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VI.
On the 11th of May, 1846, a resolution was passed by both Houses of Congress, that ‘By the act of the
Republic of
Mexico, a state of war exists between that government and the
United States,’ and the
President was authorized to raise fifty thousand volunteers, when two days later, ten millions of dollars were appropriated towards carrying on the contest.
It had been plain enough, after a joint resolution for the admission of
Texas as a State into the
Union, a collision with
Mexico had become inevitable.
It was alleged that no blame could be attached to the
United States, for the war which followed, for several reasons;
first of all, after
Santa Anna, the dictator of
Mexico, had been captured on the field of
San Jacinto, he had recognized the independence of
Texas, after which she could decide her political alliances and relations;
second, that ever since the establishment of the
Republic of
Mexico, in 1824, she had been an unjust and injurious neighbor—that her treasury was replenished by plundering American vessels in the
Gulf, and confiscating the property of American merchants within her border;
third, our Republic had remonstrated in vain, till 1831, when by treaty, promises of redress were made.
But this had put no end to aggressions, which, by the year 1840, had amounted to upwards of six millions of dollars.
No settlement of these claims having been made, the annexation of
Texas, which took place July 4, 1845, gave
Mexico a full justification, in her opinion, for commencing hostilities.
The war promised to be popular, and all Parties were ready to join in its prosecution.
No considerations of
