In other words, Mr. Slidell is to buy territory, and these fraudulent claims are to form part of the consideration. He is authorized to offer the claims and $5,000,000 for New Mexico, and the claims and $25,000,000 for both New Mexico and Cahfornia. Thus we see the envoy was sent on a land-jobbiiag mission, amaed with claims to the amount of eight millions to bully, and with twenty-five mil- lions of dollars to bribe, the Mexicans to dismember their republic.
Mr. Polk was determined to have Mexican territory, peaceably if he could—forcibly if he must. If he could not buy, he intended to conquer. Hence, the moment the Cabinet learned from Slidell's letter, that he had not been immediately received, although the question of reception was still undecided, the army was ordered to the Rio Grande. A few days after the decision was made known to Slidell, the Mexican administration was changed, and Paredes, the head of the belligerent party assumed the reins of government. On this change becoming known at Washington, Slidell was ordered to present his credentials to the new Cabinet, and demand his recognition ; and this very order was avowedly given to facilitate war. " On your retmTi to the United States, energetic measures against Mexico would at once be recommended by the President, and these might fail to obtain the support of Congress, if it could be asserted that the existing Government had not refused to receive our Minister."* The demand was accordingly made, and, as was foreseen, re- fused, and Mr. Shdell came home.
It was, it seems, the intention of Mr. Polk, on this last refusal, to invoke Congress to declare war (take " ener- getic measures ") on the ground that Mexico by refusing * For the Slidell Correspondence, see Senate Documents, 29tli Cong., 1 Sess.
to receive his Minister Plenipotentiary, compelled us to seek payment of our claims by the sword. On further re- flection, this design was abandoned. A recommendation to commence the work of human