The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1910-06-06
EplLoeuE.

'Ts the ster spangled Banner; o. long
may II wave.
Der the land Of the free, and tho home
OF the hravel
Francis Scott Key
On the night that Miss Elizabeth
! Churchal gave me her hand and her
heart forever---for which ! have not
yet ceased to thank God--there began
the guns OF palo Alto. Later, there
came the fields Of Monterey. Buena
Vista Corro C;ordo, Contreras. Cheru
husco. Mollno del Rey-~at last the
guns sounded at the gate OF the old
CITY OF Mexico itself. Some OF that
fighting myself saw: but much of
the time was employed In that man
ner OF special work which had en-
gagged me for the last few years, II
was through Mr. Calhoun's agency
that reached certain Importance
IN these matters; and so was chosen
as the commissioner to negotiate q
peace with Mexico
This honor later proved to be a
dangerous and questionable one. Gen
Scott wanted no Interference of this
/ Kind, especially since he knew Mr.
/ Calhouns influence in my choice. He
thwarted all my attempts TO reach the
headquarters OF the enemy, and did
everything he could to secure peace
OF his own, az the mouth Of the can
non. could offer no terms better
than Mr., Buchanan. then our sec
retary OF state had prepared for me,
and these we're rejected by the Mexi-
! can government at last. ! was or
dered by Mr.. Polk to state that we
had no better terms to offer: and as
for myself was told to return TO
Washington. AT that time could not
make my way out through the lines,
nor, In truth, did | much care to do 80.
A certain event not written in his
tory influenced me to remain for a
time al the little village OF Guadalupe
Hidalgo Here, In short, received
word from lady whom had for
merly known, none less than Sonora
Yturrlo, once member of the Mexi.
can legation at Washington. True to
her record she had again reached in
\ hpentlal position In her country using
" methods Of her own. She told me
now to pay no attention TO what had
been reported by Mexico In fact, I
WAS approached again by the Mexican
commissioners, introduced by herl
What was done then is history. We
j signed then and there the peace of
Guadalupe Hldalgo, In accordance
with the terms originally given me
by our secretary OF state. So after
all. Calhoun's kindness TO a woman In
distress was not lost and 80. after
all. be unwiitingly helped In the end
ing OF the war he never wished be
gun.
Meantime. bad been recalled tt
Washington, but did not know the
nature Of that recall. When at last
arrived there found myself disgrBeet
and dIscredited, My actions were re
, pudiated by the administration. my
self WAS dismissed from the service
without pay-sad enough blow for |
young man who had been married les
than year.
Mr.. Polk's Jealousy OF John Calhoun
wac not the only cause OF this. Cal
houp's prophecy was right. Yet, non
the less, after his usual fashion, b
was not averse to receiving such credi
as he could. He put the responsibilit
OF the treaty upon the senate! 1t wa
debated hotly there for some weeks
and at last. much to his surprise an
my qualification, II was ratifedl
The north, which had opposed thi
Mexican war-that same war whic
later led inevitably to the Civil Wa
now found itself unable to sa
! much against the great addition
| to our domain which the treaty ha
secured. We paid fifteen millions, /
addition to cur territorial lndemnit
| claim, and We got realm who's
| wealth could not be computed.
| much, II must be owned. did fortun
do for that singular favorite. Mr.. poll
y And, curiously enough. the smoke hs
hardly cleared from Palo Alto fiel
= before Abraham Lincoln. youn
!, member in the house of congress, wa
d introducing a resolution which aske
! the marking of the spot whore tha
! outrage was committed" Perhaps
was an outrage. Many still hold
! so. But let us reflect what woald hay
!, been Llncoins life had matters nc
!. gone just as they did.
: With the cesslons from Mexico cam
the great domain of California. Nov
look how strangely history sometime
: works out itself. Had there been an
! ! suspicion OF the discovery OF gold Il
. California. neither Mexico nor our RI
: public ever would have owned II
/. England surely would have taken II
: The very yea- that my treaty even'u
ally was ratified was that in whIcl
gold was discovered In California
Il