The next despatch, Jime 8th, instructs Sloat to " take such measures as will best promote the attachment of the people of Cahfornia to the United States," Sloat, in his proclamation, dated 7th July,, assures the Cali- fornians that " peaceable inhabitants will enjoy the same lights and privileges as the citizens of any other portion of that territory (the United States), with all the rights and privileges they now enjoy, together with the privileges of choosing their own magistrates and other officers for the administration of justice among themselves, and the same protection will be extended to them as to an7/ other State in the Union." Thus the proclamation had already annexed them to the United States.
On the 12th July, Sloat is told, "The object of the United States is, under its rights as a belligerent nation, to possess itself eniivelj of Upper California," and if* at the * That this hypothetical statement was mere affectation, is evident from the indiscreet disclosures of the intentions of Mr. Polk, contained in the instructions to Stockton, of 11th January, 1847 : " At present it is needless, and might be injurious to the public interests, to agitate the question in California, how long those persons who have been elected for a prescribed time, will have oiScial authority. If our right of possession shall become absolute, such an inquirj^ is needless. And if by treaty or otherwise, we lose the possession, those who follow us will govern the country. The President, however, anticipates no such re- sult. On the contrary, he foresees no contingency in which the United States will ever surrender w relinquish the possession of California." Of course Mr. Polk had thus early, and without consulting the Senate, determined at all hazards to make the cession of California the sine qua non of a treaty of peace.
156 REVIEW OF THE MEXICAN WAli.
conclusion of peace, " the basis of the uti possidetis shall be established, the Government expects through your forces to be found in actual possession of Upper Califor- nia. This will bring with it the necessity "of