required a settlement of, referring specially to pending claims of American citizens.[1] Prior to this a change of administration through revolution had occurred, and his last note aforesaid not having been answered, Slidell, from Jalapa on the 1st of March, 1846, tried to obtain a recognition from Joaquin Castillo Lanzas, who was now secretary of relations, and met with the same refusal as before.[2] After some further correspondence without any change in the government's resolution, Slidell demanded his passport, which was sent him on the 21st of March.[3]
Meantime, in the early part of the foregoing diplomatic imbroglio, Slidell having apprised the state department[4] that the Mexican government would probably refuse to treat with him except on the Texas question, all hope of acquiring California by peaceable negotiations now vanished, and at once orders were transmitted to General Taylor to march to the Rio Grande. The American government was bent on war, professedly for two causes: first, the injuries said to have been inflicted on American citizens, which were to be atoned for by Mexico with money; and second, the insults involved in the imputations of bad faith
- ↑ The amount now claimed was a little over eight million dollars. The commissioners and umpire, under the treaty for settlement of American claims, rejected as spurious and fraudulent over five and a half millions. The unliquidated claims amounted, after deducting the award, to $6,455,464. Of these, the American government, by the treaty of peace with Mexico, assumed the payment of such as might be found valid, not exceeding, however, $3,230,000, so that claims amounting to $3,203,464 at least were abandoned altogether, and Mexico by treaty stipulation was released from all obligation to pay then.
- ↑ The government council had reiterated the advice of last December.
- ↑ The whole correspondence may be found in U. S. Govt, Cong. 20, Ses. 1, H. Ex. Doc. 196; Méx., Mem. Relaciones, 1847, 7-12, and Doc. Justif., 11-46; Niles' Reg., lxx. 204-7, lxxi. 20, 270-1, 1xxii. 58-9. The same and other interesting details in Bustamante, Mem. Hist. Mex., MS., iii. 43-31, 83-210, passim, iv. 82-4, 117; Id., Hist. Santa Anna, 272-4; Id., Nuevo Bernal Diaz, i. 3-18, 43-53, 71-2, 92-4, 103; Arrangoiz, Méj., ii. 262-73; Mem. Hist., 1846, Jan. 17, 19; El Tiempo, 1846, Mar. 9, 22, Ap. 23; Rivera, Hist. Jalapa, iii. 745-6; Apuntes Hist. Guerra, 21-5; Gallatin's Peace with Mex., 9-13; Mansfield's Mex. War, 27-30; Ramsey's Other Side, 28-9; Mayer's Mex. Aztec, i. 331-3; Id., Hist. War Mex., i. 79-81; Jay's Rev. Mex. War, 111-16; Cong. Globe, 1845, app. 2.
- ↑ His first despatch reached Washington January 12, 1846.
