The need of more slave territory was per haps another factor in causing the war. At least many from the South took an aggressive position on all questions in dispute between the two countries and thus made a peaceable settle ment more difficult. Both the economic and the political reasons for more territory began to be felt by 1846— the one to have new soil over which to spread the land-exhausting sys tem of slavery; and the other to have new terri tory out of which to carve new slave States that the equilibrium between slave and free States might be maintained. Some other forces tend ing to arouse the war and aggressive spirit may be noted. The cry of "manifest destiny" played a part. Many, especially in the West, felt that the Pacific Ocean was the natural western boundary of the United States. They also de manded the "Golden Gate that commerce might be opened up with the Orient. The two great parties— the Whigs and the Democrats — divided quite sharply on the question; in fact so completely that the war became almost a party, instead of a national, issue. The Demo crats, as a rule, supported the administration and its claim that the war was just. The Whigs, on the contrary, asserted that it was a most unholy and unrighteous war, and char acterized it as Polk's war. entering Congress in 1847, became a severe critic of the policy pursued, while Torn Corwin of Ohio went so far as to use this language: "If I were a Mexican I would tell you, Have you not room in your own country to bury your dead men? If you come into mine we will greet you with bloody hands, and welcome you to hospitable graves) a President Polk summarized his reasons for recommending that Congress recognize war as existing as follows: "The grievous wrongs per petrated by Mexico upon our citizens through out a long period of years remain unredressed; and solemn treaties . . . have been disre garded. . . . Our commerce with Mexico has been almost annihilated.° He then adds: "As war exists, and . . . exists by the act of Mexico herself, we are called upon, by every consideration of duty and patriotism, to vindi cate, with decision the honor, the rights, and the interests of our country.° The Campaigns.— The war with Mexico was accepted as a fact by Congress 13 May 1846. There were four principal fields of ac tion in its prosecution. (1) Along the Rio Grande, under the command of Gen. Zachary Taylor; (2) in California, where Capt. in C. Fremont and Admiral Stockton were in com mand; (3) in New Mexico, with Gen. Stephen W. Kearney leading the American forces; and (4) from Vera Cruz to the City of Mexico, under the command of Gen. Winfield S. Scott. the commander-in-chief of the American ar mies. Everywhere success attended the Amer ican arms. Perhaps it was the first war in his tory, lasting two years, in which no defeat was sustained by one party, and no victory won by the other.
General Taylor defeated the Mexican troops at Palo Alto 8 May; at Resaca de la Palma the following day and captured Matamoras on the 18th. He remained near that city for some weeks to recruit his army and prepare to ad vance into the interior. On 24 September he entered Monterey, after a siege of four days, and a gallant resistance by the Mexicans. Tay lor's most famous victory, however, was won 23 Feb. 1847, at Beuna Vista. General Scott gave orders, which unfortunately fell into the hands of Santa Anna, the Mexican general, for General Taylor to send some nine regiments to aid Scott in his proposed attack on Vera Cruz. Santa Anna immediately marched his whole command against Taylor, expecting to crush him in this weakened condition. It was 20,000 men against about 5,000. •But the skill of Tay lor, the persistence of his army, the organiza tion and equipment of the American troops, won a great victory. Taylor became the hero of the hour, and Buena Vista made him an irresistible Presidential candidate.
Fremont's course in California has been a subject of keen controversy. As leader of an exploring expedition he was already in north ern California, and early in 1846 was recalled to the Sacramento Valley. California was the goal of the political policy of Polk's adminis tration. The means to secure its acquisition were uncertain. It might be gained by war; or by filling the territory with American settlers who in course of time might bring it into the Union as Texas had already been annexed; or it might be effected by securing the goodwill of the native Californians who were already jealous of Mexican rule. The latter policy
seems to have been the one adopted by the id ministration. The American consul at Mos terey, Mr. Larkin, was developing this nag with a good prospect of success, it is chimed when Fremont appeared on the scene. He seems to have developed a fourth polies, namely, the establishment of an independnt government under the control of the Americo settlers in the Sacramento Valley. This move ment resulted in the °Bear Flag Republic,' and virtual civil war between the native Califor nians and the American settlers. At this tx. ment the Mexican War began and the Sear Flag') was replaced by the "Stars and Strip& It has been claimed by some California bisto nans that Fremont's course, had not the Mai can War come at the moment it did, might bale lost California to the United States. The or five Californians, alienated as they were by hi course, might have put themselves under a English protectorate in revenge for the tree merit accorded them. Be this as it may, by the end of the year all California was conquered and held by American troops, and Fremont was regarded as the hero who had won the "Goble Gatea by his energy and decision. Santa Fe was captured by General Kearney, and her Mexico secured with almost no loss of life. By the end of the year, therefore, all the territory that the administration desired was in the sorr session of its armies, but Mexico was still Vs. conquered.
Scott had been chafing in Washington dee ing the summer and fall of 1846 while Tayke was winning his brilliant victories. He asked to go to the front to assume chief command, but the administration retained him at the ca;P: tal under the plea of needing his advice. .ki it happened this Democratic war was officered by Whig generals. Scott had already been Whig candidate for President. The charge was now made that Scott was kept from com mand for fear that success might make his more formidable candidate in 1848. FitullY when he was sent to the front in January 18. the cry was raised that the purpose was to at the lustre of Taylor's victories, or at least divide the popular support between the to generals in such a way as to destroy the poi ical prospects of both.
General Scott invested Vera Cruz in Mari 1847, and by the 27th had captured the fortrei which had been thought to be almost imPrek nable, and was ready to enter the city. Or April he started into the interior, and on ale 18th captured Cerro Gordo; the 19th, jahm and the 22d Perote. On 15 May he entered th important city of Puebla. Remaining here fe some weeks he again advanced, in Mee= toward the capital, and on the 10th came re sight of the city of the Montezuma& Tr, important victories were won 20 August Contreras and at Churubusco. He Mum Molina del Rey 8 September, and five days taro the victory of Chapultepec gave him the of Mexico itself which he entered on the lowing day with an army of only 6,000m The war was practically over, but the vice' was so complete that it began to be a quts. whether there was any government left •r-= sufficient power to negotiate a treaty pa? An agitation began with friends both in 11. out of Congress, as well as in the cabinet. lad ing to the annexation of the whole of Memo' Calhoun on the one hand, Webster and a ma jority of the Whigs on the other, joined hands to defeat this plan. President Polk was finally forced to make the ultimate decision. N. P. Trist was sent in March 1847 to Mexico to make a treaty of peace. Failing he was or dered in the fall to return to Washington; but disobeying instructions he remained in Mexico, and on 2 Feb. 1848 concluded a treaty of peace in harmony with his original instructions. The administration was in a quandary. To ratify meant to condone the disobedience of Trist. To reject meant a prolongation of the war, and time to perfect the intrigue for the annexation of "All Mexico." President Polk. after some hesitation, decided to send the treaty to the Senate for its consideration. Received 23 Feb ruary, it was ratified, after some amendments, 10 March, by a vote of 38 to 14. On 30 May ratifications were exchanged and the war was at an end.