negotiations, nevertheless persisted in asserting that the United States had forced war and that the military occupation by General Taylor was the beginning of it. The first act of actual hostility was made by Mexico in the attack upon Captain Thornton, and this was followed up by General Arista in the movements against Point Isabel and the attack at Fort Brown and the efforts to intercept General Taylor s march to its relief at Palo Alto May 8th and Resaca de la Palma May 9th.
President Polk was just and candid in his message of May 11, 1846: "As war exists, and, notwithstanding all our efforts to prevent it, exists by the act of Mexico herself, we are called upon, by every consideration of duty and patriotism, to vindicate with decision the honor, the rights and the interests of our country. The opposition endeavored to fasten upon this paragraph of President Polk s message the charge of insincerity, together with some ineffectual attempts at ridicule. This charge, how ever, is self-refuting, and the message stands a model of moderation, firmness and patriotism.
Mexico pursued a defiant, unwise and sullen policy. Possibly she was misled by unpatriotic expressions in the public prints of the United States to suppose that resistance on her part would defeat the annexation of Texas. Certainly she had no right to obstruct this union between two free governments. Her refusal to enter into negotiations with reference to the boundary, forced the United States either to abandon the just claims of Texas or to adopt vigorous measures to enforce them. Thus, the course of Mexico made the war necessary, and President Polk’s statement was strictly true.
Congress was convinced. The bill declaring war was passed by an overwhelming majority. Only 14 votes were cast against it in the House and only two in the Senate. It became a law May 13, 1846.
The war was prosecuted with vigor and success. Volunteers were called into the field. A single illustration
