The Herald's History of Los Angeles City by Charles Dwight Willard

Author:Charles Dwight Willard [Willard, Charles Dwight]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Geschichte
Publisher: Jazzybee Verlag
Published: 2017-02-05T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 19. The Stars And Stripes.

The history of the United States prior to 1861 is largely a history of the slavery question. Not only were all internal political events affected in some measure by this issue, but even the foreign policy did not escape its baleful influence. When the Missouri compromise set a definite limit, as was supposed, to the spread of slavery to the north, the acquisition of more territory to the south and southwest was necessary to the slave-holding interest, so that it might maintain an equilibrium with its opponents. Our relations with the Mexican republic were controlled, almost from the beginning, by this salient fact, and out of it finally came the war of 1846-8, and the acquisition of California, Arizona and New Mexico. There were, of course, other considerations that entered into the impulse for war, when the time came for its actual declaration. A great majority of the people of the north, as well as of the south, believed that the "Manifest Destiny" of the republic required that it should extend through on even lines from ocean to ocean. In due course of time this sentiment might have led to the purchase of this territory, and would certainly have aroused active and forcible opposition to its seizure by any foreign power; but the Union would scarcely have been drawn into a deliberate war for conquest — which the Mexican war undoubtedly was — on a mere desire for expansion, nor would the opportunity for that war have been provided had not a potent cause existed in the political situation.

The final appeal to arms grew out of the annexation of Texas to the United States. While still a Spanish dependency Texas had been colonized by numerous parties of Americans; and during Mexican rule it filled rapidly with emigrants, chiefly from the southern states. In 1836, when the Mexican republic was in the midst of one of its periodic revolutions, the Texans declared themselves independent, and asked to be admitted to the American Union. The proposition was, of course, declined, as its acceptance would have constituted an act of deliberate and inexcusable aggression; but Mexico contended that the Americans constantly gave aid and comfort to the rebels. Unable to win back its revolted province, Mexico, nevertheless, refused to acknowledge its independence.

In the eight years following, the offer of Texas to come into the American Union stood open, and was discussed at each session of congress. It was well understood, both in the United States and in Mexico, that the acceptance of the offer meant war. There was, it is true, an element in Mexico that favored letting Texas go, because it feared that the outcome of a conflict with the United States would be the loss of California and the neighboring territory, but those holding that view were in the minority.

The continuous strain under which the two countries rested is revealed in the incident of the raising of the American flag at Monterey by Commodore Jones in 1842.

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