st liberal principles were rejected with
disdain.[68] The authorities, basing their refusal upon a frivolous
subterfuge of diplomatic etiquette, would not even hear our proposals,
or receive our minister. Our presidents were disposed to concede every
thing reasonable in negotiation that could have saved the honor of
Mexico and placed our future relations on the salutary foundation of
alliance.[69] Instead of meeting us with the pacific and compromising
temper of our age, her demagogue chieftains stimulated the passion and
vanity of the mob, until the stormy natures of an ignorant people became
so completely excited that they were unable to control the evil spirit
raised by their wicked incantations.

Blundering onward and blinded by passion, this unfortunate nation
reminds us of that passage in the AEnead wherein the sightless giant is
described:--

"Summo quum monte videmus
Ipsum inter pecudes vasta se mole moventem
Pastorem Polypheum, et littera nota petentem;
_Monstrum horrendum, informe, ingens, cui lumen ademptum!_

AEnead, B. 3, v. 655.

FOOTNOTES:

[64] Mexico as it was and as it is--see original letter in 4th ed. p.
387.

[65] See Mexico as it was and is, 4th ed. p. 396--and Slidell's
correspondence with our government. Senate doc. No. 337, 29th cong. 1st
sess.

[66] See Mexico as it was and as it is, p. 400.

[67] Tributo a la verdad, Vera Cruz, p. 3.

[68] See Wheaton's Elements of international law. ed. of 1836, part 2d
chap. 1, pp. 88, 89, 90, 91. On the right of interference of governments
for the pacification of belligerent nations.

[69] Mr. Slidell was fully empowered to negotiate on liberal terms.

BOOK SECOND:

MILITARY OPERATIONS IN TEXAS AND ON

THE RIO GRANDE.

BOOK II.

MILITARY OPERATIONS IN TEXAS AND ON THE RIO GRANDE.

CHAPTER I.

Boundary of Texas defined by Almonte--Description of Texas--Rivers of
Texas--Army of observation--General Taylor--Army of occupation--How
formed--Difficulty of landing in Texas--Aransas bay--Army lands at
St. Joseph's island--Kinney's rancho--Corpus Christi--State of the
army during the winter--Sufferings of the troops--Alarms of war--
General Gaines's views--Necessity of ample preparation--Our first
aggressive war.

The scene of our observation is now about to change from the cabinet to
the field. The theatre of war prope