LESTER BURRELL SHIPPEE

214

American government from terminating joint occupation, England could depend upon its government to uphold the honor of the country. An amicable settlement was to be preferred,

the

but should

it

be otherwise, "I can only say

we

possess rights

our opinion, are clear and unquestionable; and, by which, the blessing of God, and with your support, those rights we In the United States it are fully prepared to maintain." in

was believed

that the Government's stand

was emphasized by

the report of increased military preparation. On all sides, then, Polk could see that there belief that

war was

scarcely to be escaped.

was a strong Nevertheless not

only did he do nothing which would remove this feeling but he actually added fuel to the flames, although alleging all the time that he believed there would be no war. As we have seen 38 Polk was urging military and naval preparations at the same time he was telling various Senators, confidentially, that

he would submit a reasonable British proposition to the Senate for its advice. By his messages, by his conversations with

members

of both houses, by the activities of his Secretaries and Navy with congressional committees, Congress was not allowed to forget that trouble might come, even when the discussion on the notice had taken a turn so that it was well known it would be passed with some sort of conciliatory

of

War

sentiments.

During the period from the beginning of December until toward the last of April the Mexican question occasionally came before the Cabinet in one form or other, but there was no serious discussion of a possibility of war from that quarter whenever the possibility of war was up it was always connected with the Oregon Question and Great Britain. It was not until the middle of January that it was definitely known that Slidell would not be received in Mexico, thus putting an end to im;

mediate hope of renewing diplomatic intercourse. General Taylor was ordered to take up his position on the north bank

Grande in the strip which Mexico claimed did not and never had formed a part of the province of Texas.

of the Rio

38 See Chapters VIII, IX, and

X

above.