The War With Mexico, Volume I (of 2)

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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1919 edition. Excerpt: ...you should exert the greatest vigilance in discovering and defeating any attempt, which may be made by foreign governments to acquire a control over that country." Against such an attempt the United States would "vigourously interpose"; but r should California assert and maintain her independence, we shall render her all the kind offices in our power"; and "whilst the President will make no effort and use no influence to induce California to become one of the free and independent states of this Union, yet if the people should desire to unite their destiny with ours, they would be received as brethren, whenever this can be done without affording Mexico just cause of complaint.) Their true policy for the present in regard to this question is to let events take their course, unless an attempt should be made to transfer them without their consent either to Great Britain or France." On the same day instructions to ascertain the designs of those powers were issued to /Commodore Sloat, commanding. the Pacific squadron, and vLieutenanf Gillespie of the Marine Corps was ordered to California as a co-agent with Larkin.11 All this has been called an intrigue; but, if that word is in fairness applicable, the "intrigue" was only designed, so far as it concerned Mexico and California, to. rescue with a gentle hand the neglected, abused and lost; so far" as it concerned England and France, to ward off jyi interposition which, if attempted, would probably have led to war; and, so far as it concerned the United States, to safeguard and advance most important national interests while promoting the general good of the world. (Such "intrigues" are among the most legitimate achievements.of true...