How far this forbearance was magnanimous depends, of course, on the motives which prompted it. We have already seen that the insurgents of Texas, after some hesi- tation, forbore to include California withki its boundaries. The reason assigned for this forbearance had no reference to right and justice ; it was simply, that they had already taken as much as they wanted, and that more at present would be inconvenient. It is difficult to see wherein our forbearance was more magnanimous than that of our Texan brethren. We have taken precisely what we went to war to acquire ; and a territory from which thirteen large slave States could be carved, was sufficient to give the slave power an entire control of the Federal Government. Mexico, moreover, is so enfeebled and despoiled, that all that is left may be absorbed by the mighty Re- pubhc, at any moment it may be deemed expedient to take possession.
But as Mexico was prostrated, and we might have an- nexed the whole Republic to our territory, was it not magnanimous to pay her for what we did take ? It is true Mexico was prostrate, but she was not submissive. She could not resist our arms, but she could not be occu- pied and governed as Ameiican territory except by mih- tary force. The war was becoming unpopular, and the Ad- miiiistration v/as tottering, the popular branch of the National Legislature having declared against it. It was doubtful whether Congress would furnish suppUes for new conquests. But, in any event, nothing more could be noped from the farther prosecution of the war than what /lad been already effected—the military occupation of Mexico. Such an occupation for a single year would cost double or treble the sum we paid the Mexicans. It was obviously wiser and cheaper to pay a moderate sum for a quit-claim to the land we wanted, than to continue an expensive and dangerous litigation. In the prosecution of this Htigation, we had already expended 20,000 Hves, and more than a hundred miUions of dollars. Hence, the means of acquiring peaceable possession of the land we had taken was a matter of political and pecuniary calcu- lation, and the result affords but Httle proof of magnani- mity.