The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 18, July 1914 - April, 1915 Page: 127
438 p. : ill. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Early Sentiment for Annexation of California
him. On the contrary his record there had been anything but
favorable. As one of the creditors against the Mexican govern-
ment in 1842, he had put in a claim that Thompson, his own
countryman, had characterized as "exaggerated to a disgusting
degree."29 His business dealings had also brought him into some
disrepute even with men of his own nationality.80 Furthermore,
though this cannot be held wholly to his account, he was sus-
pected of bringing with him authority to spend a million dollars
in bribing Mexican officials.1 And altogether he was a person
very much disliked in the southern Republic.82
In spite of this handicap, however, and the more serious one
that the purpose of his coming was openly proclaimed in Mex-
ico,38 Parrott managed after a fashion to fulfill his mission. On
August 26, he wrote Buchanan that an envoy of the United States
with proper abilities might "with comparative ease settle over a
breakfast the most important national question," and that such a
commissioner was almost daily expected.34 As this opinion was
confirmed by later dispatches from Dimond and Black,3" the
American consuls, the President and his cabinet resolved to send
John Slidell of Louisiana secretly to Mexico, as the official repre-
sentative of this Government.
Failure of Slidell's Mission.-The real purpose of Slidell's ap-
pointment, as announced at this time by Polk, was the purchase
of Upper California and New Mexico. These, the President
thought, might be obtained for fifteen or twenty millions of dol-
lars; but he was willing to give twice the latter amount, if neces-
sary. Indeed, Polk considered the worth of the territory involved,
to the United States, as almost beyond reckoning in mere finan-
"Thompson to Webster, Nov. 30, 1842. MS., State Department.
"Larkin-Parrott Correspondence. Larkin MSS., passim.
n1Black to Buchanan, July 3, 1845. MS., State Department.
82Black to Slidell, Dec. 25, 1845-"The Mexican ministry positively re-
fuse to receive Parrott as Secretary of Legation." MS., State Depart-
ment.
Polk's choice of confidential agent would have been much more suitable
had he selected either Black, the American consul at Mexico City, or
Dimond, who filled a like position at Vera Crur.
"33Reeves, 270.
"Parrott to Buchanan, Aug. 26. MS., State Department; also Reeves,
271.
"'Polk, Diary, I, 34.
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 18, July 1914 - April, 1915, periodical, 1915; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101064/m1/133/: accessed April 26, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.