The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 71, July 1967 - April, 1968 Page: 346
686 p. : ill. (some col.), maps, ports. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Southwestern Historical Quarterly
Under Article XIII of the Treaty the United States assumed claims
in the amount of $2,090,053; and under Article XV of the treaty
assumed claims in the amount of $3,250,000. This was a total obliga-
tion of $22,140,o53. Under Article XI of the treaty Mexico presented
claims against the United States in the amount of $31,000,000. The
military cost of the war has been estimated at $100oo,ooo,ooo.' That
does not include pensions, damages, increased armament, or the
later awards of bounty lands. In comparison with other large ad-
ditions of territory made by the United States in the periods previous
to, and subsequent to, the Mexican War, it is immediately apparent
that Mexico drove a hard bargain.
On February 20, 1848, a special Cabinet meeting was called by
President Polk to consider the treaty. All condemned Trist's action
but felt that as a consequence of his disobedience the treaty was
now the best one that could be obtained."'
The Senate Committe on Foreign Relations resolved at first to
reject the treaty and advise appointment of a commission to negotiate
with Mexico. However, the President suggested that the appointment
of a commission would be "worse than an idle ceremony."'o
The President, sensibly adapting his policy to the unforeseen
contingency created by Trist, urged ratification of the treaty. He
followed closely the Senate debate and struggle, supporting the treaty
as if it were a masterpiece of negotiation. He well knew that petulant
opposition to it would further subvert the interests of the United
States. Because of Trist's disobedience and mismanagement no better
treaty with Mexico could at that late date be obtained. However,
to his diary the President confided that "after the blood which has
been shed and the money which has been expended since the date
of Trist's instructions .. . if it was an open question, I would not
now approve the terms of the treaty which I then authorized."'""
10'Samuel F. Bemis, A Diplomatic History of the United States (New York, 1955), 244,
325.
10Polk Diary, III, 346.847.
'O"lbid., 363-367.
'07Ibid., 3og9-o.346
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 71, July 1967 - April, 1968, periodical, 1968; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth117145/m1/396/: accessed May 5, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.