NV. ADMINISTRATION OF JAMES K. POLK (1845-49). Cabinct.—Scerctary of State, James Buchanan, Pennsylvania, March 6, 1845. Secre tary of the Treasury, Robert J. Walker, Missis sippi, March 6, 1S45. Secretary of I-Var, William L. Marcy, New York, March 6. 1845. Secretary of the Nary, George Bancroft, Massachusetts. March 10. 1845; John Y. Mason, Virginia, September 9, 1846. Attorney-General, John Y. Mason, Vir ginia, March 5, 1S45; Nathan Clifford, Maine, October 17, 1S46. Postmaster-General, Cave Johnson, Tennessee, March 6, 1845.
Soon after the beginning of Polk's administra tion United States troops under General Taylor were sent across the Nueces River to Corpus Christi, in territory then in dispute between the United States and Mexico, the United States claiming the Rio Grande as the boundary of Texas, and Mexico claiming the Nueces. In the meantime, both the Texan Congress (on June 18. 1S45) and a convention of the people (on July 4th) had ratified the act of annexation, and on December 29th Texas formally entered the Union. Up to this date Mexico, being dis tracted by revolutions, had simply protested against the action of the United States and had recalled her Minister from Washington; but in the spring of 1346 the further advance of General Taylor toward the Rio Grande brought United States troops into conflict with the Mexi cans, a small engagement taking place on April 24th. The Mexicans were then defeated at Palo Alto on May Stb, and on the following day at Resaea de la Palma. nn May 11, 1S46. news of the hostilities on April 24th having reached Wash ington, the President officially informed Congress of the occurrence and asked that war be declared. Both Houses responded to the message and to the awakened war spirit of the country by pass ing a bill (on May 13th) whose preamble began as follows: "Whereas, by the act of Mexico, a state of war exists between that Government and the United States"—a statement that provoked much criticism from the opponents of the Admin istration, as false, in view of the fact that hos tilities had been precipitated by the military oc cupation of territory claimed by Mexico. The bill appropriated $10,000,000 for the prosecution of the war, and under it enlistment was actively begun. Volunteers to the number of 50.000 men were authorized. On May 23d Mexico formally declared war upon the United States. Whatever
view one might take of the political aspect of the war, the brilliant series of victories aroused widespread enthusiasm and pride; as against forces that outnumbered them, sometimes four to one and not inferior in training, in a hostile coun try, and against formidable obstacles, both natural and artificial, the troops of Taylor and Scott won successive triumphs by the most splendid courage and the most stubborn fighting. For a detailed account, see MEXICAN \Yak.
On February 2, 184S, peace was signed at Guadalupe Hidalgo (q.v.). Mexico resigned her claim to Texas, agreeing to the Rio Grande as the boundary, and also ceded New Mexico and Upper California to the United States for a payment of $15,000,000, the completion being thus attained of that great westward movement which had been going on since the Revolution.
Other important events of Polk's adminis tration were the treaty with England (June 15, 1840) by which the long-disputed question of the northwest boundary was settled (see NORTHWEST BOUNDARY DISPUTE; OREGON) ; the so-called `Tariff of 1S46' (see TARIFF), which limited its purpose to the collection of revenues alone, with out protection to native industries; the reenact ment (1846) of the Independent Treasury Act; the introduction of the Wilmot Proviso (q.v.) ; the formation of the Free-Soil Party; the ad mission of Iowa (December 23, 1846) ; the estab lishment of the new Territory of Oregon without slavery, and the admission of Wisconsin (Nay 29, 1848). It was during Polk's term also that in 1848 gold was discovered in California, that the sewing machine was patented (1846) by Elias Howe, and that the use of amiestheties was introduced in surgery. It was at this time that the great flood of Irish immigration consequent upon the potato famine of 1846 began.
The opposing candidates at the Presidential election of 1848 were Lewis Cass (q.v.), of Michi gan, and William 0. Butler, of Kentucky, Demo crats, against General Zachary Taylor, of Louisi ana, and Millard Fillmore. of New York, NVhigs, the newly-organized Free-Soil Party (q.v.) nom Mating Martin Van Buren, of New York, and Charles Francis Adams, of Massachusetts. Taylor and Fillmore received 163 electoral votes, as against 127 cast for Cass and Butler. the Demo cratic vote being reduced by the support given by the Barnburners (q.v.) in New York to Van Buren.