Mexico assents to the proposition to negotiate,...... Withdrawal of the naval forces of United States from before Vera Singular and unexpected reception of Mr. Slidell,................................. ........91 Embarrassing position of United States minister - Mexican diplomacy,..92 Mexico refuses to fulfil its engagements,.... Folly of Mexico-prudence and patience advised by United States Weakness of Paredes-approval of General Taylor's advance,........101 Solicitations for negotiation renewed by Mr. Slidell,.......... Treaty of Santa Anna on the side of humanity,... Position of the United States in relation to boundary,. Precautionary acts of the United States government,.. Occupation on the Rio Grande advised by Mr. Donelson,... Troops requested for the protection of Texas,.. Solicitude of Texas in regard to means of defence, Defence of Texas ordered by the government of the United States,....124 Posts suggested on the Rio Grande by Mr. Donelson,. Rio Grande recognized by United States as the boundary of Texas,....124 Entire protection to Texas enforced by the United States government,.126 Mexicans to be driven beyond the Rio Grande in case of invasion,.....127 Frontier posts to be established by General Taylor aided by Texas,....127 Vigilance of General Taylor in protecting boundary to Rio Grande,....127 Crossing Rio Grande by Mexicans— commencement of hostilities, ....127 Solicitude of the United States government that Texas should be No boundary thought of by General Taylor but the Rio Grande,.. Letter of advice of General Taylor to advance to the Rio Grande,......129 Discretionary power given to General Taylor,................. General Taylor ordered to advance to the Rio Grande, Spinion of General Taylor approving the order,. Return of Santa Anna,...... .... The soldier's position- the fallen soldier,................... Justice, what it is to nations,....... Duties of nations-elements of national existence, Escape of Mexico from a war in 1837,.. CONSTITUTIONAL TREASURY-THE CURRENCY, Whig party-Webster, Clay-note,....... Success of the constitutional treasury, its importance, Principles of free trade-industry — national prosperity,..... Indebtedness of the country to the secretary of the treasury, Hon. ..166 R. J. Walker,. ...187 Minutes of an interview between General Worth and General Vega,...269 Correspondence between Generals Taylor and Ampudia, ................... Extract from Mr. Buchanan's letter on the prosecution of the war,....279 INTRODUCTORY. FORMATION OF NATIONS. A CIVILIZED nation is a momentous combination of parts, of countless powers and influences that encircle the globe, and extend from the equator to the poles. It is an individual being, and yet it is the imbodiment of millions of the human race. Its boundaries are marked upon the earth, its resources upon the page, but its myriads of eyes look with an illimited vision into the unmeasured regions of space and of time. It is single in its organization, and yet its capacity is as multiform as the subjects and objects of the universe, extending out from itself active causes of progress to the world, and standing as its own conservator. It is circumscribed in its territory, but it is infinite in its relations and influences. Its interests are as diversified as the blessings of creation, embracing all that is within the pebble and the mountain, the mite and the man. The divine faculties of the soul, in their highest conceptions of truth, beauty, and wisdom, make up its existence, and constitute the elements of its growth. The natural world in its grandeur and life-yielding fruits; the living creatures of the earth, air, and water; man, whether as an individual, or as a member of a family, a neighborhood, or state; whether as a citizen or a ruler; as an exponent of natural or conventional law, all are made to subserve the nation, and through the nation the world, and through the world its Maker. It is a beautiful truth that all may see who have surveyed "the unbounded scheme of things," |