of 1847, General Winfield Scott, who had been appointed to the chief command of the American forces, landed an army near Vera Cruz, and began to invest that place. Although strongly defended by the fortress of San Juan d'Ulloa, the city was taken after a few days' bombardment. About 3000 bombshells and the same number of round shot were thrown into the devoted city during its brief investment. The loss of life among the women, children and non-combatants was reported to have been greater than was that of the soldiery. The invading army, leaving this scene of havoc, began its march westward toward the Mexican capital. At Cerro Gordo, fifty miles distant from Vera Cruz, they again encountered and defeated the forces of Santa Anna, and thence advanced with little opposition to Puebla. At Contreras, and Churubusco, where desperate battles were fought, Santa Anna being still further discomfited, requested an armistice. But, although granted, it continued in force only two weeks.

The army of General Scott then continued its advance. Another fierce struggle ensued at Molino del Rey, and a final one at Chapultepec, a rocky fortress close to the capital. The remnant of the Mexican army, seeing that their city would be unable to withstand the assault of the invaders, fled precipitately, and on the 14th day of 9th month (September) the American army occupied the capital.

While these events were transpiring in the heart of the Mexican republic, its possessions in the north were being also invaded by United States troops. An army under General KEARNEY set out from Missouri, and crossing the plains, a distance of a thousand miles, arrived at Santa Fé, which city was occupied without opposition. Kearney issued a proclamation declaring himself governor of the province, and absolving the inhabitants from their allegiance to Mexico. From Santa Fé, a small force under Colonel Doniphan in