The War with Mexico/Volume 1/Notes On Chapter 5
V. THE MEXICAN ATTITUDE ON THE EVE OF WAR
1. Mexican feeling. (Subjugate) 52Consul Black, no. 349, Oct. 9, 1845; 47Wood to Bancroft, June 4, 1846. 52Slidell, nos. 3, 10. 52Consul McCall, Tampico, no. 65, Sept. 26, 1845. (All of Mexico) 52Shannon, no. 3, Oct. 28, 1844. (Threat) Diario, Mar. 25, 1845; 77Relaciones, circular, Nov. 27, 1846; So. Qtrly. Rev., Apr., 1849, 97, 102; Thompson, Recolls., 238; London Spectator, Sept. 26, 1846. (Hinder) 52Manifiesto of Vera Cruz legislature, (June, 1827]; Poinsett's reply; 52Poinsett's reply to Méx. state legisl., Aug., 1829; Shannon, no. 3; La Ruina de los Mexicanos. (Indians) Mosquito Mexicano, Aug. 4, 1835; 75gov. Du Tango, Apr. 27, 1846. (Privileged classes) J. Hi, Smith in Proceeds. Amer. Antig. Soc., Apr., 1914, and the citations there given. (Siglo XIX) 56W. S. Parrott, June 29, 1845. (Politicians) Green, nos. 8, 103, 1844; Calhoun Corresp., 975; Shannon, no. 3, 1844, and the Mexican press. The following citations, which might be indefinitely extended, bear upon various aspects of the subject Pakenham, nos. 74 of 1828; 74 01 1829. Bankhead, nos. 38, 1845; 28, 58, 1846. 345Ellis, Sept. 20, 1839. Memoria de. . . Relaciones, 1846, Voz del Pueblo, Mar. 29; May 3, 1845. Amigo del Pueblo, June 26; Oct. 9, 1845. Orizazveño, Mar. 30, 1845. Patriota Mex., Nov. 14, 1845, Monitor Repub., Jan. 28, 1847. Reflexiones subre la Memoria. Cumuniceción circular que. 77Almonte, no. 130, priv., 1844. 77Arrangóiz, no. 50, ms, 1845. Decree of Mex. Cong, June 4, 1845 (broadside). 56W. S. Parrott, June 29; July 5, 1845. 108Kemble to Bancroft, Sept. 3, 1845.
2. (Danger) 76 Gov. Ibarra of Puebla, Sept. 5, 1846; Diario, Apr. 17, 1846; 77Relaciones, circular, Nov. 27, 1846; law of June 4, 1845, in Dublán, Legislación, V, 19; Monitor Repub., May 15. 1847; London Spectator, Sept. 26, etc, 1846. C. M. Bustamante, Nuevo Berna], i, 45. Castillo; council of state (chap. iv). (Paredes) Bankhead, no. 28, Feb. 27, 1846. (Chief) Shannon, no. 3, 1844; Negrete, Invasión, iv, app, 182; Diario, Mar. 25, 1845; Mar. 25; Sept 26; Dec. 6, 1846; 80legislat. of Méx. state, address, Apr. 26, 1847; Patriota Mex. Nov. 14, 1845; 77Arrangoiz, no. 50, res., Mar. 13, 1845; Siglo XIX, Nov. 30, 1845. (Clamored) Amigo del Puebla, Oct. 9, 1845; Voz del Pueblo, Mar. 29, 1845. (Superiority) Tornel, Tejas, 95; Monitor Repub., May 12, 1846.
3. (Abject) Jameson, Calhoun Corresp, 993. 77Almonte, June 19, priv.; Sept. 20, 1844; Mar. 17, priv., 1845. (Panic) Amer. Review, Sept, 1845, 222.
4. To precisely what extent European journals were read in Mexico cannot be determined; but it seems probable that few important expressions escaped notice there, and certainly the lending journals were quoted freely.
5. (Differences) 77Almonte, June 19, priv., 1844; 77Relaciones, circular, Nov. 27, 1846; Jameson, Calhoun Corresp, 994; Constitutionnel, May 12; Aug. 5, 1845. Times, Apr. 15, 1845. Diario, Apr, 3, 1845.
6. Times, Apr. 15, 1845. Negrete, México, xxi, 130. 13Elliot, July 3, 1845. Gorostiza, Dictamen. Reflexiones sobre la Memoria. Federación y Tejas. Turnel, Tejas, 95-7. (Elliot in Mex.) Smith, Annex. of Texas, 411-3. 77Deffa dis, July 29, 1835.
7. Britannia, Feb. 15, 1845. (1812) Negrete, México, Ind, 130. 13Pakenham to Harvey, July 20, 1839. Times, Apr. 5, 1845. 77Arangóiz, no. 65, res, Apr, 23, 1845.
