to Buchanan, Jan. 8, 1847. 52King, nos. 21, 25, 28, 29, Jan. 1, 30; June 1, 30, 1846. Constitutionnel, Jan. 15, 1846. National, Nov. 28, 1844; Dec. 3, 1845; Jan. 22; May 16, 1846. 52McLane, nos. 18, May 21,1830; 5, Sept. 18, 1845; 54, 55, June 3, 18, 1846. Morning Chronicle, Dec. 25, 1845; Jan. 17; July 27, 1846. Britannia, Jan. 10; Mar. 28; Apr. 18, 1846. Spectator, Feb. 7; Sept. 26, 1846. Examiner, Mar. 29, 1845. Standard, Nov. 25, 1844. Richardson, Messages, iv, 387. Times, Sept. 23; Dec. 27, 1845; Jan. 26, 1846; Mar. 27, 1847. Journal des Débats, Jan. 22; May 15, 1846; Jan. 2-3, 1848.
Martin, our chargé at Paris, wrote (52no. 17, Aug. 15, 1845) that the skill, prudence, firmness and disregard of European interference exhibited by our government in dealing with the annexation of Texas had improved our position in Europe; and McLane expressed the opinion (no. 5, Sept. 18, 1845) that our spirited preparations during the summer of 1845 to fight Mexico had had a good effect; but these were matters to increase respect rather than favor. The London Morning Chronicle of July 27, 1846, after we had shown our prowess, politely explained our occasional coarseness of manners and speech as due to the working out of the principle of political equality, and asserted that the English middle classes viewed the United States with admiration and pride as a "magnificent demonstration of the progressive energy and self-governing power of their own victorious race." Probably a similar feeling lurked in the upper and controlling classes. McLane's report to Polk, cited at the end of the paragraph, was made in June, 1846; but such astate of feeling could not have arisen in a few months.
4. Standing of Mexico abroad. Duflot de Mofras, Exploration, i, 32. (Odium) 13Foreign Office to Bankhead, no. 538, Dec. 31, 1844. 13Bankhead, no. 99, July 30, 1846. 52McLane, nos. 18, May 21, 1830; 69, Aug. 15, 1846. 77Mangino, no. 10, Mar. 8, 1837. 77Relaciones to ministers at London and Paris, July 30, 1845. Memoria de . . . Relaciones, Dec., 1846. 77Murphy, no. 5, Apr. 1, 1845. 77Peña to Garro, no. 24, Oct. 28, 1845. 77Cuevas to Garro, no. 15, July 30, 1845, res. (Told) 73Lozano, no. 3, Aug. 25, 1847, res. V. Cruz Locomotor, July 26, 1846. Amer. Review, Jan., 1846, p. 87. Dwinelle, Address, 11. London Athenæum, Sept. 13, 1845. Journal des Débats, Feb. 18; July 9, 1845; July 8, 1846. National, Nov. 19, 1844; Jan. 18, 1846. London Morning Chronicle, Sept. 15, 1846. Thompson, Recollections, 236. Spectator, Sept. 19, 1846. Examiner, Aug. 2, 1845. Smith, Annexation, 382, etc. London Times, Apr. 11; Aug. 25, 1846.
Even during the war Mexico gave offence to England by her treatment of the offer to mediate (vol. i, p. 368) and by her action regarding her debt. In the latter business Bankhead charged her with a "breach of publick faith" (77to Relaciones, May 18, 1847).
5. Buchanan wished to give a pledge to take no Mexican territory, insisting that unless we should do so, if interrogated, it was 'almost certain that both England and France would join with Mexico." Polk refused, however, to do this, adding that such an inquiry would be "insulting" and would not be answered, and adding also that he would like to obtain a proper territorial indemnity (Polk, Diary, May 13, 1846). Doubtless Buchanan had an eye to his standing with the northern Democrats, who did not wish the area of slavery extended.
6. See vol. i, p. 181 for the Message.
7. For this paragraph. Buchanan, Works, vi, 484-5. 59Confidential circular, May 14, 1846. See also Ho. Rep. 752; 29, 1, pp. 50-2.
