256 WAR WITH MEXICO. [CHAP. XXXIX. 



the Indian corn has also given a powerful impulse to the rapid 

 settlement of the whites in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and other 

 western states. In one of my first excursions to the west, I saw 

 a rnan felling trees in March, who, when I returned in October, 

 had harvested a crop of Indian corn, grown on the very spot. 

 He had also the leaves and stems of the plant to serve for winter 

 fodder for his cattle. He was an emigrant, newly arrived, and 

 entirely without the capital indispensable to enable him to culti 

 vate wheat, which must have been twelve or thirteen months in 

 the ground before it could be reaped.&quot; 



Next day the stirring news of the invasion of the Mexican 

 territory by the American army, reached New York, and I met 

 the news-boys, in every street, crying out, &quot;War with Mexico!&quot; 

 Soon afterward I saw the walls covered with placards, headed 

 with the words, &quot; Ho, for the halls of the Montezumas !&quot; 



The mayor had called a public meeting to express sympathy 

 with the President and the war-party at Washington. This 

 meeting was held in the Park, and although it may have served 

 the purpose of the democratic party, it was certainly a signal 

 failure, if any strong expression of popular feeling in favor of such 

 a war was looked for. In the crowd I heard nothing but Irish, 

 Scotch, and German accents, and the only hearty cheer which 

 any one orator could draw, even from this mob of foreigners, 

 was obtained by representing the Mexicans as acting under the 

 influence of British gold. 



I met with no one person in society who defended the aggres 

 sion on the Mexican territory ; but, as they can not prevent it, 

 they endeavor, each in his way, to comfort themselves that the 

 mischief is no worse, some saying, it will be a less evil than 

 fighting with Great Britain ; others that it will furnish employ 

 ment for a host of turbulent spirits ; while some merchants hint 

 that the democratic party, had they been economical, might 

 have lowered the tariff, and carried out their dangerous theory 

 of free trade, whereas now they will plunge the nation into debt, 

 and be compelled to resort to high duties, which will &quot; protect 

 native industry.&quot; The dissatisfaction of others is unbounded ; 

 they dread the annexation of a region containing five millions of 



