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 ernment. upon our government the responsibility of future hostilities. THE advance of our Army to the Rio Grande. This movement a vio- lation of the rights of Mexico, which had been recognized by our Gov- THE advance to the Rio Grande an invasion of the territory of Mexi- Louisiana as ceded to us by France in 1803 extended no farther west than to the Neuces. This river the western boundary of the Span- ish province of Texas prior to 1820. The same river the boundary of the Mexican State of Texas. Texas after her independence never in any legal manner enlarged her territory. The strip of country in ques- tion in the exclusive possession of Mexico in 1846. Government aware at the time the order for the advance was issued that it would be an inva- sion. THE Invasion of Mexico the sole cause of the War. Tone of the Mexican Minister. Proclamation of Mejia. Progress of General Tay- lor. Order of Paredes. His Proclamation. Letter of Ampudia. Aris- THE Object of this movement of our Army. The reason given by the Executive not the real motive, as proved by the circumstances of the and by the dispatches to Mr. Slidell. The provocations urged by our government considered. The war designed to be brought about in such a manner as to throw on Mexico the odium of its commencement. THE Benefits of the War considered. our citizens against Mexico, The acquisition of territory. Value of this THE Duty of the United States toward other nations enhanced by her position. Her duty to Mexico, in particular. These duties violated by his War. THE Influence of this War upon our national character, and on the cause of Liberty and of Christianity at home and abroad. It has intro- duced crime and vice among us. It has awakened a spirit of conquest. It has lowered the standard of public morality in our country. |