Page:The Presidents of the United States, 1789-1914, v. II.djvu/150

LIVES OF THE PRESIDENTS they would pay attention was that of force. Re garding his famous order to Gen. Taylor to march toward the Rio Grande, it was suggested by that officer himself, and for his gallant action in the war the latter was elected the successor of Presi dent Polk. The settlement of the Oregon bound ary-line was made equally obligatory upon the new president on taking office. He offered Great Britain the line that was finally accepted ; but when the British minister hastily rejected the offer, the entire country applauded his suggestion to that power of what the boundary might possibly be in case of war. But whatever the motives of the executive as to Texas and Oregon, the results of the administra tion of James K. Polk were brilliant in the ex treme. He was loyally upheld by the votes of all parties in congress, abundantly supplied with the sinews of war, and seconded by gallant and compe tent officers in the field. For $15,000,000 in addi tion to the direct war tax expenses, the south western boundary of the country was carried to the Rio Grande, while the provinces of New Mexico and Upper California were added to the national domain. What that cession meant in increased wealth it is perhaps even yet too soon to compute. Among the less dazzling but still solid advantages conferred upon the nation during Mr. Polk s term of office was the adoption by congress, on his