TREATY ENTERED INTO ITS CHARACTER. 



427 



But before his departure probably forever from Mexico, Santa 

 Anna had been doomed to see the peace concluded. The complete 

 failure of the Mexicans in all their battles, notwithstanding the 

 courage with which they individually fought at Churubusco, Cha- 

 pultepec, and Molino del Rey, impressed the nation deeply with 

 the conviction of its inability to cope in arms with the United 

 States. The discomfiture of Paredes, the want of pecuniary re- 

 sources, the disorganization of the country, the growing strength 

 of the Americans who were pouring into the capital under Patter- 

 son, Butler and Marshall, and the utter failure of the arch-in- 

 triguer, — all contributed to strengthen the arm of the executive 

 and to authorize both the negotiation of a treaty and the arrange- 

 ment of an armistice until the two governments should ratify the 

 terms of peace. Mr. Nicholas P. Trist, Don Luis G. Cuevas, Don 

 Bernardo Couto, and Don Miguel Atristain, signed the treaty, thus 

 consummated, on the 2d of February, 1848, at the town of Guada- 

 lupe Hidalgo. Its chief terms were 1st, the re-establishment of 

 peace ; 2d, the boundary which confirmed the southern line of 

 Texas and gave us New Mexico and Upper California ; 3d, the 

 payment of fifteen millions by the United States, in consideration 

 of the extension of our boundaries; 4th, the payment by our gov- 

 ernment of all the claims of its citizens against the Mexican Re- 

 public to the extent of three and a quarter millions, so as to dis- 

 charge Mexico forever from all responsibility ; 5th, a compact to 

 restrain the incursions and misconduct of the Indians on the north- 

 ern frontier. The compact contained in all, thirty-three articles 

 and a secret article prolonging the period of ratification in Wash- 

 ington beyond the four months from its date as stipulated in the 

 original instrument. 



This important treaty, which, we believe, history will justly char- 

 acterise as one of the most liberal ever assented to by the conquer- 

 ors of so great a country, was despatched immediately by an in- 

 telligent courier to Washington ; and, notwithstanding the irregu- 

 larity of its negotiation after Mr. Trist' s recall, was at once sent to 

 the Senate by President Polk. In that illustrious body of statesmen 

 it was fully debated, and after mature consideration, ratified, with 

 but slight change, on the 10th of March. Senator Sevier and Mr. 

 Attorney General Clifford, resigned their posts and were sent as 



forgot his pecuniary interests. The books of the treasury showed that, at the mo- 

 ment when the city was about to fall and when there was scarcely money enough to 

 maintain the troops, he paid himself the whole of his salary as President up to that date, 

 and all the arrears which he claimed as due to him, as President also, during the period of 

 his residence in exile at Havana ! 



