THE ANNEXATION OF MEXICO. 263 



ference would be steppin' on the toes of every other State 

 in the Union, and they'd all jine in puttin' a stop to it, 

 about the quickest. Mexico wouldn't lose anything, 

 by coming into the Union. And see what she'd gain. 

 Everybody knows she ain't of much account now, 

 among the nations. She hasn't got any navy to speak 

 of; and her army, tho' it makes a great deal of noiss 

 and disturbance, and a good deal of trouble at home," 

 don't scare anybody on the outside of her. England or 

 France, or any other of the great powers that want 

 anything of Mexico, sends down there a great war- 

 vessel, with cannon looking out of its sides. The 

 captain dickers, and argues, about the matter in hand, 

 while the sailors are polishin' up the big guns, and 

 trainin' them for use. Mexico sees what is goin' on, 

 and takes the hint, and gives in, 



" Now bring Mexico into the Union, and I'd like 

 to know which of the great powers would undertake 

 such a trick as that. I'd like to know which of 'em 

 would undertake to dictate to her, or tell her what she 

 must do. If a war*vessel was sent down there, Uncle 

 Sam would have one along side of her, and there'd 

 be more polishin' of guns than would be done by the 

 British. They'd find somebody just as sassy, and just 



