The author of such a speech was, of course, admirably fitted for the Mexican mission ; but, as that was already filled, the President (Tyler) expressed his obligation to the Orator, by appointing him Minister to France. A Whig Senate recoiled at the idea of sending Mr. Wise to represent American morality and refinement in Europe, but consented that he should discharge that function in Brazil. Amid the vulgarity and profligacy of this speech, there is much that merits attention as indicative of the views and anticipations of the slaveholders. We see what visions of plunder the idea of a war with Mexico raised before their excited imaginations; we see what boundless regions were in their hopes to be consecrated to human bondage, and with how little cost and danger, the chivalry expected to gather a golden harvest from both mines and churches. Mr. Wise was chairman of the na- val committee, and high in the confidence of the adminis- tration ; and hence his reference to California was pecu- liarly significant, and shadowed forth coming events. The annexation of Texas was the immediate object of the slaveholders ; but California was looming in the distance, and many wistful eyes were gazing upon it, as the means of carrying slavery to the " Western Ocean."
Mr. Upshur, the Virginian who in 1829 wanted Texas to raise the price of slaves, and now Secretary of the Navy, in his report of December 4th, 1841, announced to Congress, that " In Upper California there were already considerable settlements of Americans, and others are daily resorting to ihsit fertile ami delightful countiy. Such, however, is the unsettled condition of that whole country, that they cannot be safe either in their persons or property, exc€2:)t under the 2:)rotcctimi of our naval power.'' He also declared^ that, " It is highly desirable that the Gulf of California should be fully explored, and that this duty alone will give employment a long time to one or two vessels of the smaller class." Here was a beautiful device for forcing Mexico into a war and wresting California from her. Our ships of war were to be continually hovering on the coast, and their officers surveying the harbors and interfedng in