Excerpt from Patriots and Statesmen, Vol. 5: From Washington to Lincoln
From 1846 to 1848 the principal interest to the American mind was the Mexican War and its consequences. The breaking out of that war in May, 1846, led to a fierce controversy in Congress, in the White House, and out of doors. The Diary of President Polk gives us an opportunity of knowing the inside workings of the administration, and has been drawn upon for several of the most interesting extracts in this chapter. The three main questions before the country were whether the war was a just one; whether Oregon should be annexed; and what should be done with the territory taken from Mexico. President Polk stood out for the righteousness of the war, and for the annexation both of Oregon and California. He was supported by statesmen like Benton, who foresaw the relation of the Pacific Coast with power in the Pacific region and trade with the Orient. The war revealed many weaknesses in the military system of the country; but, from a military point of view, was entirely successful. President Polk refused the temptation to annex the whole of Mexico at a time when it was possible. When peace was made, the Union was enlarged by the addition of the vast region of New Mexico and California. Those opposed to war altogether, of whom Charles Sumner was the most noted, saw nothing but evil in the beginning and end of the struggle, and many who supported the army disliked the process of conquest.
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