8. 345Pninsett to Van Buren, May 26, 1846 (Swarms of the best irregular cavalry that I have ever seen). Watson, Taylor, 113-4 (The British, Spanish, and Prussian ministers at Washington agreed that Scott would be beaten; Calderón spoke as quoted in the text). (Generals) Wash. Union, Dec. 18, 1846. Elliot, note 6. Times, July 5, 1845.
Napoleon said, "The first quality of a soldier is constancy in enduring fatigue and hardship" (Maxims, 47). In this quality the Mexicans excelled.
9. Requena in Monitor Repub, Mar. 9, 1846. Negrete, México, mi, 131. (Boosted) 52W. S. Parrott, Dec. 14, 1835. Memoria de. H Roldciones, Jan, 1849. Boletín Oficial, Apr. 15, 1845. Apuntes, 168. Thompson, Recalls, 170-1 (Self-confidence) Mafras, Explor., i, 70. 76Min. war, circular, Nov. 11. (Ensure) Diario. Sept. 25. 1845. (Voz del P.) Federación y Tejas.
10. (Texas) Tornel, Tejos, 95-7; 13Bankhead, no. 125, Dec. 30, 1845. 77Almonte, no. 72, priv., June 19; Sept. 20, 1844; instructions to G. de la Vega, Apr. 10, 1844. 13Pakenham, no. 22, Apr. 14, 1844. Elliot, note 6. (Urged) Negrete, México, xxi, 131-2. Memoria de. . . Relaciones, Jan., 1849.
11. Requena i in Monitor Repub., Mar. 9, 1846. London Times, June 11, 1846. 345Poinsett to Van Buren, May 26, 1846. Britannia, June 10, 1844, 169Rives to Crittenden, Feb. 8, 1847. 137Clemson to Calhoun, Mar. 28, 1847. Elliot, note 6.
12. Memoria de. . . Relaciones, Jan., 1849. 77Cuevas, no. 67, 1836. (Herald) Diario, June 4, 1845. (Globe) Charleston Mercury, Sept. 8, 1845. Some of the documents quoted above are later than the beginning of the war, but the opinions must have existed before.
13. (Defensive) Requena, note 11. 77Arrangóiz, no. 129, res., Nov. 29, 1844. Times, Apr. 5, 1845. Britannia, June 10, 1844. Times in Diario of June 8, 1845.
14. Herald, May 3, 1845. 77Arrangóiz, note 13; no. 101, res., July 8, 1845. (Tornel) 47Wood to Bancroft, July 4, 1846. (Own) Nat. Intelligencer, Sept. 5; Savannah Republican, Aug. 25; N. Y. Herald, Aug. 30, 1845. Times of Apr. 5, 1845, in Diario of June 8.
15. Standard, Aug. 12, 1845. 13Pakenham, no. 22, Apr. 14, 1844. (Fig red) Búlnes, Grandes Mentiras, 150.
16. (Endured) 73Bermúdez de Castro, no. 532, res., Sept. 24, 1846; 77circular, Nov. 27, 1846. (Credit) London Times, Apr. 15, 1845; and chap. xxxiii. 77Arrangóiz, no. 36, res., May 23, 1844. Constitutionnel, Aug. 15, 1845.
17. Benefits. 77Cuevas, no. 67, July 13, 1836. Diario, Mar. 25, 1845. 52Green, Apr. 8, 1844. Reflexiones sobre la Memoria. Times, Apr. 15, 1845. 52Shannon, no. 3, Oct. 28, 1844. 56W. S. Parrott, July 5, 1845. Siglo XIX, Aug. 1, 1845. (Baptize) La Verdad Desnuda. (Blockade) 52Thompson, Oct. 3, 1843; Macedonian, Mar. 28, 1845; 13Doyle, no. 79, Oct. 30, 1848. (Voz del P.) Federación y Tejas. (Crisis) Reflexiones sobre la Memoria.
18. Central and South America. J. M. L. Mora, pamphlet, 1834. Diario, Sept. 25, 1846. (Press) chap. vi, note 13. 77Cuevas, no. 67, July 13, 1836. 77Mex. min., Lima, no. 23, Aug. 15, 1837. (Dorsey) Savannah Republican, Aug. 25, 1842. Adams, Mems., xi, 340, 367. Imparcial, June 18, 1844. Aurora de la Libertad, Apr. 6, 1845. Relaciones, circular, Nov. 27, 1846. 80Legisl. of Méx. state, address, Apr. 26, 1847. 76Gov. Ibarra, Sept. 5, 1846. 312Basadre to S. Anna, Apr. 9, 1847. Roa Bárcena, Recuerdos, 243, note.
19. Diario, Apr. 3, 1845. Mail, Aug. 30 in Diario, Nov. 1. London Times, Sept. 10, 1845 (War is "clearly the duty" of Mexico). Journal des Débats, Sept. 24, 1845. (The European outlook) Chap xxxv.
