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It cannot be proven that the war had any necessary connection with slavery. Annexation certainly was not its cause; it only furnished an occasion for it. The circumstances, so far as they are yet known, seem best to warrant the belief that it was waged for the acquisition of territory, irrespective of the character which after legislation might impress upon that territory. It was sustained alike by the north and the south. The spirit which impelled to it was confined to no section of the country. The north rivalled the south in greediness after the possessions of another, and in causeless vindictiveness toward a weak and distracted nation.

The war is here considered as an act, the responsibility of which rests upon the people of the United States, the whole people, the mass of whom, without distinction of section or of party, either aided in its commencement or sympathized with its objects and united in its prosecution.

The work must stand or fall, according to its own merits. If the views advanced in it are sound, and its arguments have weight, it will probably make its way, if not, it must suffer the consequences. If it is wor thy of being read, it doubtless will be; if it is unworthy, it will be unfor tunate for the publisher.

CONTENT S.

CHAPTER I.

Fear

INTRODUCTION. Annexation of Texas. The Occasion of the War. Influences which led to Annexation. Geographical unity. Political sympathy. Desire of the South to increase her weight in the Union. of British encroachment. Supposed military advantages of Texas. The resolution of Congress.

CHAPTER II.

Her

ANNEXATION Continued. Justness of the act toward Mexico. The right of Mexico to sovereignty over Texas. If possessed at all after her revolution of 1834-35, lost afterwards by her neglect to enforce it. cluim in effect abandoned. Texas became independent of right by the Mexican revolution of 1834-35. Expediency of annexation. To be considered here only so far as it effected our relations with Mexico.

CHAPTER III.

A VIEW of some of the leading events in the intercourse between the two countries, from August, 1843. to October 1945; showing that the design of declaring war against the United States on account of annexation, if ever seriously entertained by Mexico, was at the last date entirely abandoned. The advance to Corpus Christi.

CHAPTER IV.

THE Mission of Mr. Slidell. The refusal to receive him. Political situation of Mexico on the arrival of our Minister. Her conduct con

sistent. Duty of the United States. The course adopted by our gov
Fall of Herrera. The refusal to send a commissioner threw

ernment.

upon our government the responsibility of future hostilities.

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