could muster were but eighteen, and Ellis's vituperation was in- tended for the purpose of insult and exasperation. The President well knew, as the result proved, that Congress could not be prevailed on to declare war against Mexico at present, and hence he tells Governor Cannon : ' Should Mexico insult our national flag, invade our territory, or interrupt bur citizens in the lawful pursuits which are guaranteed to them by treaty, then the Government will promptly repel the insult, and take speedy reparation for the injury. But it does not seem that offences of THIS character HAVE BEEN COMMITTED BY MeXICO." Let it not be forgotten, that this confession was made about two weeks aftei' the date of the instructions to Ellis already mentioned, and which were obviously intended to produce a rupture of the diplomatic intercourse between the two countries, as preparatory to war.
- See this remarkable letter in Ex. Doc. 2 Sess. 24 Cong. Vol.
1 , No. 2. It was probably intended as a private letter, but almost immediately found its way into the newspapers, most likely through the indiscretion of Governor Cannon. Being thus made public, Mr. Forsyth made use of it, the?>\st of the same month, in his correspondence with the Mexican Minister, sending him a newspaper copy of the letter, as evidence of the President's friendly disposition towards Mexico CHAPTER VI.