The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1912-06-04

TItnt on the subject in the
lhen opening, and Cass was defeated
only by the olt Of the Van Ruren
element Of the party-a moyen.ert
directed at slavery and not against
TINS part Of the Democratic program.
1t was indeed a popular movement
which men like Clay and Tom Cor
WIN or the West, and Calhoun Of the
south, regarded with the utmost con
Germ but which they could not defeat.
meetings. were held in kentucky. in
ONO, and IN New England. meetings
winch remind the student Of recent
contemporaries gatherings. much re-
spected but little needed. The rresI-
cent himself sent word to Congress
on May II that the people Of luca-
tan had settled their difficulties and
mat his friends. must withdraw the
pending Legislation. It Is more than
likely that Mexico scented the dam
ger and succeeded in b~ringing mat
lers 70 a satisfactory conclusion be
Tore he United States PRESENTED them
with another Texas question. 1t is
amusing seventy years after 10 read
IN the debates the embarrassment of
eminent Northern Senator'S, like John
a. DIX, OF New York, when this sud
den malt was called and their belil-
gerent speeches were left half de-
llVered TO rise up and condemn them
on a later day. 1t was not the op-
position Of the Wings nor the fears
OF the party in power, but an accident.
an adventurous circumstance that
saved ne %ountr under the leader-
ship Of the West and South. from
taking possession of Yucatan and Ven
turing still further upon the sea of
imperialism lnaugurated by the Bal
umore conventions sea upon which
we have been again scattering bread
as occasion offered during recent
years.
In conclusion it seems fairly certain
that the b Of Southern and
Western interests at Baltimore was
the work of Robert j. Walker, later
Secretary of the Treasury in the Polk
cabinet, and through the succeeding
four years the most powerful intiu-
ence IN the administration. He was
foremost during the whole period in
the campaign for all Mexico he OPP
posed the ratification of the Trlst
treaty and he did his utmost to bring
the Senate to a vote on intervention
in Yucatan before the Mexican au-
thorities could ratify the recent agree
ment.
Associated with Walker during
most or all this period were Senator
Cass, the Democratic candidate for
President in 184S, most of the Sena-
tors and Representatives from West
ern and Southern States and a large
number of the Democratic leaders
from the North and East. All the
leading Democratic newspapers Of the
South and West insisted upon al
Mexico for a time and a larger ceS-
sion Of territory thar was finally
agreed upon all the time; and among
Eastern paperS many Of the ablest ad-
vocated the same extreme policy. Iht
President himself was willing to be
led NV his pYn9 n iOniSt followers aD(
he lOnged for at least enough OF
, Mexico to secure to the United State:
the complete domination Of the Gull
Of Mexico, Of the prospective sthmla1
canal and the expanded "shore-line'
on the Pacific, now giving Senate
Lodge and other distinguished pub
. lie men so much anxiety.
And wnen all these magnifcen
plans were at the most promlsln,
; stage, European nations which ha'
hitherto blocked American expansion
J in these directions were overwhelne
: with sudden evolutionary move
mentS. This would certainly haV
q meant the humiliation of Mexico bu
for the wholly unprecedented conduc
of Minister Trist in refusing to recog
nize his recall during the closing day
Of lS47, and the negotiation OF
treaty which General Scott promise
Inc Mexicans would be accepted i
spite of the known hOStllty OF nl
President. When this sad blunde
barred the way to all Mexico ther
vet remained the promising condl
ton Of things in Yucatan which wa
. utilized to the utmost uQblI sudden
4 " there came the news, on May 1t
= 1S48, that the 1ucatanese had patch
ed up their difficulties, and the GOV
eminent retired chagrinned from
. field nearly won but lost on a tumble
~ Go rhat u-ac he recon m2nN1
:, ton to purchase cuba while time
were GOOD or take it if Englan
showed any signs Of moving IN tha
: direction. Truly the Democrats c
the Polk regime were OF the annex
ing mind: and when the Wings sut
o ceeded to them IN power, as mas q
- wavs happened under similar cone
- lions. all that had been lone wa
approved and steps were taken I
: continue the program.