20. (Jealousy) Mayer, War, 82; Amer. Review, Jan., 1846. (Policy) J. H. Smith in Proceeds. Am. Antig. Soc., Apr., 1914. Correspondant, Jan. 1, 1846. London Times, Jan. 1, 1846.
21. (Cotton) Smith, Annex. of Texas, 89, 90. (Checked) Ibid., 382, 389; Tornel, Tejas, 97; London Standard, May 2, 1845; Times, Sept. 9; Dee. 15, 1845; Jan. 1, 1846. (Guizot) Niles, Mar. 14, 1846, pp. 25-6. (Journal des Débats) National, Dec. 27, 1845.
22. (Texas) Smith, Annex. of Texas, chap. xviii. Id. in Mass. Hist. Soc. Proceeds., June, 1914. Morning Herald, Mar. 27, 1845, in Diario, June 4. Times, Dec. 15, 1845.
23. Times, Aug. 6; Sept. 9, 1845. (It was the Mexico correspondent of the Times who spoke, but evidently the editor allowed him to be heard.) Standard, May 2, 1845. Journal of Commerce, Sept. 6, 1845. Journal des Débats, Feb. 4; Sept. 24, 1845. Constitutionnel, May 12, 1845. Monitor Constit., supplant., Dec. 21, 1844. Aurora de la Libertad, Apr. 6, 1845.
24. Journal des Débats, Sept. 24, 1845. 13Pakenham, no. 22, Apr. 14, 1844. (Blockade) 13Bankhead, no. 162, Oct. 30, 1846.
25. (Fear) Boletin Oficial, Apr. 15, 1845. (Guarantee) 13Bankhead, no. 117, Nov. 29, 1845.
26. 13Bankhead, nos. 113, Nov. 29, 1845; 125, Dec. 30, 1845; 14, Jan. 30, 1846; 28, Feb. 27, 1846; 52McLane, nos. 8, Sept. 26, 1845; 55, June 18, 1846; 52Shannon, no. 9, Mar. 27, 1845; 52Slidell, Jan. 14; Feb. 6, 1846; Correspondant, May 1, 1846; Times, Mar. 13, 1846; Ho. 2; 29, 1, pp. 139-92; 52J. Parrott, June 4, 1846. 62Dimond, no. 332, Apr. 22, 1846: The Mexican thermometer for peace or war is governed by the prospects of war between us and England. The contemptuous and abusive tone of the British journals with reference to the United States encouraged Mexico. Our minister at London reported that the British press as a whole represented that the United States could not wage war successfully against Mexico (297McLane to Polk, received, June 21, 1846). 77Murphy, no. 9, Aug. 1, 1845 (Aberdeen would like to see, etc.).
27, 52Slidell, Jan. 14, 1846. Times, Mar. 13, 1846. 52McLane, no. 55, June 18, 1846. (Hoped) 13Bankhead, no. 31, Mar. 10, 1846; Tornel, Tejas, 97.
28. Diario, Mar. 25, 1845. (Enthusiasm, veil) Memoria de . . . Relaciones, Jan., 1849. 77Almonte, no. 72, priv., June 19, 1844. Monitor Constit., supplmt., Dec. 21, 1844. Almonte (who, as recently minister to the United States, had great influence on the question of peace or war) held that Mexico ought to fight and protract the war as long as possible in order to make us so tired of it that we should never repeat the experiment (13Pakenham, no. 119, Sept. 28, 1846). Espectador, Apr. 25, 1846 ("We are profoundly convinced of the triumph of the Mexican arms"). Reforma, Mar. 9, 1846. 13Bankhead, nos. 130, Sept. 7, 1846 ("They cannot be convinced" of their inability to fight the U. S.); 151, Oct. 10, 1846 (The cry of the government is, "a levy of 40,000 men and make terms only on the other side of the Nueces"). (Prussian) 256Memo. (Historians) Roa Bárcena, Recuerdos, 19-20; Balbontín, Estado Militar, 58. Ramírez, México, 235. S. Anna, proclam., Sept. 16, 1847, in Monitor Repub., Oct. 2, 1847. Memoria de . Relaciones, Jan., 1849. Kenly, Md. Volunteer, 57: After a long stay in Mexico I believe the sentiment of the people was "unanimous for war." Franklin Pierce, speech, Jan. 27, 1848: After conversing with the most intelligent men in Mexico I was satisfied that the war was unavoidable (N. Y. Herald, Feb. 5, 1848). Other documents, too numerous to be cited, assisted the author in reaching his conclusions. This condition of the Mexican mind helps to explain the rejection of Slidell. See also chap. ix, pp. 221-2.
VI. THE AMERICAN ATTITUDE ON THE EVE OF WAR
1. Buchanan in Cong. Globe, 28, 1, app., 723. For public sentiment regarding the Santa Fe prisoners see the New Orleans papers of March, 1842 (e.g. Com. Bulletin, Mar. 18), and Smith, Annex. of Texas, 31-2.