1833, and the fact that she was not admitted into the Union until the 3d day of March, 1845, the very last day of President Tyler's administration, will show that for twelve years what is now known as Texas, a State in the American Union, was an independent Republic, and as much a foreign nation as is Mexico, or any other Government. Still the people who created and governed the country were Americans, and strong feelings of attachment for their native country directed their attention and hopes towards the union of Texas to the American Republic.

During the last term of Jackson's office, which began in March, 1833, through all of Van Buren's term, which began in March, 1837, and through Tyler's administration, which began in April, 1841-(he having been elected Vice-President in the fall of 1840, when W. II. Harrison was elected President-Harrison having died one month after his inauguration, and Tyler succeeding to the Presidency)-through all those administrations up to the last day of Tyler's term, the subject of the admission of Texas formed a prominent feature of Congressional debate.

The situation of Texas was peculiar. America claimed and reasoned upon the cession of the territory by Spain to France, and its subsequent cession by France to the United States. Still, although many eminent Americans held to this opinion, others took an opposite view, holding that the territory belonged to Mexico, and that Congress had no power to admit her into the Union-that her acquisition must be by treaty through the Executive Department. Nor was Mexico idle upon the subject, for, as she found her neighbors, the American Republic, seeking an alliance with Texas, she stoutly proclaimed her title to that territory.

Towards the close of Tyler's administration the Slave Power at the South became loud in demands that the Government should comply with the request of the people of Texas for admission into the Union. Most of the Northern delegates opposed the annexation, and a high party feeling was manifested upon the subject. Towards the last day of Tyler's administration resolutions were passed by both Houses of Congress for the admission of Texas, and Tyler, on the 3d day of March, 1845, the last day of his administration, dispatched a messenger to Texas to secure her immediate annexation, which was soon after accomplished, and the vexed question was at an end.

The annexation of Texas led to a war with Mexico, which resulted in the acquisition of California by the United States. A suspicion existed between Mexico and the United States so soon as Texas was annexed, that difficulties would arise. Mexican forces were dispatched to the Rio Grande to look after the interests of her boundaries. The twenty-ninth Congress of the United States, which met on December 1st, 1845, made propositions to meet any emergency that might arise, and in January following General Zachary Taylor was sent at the head of an army to New Orleans, and in April following took up his position on the western line of Texas. Early in March he received orders to march to the Rio Grande. Here he found a strong force of Mexicans entrenching, and on the 12th of April, 1846, the Mexican commander requested Taylor to retreat back forthwith, warning him that did he refuse, a declaration of war would follow. Taylor did not retreat, and on the 8th of May following, the Mexican forces crossed the Rio Grande, and with 6,000 men attacked Taylor, who had only 2,300 men. The Mex

icans were defeated, and the next day were followed up by Taylor's forces, who completely routed them, driving them in great confusion across the Rio Grande.

The war with Mexico continued with increasing success to the American arms, up to the 30th day of May, 1848, at which time a treaty of peace, friendship, limits, and settlement, between the United States and the Republic of Mexico was concluded; the ratifications of which were duly exchanged at the City of Queretaro, in Mexico.

By this treaty Mexico ceded to the United States New Mexico, with an area of 281,368 square miles (the Territory of Arizona, and a part of the Territory of Colorado have since been severed from it.) She also ceded the Territory of California (now State) with an area of 158,687 square miles. By the treaty the United States agreed to pay to Mexico twelve millions of dollars, and also agreed to assume the claims of citizens of the United States: "the claims already liquidated and decided against the Mexican Republic to an amount not exceeding three and one quarter million of dollars."

The termination of the war with Mexico, after two years duration, marked by spirited victories by the Americans, served to lend a new impulse of chivalry to the army of conquest, and tended to place its fighting qualities pretty high, at least, in the estimation of the Mexicans, who were quite willing to enter into the terms, by which, for fifteen millions, they relinquished a territory of such almost boundless proportions, embracing nearly ten degrees of latitude, reaching from Oregon to the Rio Grande; possessing climate, soil, and mineral wealth unequaled on the globe.

But not alone did the treaty above alluded to place the United States in the possession of California; for

as early as 1846, the American flag had been planted on the Pacific side, and the territory proclaimed to be the property of the United States. California at this period was a Mexican territory known as Alta California, in contradistinction from Raia California, which was then, and is stil, a Mexican Territory.

CHAPTER X

CONQUEST AND SETTLEMENT OF CALIFORNIA.-OCCUPATION OF BY AMRICANS. -RAISING THE BEAR FLAG.-ESTABLISHMENT OF GOVERNMENT.- BATES IN CONGRESS ON.-ADMISSION OF.-PROTEST AGAINST.-SPEECHES OF CLAY, WEBSTER, JEFFERSON DAVIS, AND OTHERS.-CALHOUN WILL MAKE CALIFORNIA THE "TEST QUESTION.”

THE claims of the United States to the Territory of Oregon, had been at this time (1846), pretty well established. As early as 1842 and 1844, settlers from many of the Eastern and Western States had made their way into Oregon, and even some few into California. The American Government became anxious to know more of the nature of the soil, climate, and resources of their possessions on the Pacific, and had already sent exploring parties into the country.

John C. Fremont, a brevet Captain in the Corps of United States Topographical Engineers, had left Washington in the spring of 1845, on a tour of exploration across the plains, and over the Rocky Mountains, to the Pacific; and charged with endeavoring to find the best route from the Rocky Mountains to the mouth of the Columbia River. After a most hazardous journey, he arrived with his faithful guide and escort, Kit Carson, and his men (six of whom were Delaware Indians) the whole company consisting of sixty-two men, within a hundred miles of Monterey, where he halted, and proceeded in person to the head-quarters of General Castro, the Mexican General in charge of the Territory. His object was to obtain a pass for himself and company, to go to the San Joaquin Valley, where hunting and