point in dispute. The principal articles insisted on by the Mexicans was, that Texas should not form a connection with the United States, which many of the people of Texas and the United States, were beginning to look upon favourably. This measure increased in public favour, and was finally consummated on the 1st of March, 1845, by the passage of joint resolutions for that pupose by the American congress, as hereafter related.

The internal affairs of Mexico meanwhile had undergone material changes. A junta of notables was convened by Santa Anna, in 1842, to form a new constitution, and on the 13th of June, 1843, it proclaimed the result of its deliberations, in the shape of the "Bases of Political Organization of the Mexican Republic." Under this new constitution, Santa Anna was elected the first president.

In 1843, General Santmanet attempted a revolution in Tabasco, which proved unsuccessful, and he fled to Havana, where he collected a party of adventurers and returned to Mexico, in 1844. He was shipwrecked on the bar of the Rio Tabasco, and he and his party fell into the hands of General Ampudia, who cut off his head, boiled it in oil, and stuck it up on a pole to blacken in the sun.

A hostile movement of the president against Paredes, however, caused the friends of that general to prepare for revolt, and a civil

war soon broke out. Santa Anna marched at the head of the army to quell the insurrection, but his soldiers ran away, and he was obliged to deliver himself a prisoner, into the hands of his enemies. His lieutenant, Canalizo, surrendered the capital, and General Herrera was elevated to the presidency. Santa Anna was for a time imprisoned in Perote Castle; but after long deliberation, the congress condemned him to perpetual exile. He embarked in June, 1845, for Havana, with his wife and a few friends, and occupied himself with puerile pursuits, until August, 1846, when he terminated his perpetual exile, by landing at Vera Cruz, and becoming at once president and dictator. Herrera had caused the passage of a vote by the congress, recognizing the independence of Texas, on condition of her not annexing herself to the United States, which was an unpopular measure, and Paredes took advantage of it to unseat Herrera. He became president himself, and soon after involved his country in war with the United States. His ill fortune in that war, of course caused his fall, and the elevation of Santa Anna.

HE same causes which produced the revolution in Texas, and which carried her triumphantly through its checkered events, induced her people to regard the United States with admiration and gratitude. Most of the Texan colonists had once been citizens of the Union; they had grown up with her growth, and rejoiced in her prosperity; when a worse than savage warfare had desolated their borders, her sons had been the first to rush to their assistance; it was her army, her soldiers, her skill, that had routed Santa Anna at San Jacinto, and throughout the whole struggle, the consciousness that a superior power was sympathizing with them, had nerved their people to action. These were the grounds for that high respect evinced by the Texans towards the United States. They made her proud of her origin, of her struggle, and of her geographical posi178

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tion near such an ally, and induced her, as we have seen, to model her national constitution after that of her foster parent.

With these feelings of regard for the United States, were mingled others little less powerful. Mexico had not yet consented to the par tition of her ancient empire; she had denounced the forced agreement with Santa Anna, and declared her determination never to assent to Texan independence. At that time, this determination seemed but the effect of the impotent ravings consequent on mortified pride; but it was by no means improbable that a time might come, when, having suppressed internal faction, she would pour down her concentrated legions upon the thinly peopled villages of Texas, and desolate whole provinces. Even should this not happen, the system of petty warfare perpetually maintained along the borders, prevented all repose and security. Texas began to feel herself inadequate to the harassing struggle, which rendered formidable even the weakness of her obstinate foe. Her only resource was the establishment of such a relation with the United States as would awe Mexico, and secure to herself safety and respectability, both at home

and abroad.

But, in addition to all this, there was another reason why Texas leaned toward the northern republic with a feeling of weakness and dependence. The original settlers of the country had been mostly daring adventurers, bred amid the wild scenes of western life, and dependent on the rifle for their very subsistence. The trapper, the buffalo hunter, the restless, roving, backwoodsman, who, like the Indian, moved westward as civilization encroached on his solitudes these were the fathers of the Texan revolution. In battle, and among the denizens of the forest, they were irresistible; but to meet in organized convention to form laws for a new nation, and to go through the drudgery necessary to the first exercise of such laws, were labours utterly above their abilities. With some few allowances for manner of life, they could accommodate themselves to almost any old government; but to originate a new one, or to execute it after its origination, was the point at which they failed. Unlike the people of the Thirteen Colonies, they had never made government and the rights of man, both natural and acquired, their study.

It was in view of all these circumstances, that Texas, at a very early period of her struggle, expressed a desire to be united as a state to the American Union. She had apparently battled, not so much for absolute independence, as for emancipation from Mexican tyranny; and in order to secure this object, she laid less stress on national sovereignty, than upon a state of dependence which would insure her safety. This disposition seems a little strange. Most

nations, however small, vaunt themselves in their independence of foreign control, especially if that independence has been achieved by their own efforts. The reasons given are, however, the solution; the burden of self-government was too great for a young and irregularly settled country.

On the 4th of August, 1837, the government of Texas made a proposition to the American Union to be admitted as a state. Mr. Van Buren was then president. After mature deliberation, he refused to receive the proposition, since, as he alleged, it would violate the treaty of amity between Mexico and our government, and by espousing the Texan quarrel, involve two friendly nations in unnecessary war. The offer was not pressed, and Texas still remained exposed to the desultory attacks of small parties from Mexico. Negotiations for loans and troops were, however, carried on with the United States, and also with Europe. No definite interference was made by any of the powers who were applied to.

M

R. VAN BUREN'S administration terminated while affairs were in this position. Mr. Tyler soon after assumed the executive chair. The subject of Texan annexation seems to have early engrossed his attention, although it was strenuously opposed by the party which had elevated him to power, as well as by a large portion of their political opponents. On the 6th of October, 1843, Mr. Upshur, secretary of state, intimated to the Texan minister that proposals of annexation would no be unfavourably received, and recommended a renewal of efforts for that purpose. This was communicated to the president of Texas, who immediately closed with the proposal.

These movements of Mr. Tyler attracted the notice of both the political parties in the Union, and drew out the opinions of leading men, and the criticisms of the press. The Whig party in general showed themselves utterly averse to the measure; but with their antagonists the scheme daily gained ground. It soon became one of the great topics of discussion; and in proportion as the official term of the president drew near its close, it was more and more evident that annexation would be one of the rallying points on which, during the national election, the opposing masses would test their strength. At the same time, Mexico was not idle. She had watched the dan