62 KANSAS UNIVERSITY QUARTERLY. 



peace and friendship with all mankind and assumed an attitude of 

 defiance toward foreign nations. Slavery wanted more territory 

 for its expansion and the South needed more slaves in order to 

 keep abreast of the rapidly growing North. Longing eyes were 

 turned toward Texas and its acquisition became the settled policy 

 of the slave power. Jackson first tried to buy Texas but Mexico 

 refused to sell. " To do so," Santa Anna replied, "would be to 

 sign the death warrant of my country, for the United States would 

 take one province after another until none remained." Jackson 

 then sent Houston to Texas, at that time the territory of a friendly 

 state with which we were at peace, with the understanding that he 

 should colonize it with American citizens, foment revolution and, 

 when a favorable opportunity presented itself, apply for admission 

 to the United States. This conspiracy required time for its devel- 

 opment but was carried out according to the program. The 

 revolution came, Texas declared her independence of Mexico and 

 applied for annexation to the United States. A treaty for the 

 purpose failing of ratification in the Senate, President Tyler secured 

 the passage of a joint resolution for the admission of Texas as a 

 State in the Union. 



Such was the situation when Polk became President of the 

 United States on the 4th of Marcli, 1H45. In his inaugural address 

 the new President said: 



"I regard the question of annexation as belonging exclusively to 

 the United States and Texas. Foreign powers do not seem to ap- 

 preciate the true character of our government. Our union is a 

 confederation of independent states, whose policy is peace with 

 each other and all the world. To enlarge its limits, is to extend 

 the dominion of peace over additional territories and increasing 

 millions." 



In his first annual message to Congress, again referring to 

 Texas, he said: 



"The United States cannot in silence permit any European 

 interference on the North American continent; and should any 

 such interference be attempted, will be ready to resist it at any 



and all hazards The nations of America are equally sovereign 



and independent with those of Europe. They possess the same 

 rights, independent of all foreign interposition, to make war, to 

 conclude peace and to regulate their internal affairs. The people 

 of the United States cannot, therefore, view with indifference 

 attempts of European powers to interfere with the independent 

 action of nations on this continent We must ever maintain the 



