[44]
comedy, and render farce into buffoonery, in the most approved style.
And now late at night I am jotting down a few thoughts to you.
camp at Corpus Christi, Texas, January 10, 1846.
I have no idea we will go to war with England about the Oregon.1 Both countries have too much at stake to hazard their prosperity for the small strip of land in dispute; but I fear the talk about war will have its influence on the Mexican Government, and the hope of seeing us involved in difficulties will give it an opportunity of prolonging the negotiations, and if a good chance offers, of breaking them off, in the hopes of assistance from England.
On the other hand, England will exert all her influence with Mexico to keep off a settlement of her difficulties with us, in order to embarrass us, and render us more ready to compromise upon the Oregon.
In other words, England and Mexico will play into each other's hands against us, in the hope that by both pressing us at the same time they will each obtain more favorable terms.
This view is confirmed by intelligence received within a few days from Matamoras, on the Mexican frontier, by which we learn that General Paredes (in command of the army destined to operate against Texas), has declared against the existing government, on the ground of its compromising the national honor, in consenting to negotiate with the United States; that he has effected a revolution, and, by the last accounts, was within thirty leagues of the capital, with seven thousand men. Should he succeed in overturning the existing government,2 there would be an end to negotiations, and the whole affair will return to the state in which it was three months ago. I have no idea he would declare war, and if he did, it would be a mere paper affair; but it will cause postponements and delays, and our course will without doubt be to take possession of the line of boundary which we had proposed to treat for, and to hold it with our troops till they have the good sense to give us peaceable possession of it. Under all these circumstances I see no probability of this force being broken up, though we may in a short time advance to the Rio Grande.
It may be that things will turn out better, and that a treaty may be made before Paredes succeeds.
I trust in heaven it will be so, for I am heartily sick and tired of this country, though I am more 