CHAPTER XXVIII.

JA

POLK AND THE MEXICAN WAR.

eleventh

AMES K. POLK of Tennessee was President of the The United States for the next four years (1845-1849); President. and the report of his nomination was the first news ever transmitted by telegraph in America, being sent on the new line which Professor Morse had just completed between Washington and Baltimore. Mr. Polk was the canditate of the Democratic party; and he was opposed by the Whig party and the new party called the "Liberty" party, which was formed to resist the influence of slavery. Mr. Polk's election turned mainly on the question of the annexation of Texas, though this was finally settled just before he came into power. There was also a question, which, for a time, caused much anxiety, as to the possession of Oregon.

western

question.

The American Government had made claim to The northOregon, because an American captain had discovered boundary the Columbia River, and an American expedition, Lewis and Clark's, had explored it. But that whole region had been practically under control of the British fur companies; and, though many Americans. had settled there, it had always been disputed territory. In 1846, however, under President Polk, a treaty was made which divided this great region. The United

Outbreak

of the Mexican War.

Action of
Congress.

States had claimed as far north as 54° 40′ north latitude; and "Fifty-four forty, or fight," was a favorite electioneering motto in the presidential campaign. But

it was finally agreed that the line should be drawn at 49°. All north of this was given to Great Britain; and all south, including more than three hundred thousand (308,052) square miles, to the United States. Thus the western boundary question was peacefully settled, as the north-eastern boundary question had been settled just before; and this did much credit to Mr. Polk's administration, and gave satisfaction to almost all.

But the other great event of Mr. Polk's administration was something about which people were not at all agreed, and which many, especially in the Northern States, regarded as a great calamity, the Mexican War. When the United States had annexed Texas, the nation found that it had still another question of boundary on its hands. Texas claimed that its western boundary was the Rio Grande, and Mexico claimed that it was the River Nueces; and, as these rivers were a hundred miles apart, there was a wide range of disputed territory between. The United States took up the cause of Texas; and General Taylor was sent to the disputed ground with a small army. The Mexicans, also, sent troops thither; and fighting soon began, first in a small way, then in some larger battles, at Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma, in which the Americans were successful. Then General Taylor crossed the Rio Grande, and took Matamoras, which was within undisputed Mexican territory.

There was much excitement in Washington on hearing this news. Congress voted thus, May 11, 1846:

campaign.

"By the act of the Republic of Mexico, war exists between that government and the United States; though the Whig members declared that the war was not really begun by Mexico, but by General Taylor. Congress also voted ten million dollars for the war, and resolved to raise fifty thousand volunteers. There was Taylor's not much sympathy for the war in the Eastern States; but the South-western States, which were nearest the scene of excitement, sent many volunteers to the aid of General Taylor. At last his army reached nearly seven thousand men; and with this he took, in three days, the fortified town of Monterey, garrisoned by ten thousand Mexi

cans. Then Gen

eral Santa Anna, who had formerly been President of Mexico, and was regarded as the best soldier of that Republic, took command of the Mexican army, but was beaten by General Taylor, with a much smaller force, at Buena Vista. Then General Scott was

sent, with an addi

GENERAL SCOTT.

tional army, to attack the principal port and fortress of Scott's Mexico, Vera Cruz, with the hope of thus penetrating to

campaign.

Bombard

ment of

Vera Cruz.

the capital of the country, and "conquering a peace."
He accordingly, with twelve thousand men, bombarded
Vera Cruz; and it was surrendered, with the fortress of
San Juan d'Ulloa, the strongest fortress on the conti-
nent, except that of Quebec. A fleet under Commodore
Matthew C. Perry also assisted in this attack.
the American army advanced toward the capital, over-

Then

coming all difficulties, and winning a series of daring victories on the way, always against great superiority of numbers. Among these battles were those of Cerro Gordo, Churubusco, El Molino del Rey, and Chapultepec; and the Americans finally took possession of Occupation the city of Mexico, Sept. 14, 1847. It was a city of a hundred and forty thousand inhabitants; and the

of the city of Mexico.

army that entered it consisted of less than six thousand

men.

Mexican

Meanwhile the Mexican provinces were being at- Attack on tacked in several different directions. Gen. Stephen provinces. Kearney marched into New Mexico, and Colonel Doniphan, into Chihuahua; and their small forces took possession of those provinces. Capt. J. C. Frémont, who was exploring California with only sixty men, became aware of a plan of making California into an independent State, such as Texas had been; and he found certain American settlers in the Sacramento Valley already enlisted in this effort. They had raised over their camp a flag, bearing the figure of a bear, to represent independent California; but, on hearing that an American fleet had taken Monterey, on the seacoast, he raised the American flag instead. After a series of fights with Mexican troops, and with the aid of Commodore Stockton and a naval force, he took possession of California in order that it might become a part of the United States. At Treaty of last a treaty was made with Mexico, by which Mexico Hidalgo. gave up New Mexico and Upper California to the United States, and agreed to accept the Rio Grande as the boundary between herself and Texas. The territory thus added to the United States was more than half a million (522,955) square miles. In return, the United States agreed to pay Mexico fifteen millions of dollars, and to assume the debts due citizens of the United States from Mexico, amounting to three and a half millions besides. The treaty by which all this was accomplished was called the "Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo," from the city where it was made. It was signed Feb. 2, 1848, and was ratified by Congress

Guadalupe