ACQUISITION OF TERRITORY.
Having taken a retrospect of the pecuniary, political, and moral sacrifices made by the American people, in the war they have waged against Mexico, let us next inquire what equivalents they have received. It is difficult to ima- gine any which are not included in the Territory and the Glory they have acquired. The value of these acquisi- tions, we proceed to examine.
It appears from a document laid before Congress from the War Department and Land Office, that the alleged limits of Texas embrace 325,520 square miles ; and those of New Mexico^ and California, as ceded by treaty, 626,078 more, making a grand total of 851,590 square miles. It is only by comparison that we can form an adequate idea of the extent of this prodigious area. The state of New York contains less than 50,000 square miles ; of course the addition made to our possessions is equal to seventeen times the extent of the Empire State.
It is four times the size of France, and five times that of Spain.^ Texas, it is true, was acquired by other means than open war. But no less than 125,520 square miles, included with- in her assumed boundaries, rightfully belonged to Mexico, and our title to them is founded, not on her claim, but on conquest, confirmed by the treaty of peace. Adding this territory to that of New Mexico and California, we have * See American Almanac for 1842, p. 270 651,591 square miles, about one half of all that was left to Mexico, after the revolt of Texas, as the spoils of war.
Such was " the magnanimous forbearance exhibited to- wards Mexico," of which Mr. Polk thought proper to boast in his Message to the Senate communicating the treaty which ceded to us this vast plunder.