Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAPTER in. Different races in Mexico.—The information is received there that Joseph Bonaparte was placed upon ihe throne of Spain.—Course pursued by the Mexicans.—Rupture between the Natives and Europeans.—Insurrection headed by Hidalgo.—Plan of Igualo.—Iturbide proclaimed Emperor.—He is banished, and on his return to Mexico, is shot.—Revolutions.—Santa Anna elected President.—Texas Revolution. The war with Mexico occupied much of the attention of the administration. Mr. Polk had no sooner taken the oath of office, than he found our relations with that country .were extremely delicate. No efforts which he could make, appeared to appease the Mexicans, or to induce them to act in good faith towards us. It is now my purpose to trace the events which preceded the commencement of hostilities upon the Rio Grande, and to follow our victorious troops through their triumphant progress, until the capital of Mexico surrendered to their prowess and valor. Before examining into the immediate causes of the war with Mexico, I will briefly refer to the prominent revolutions which occurred in that country previous to that event. The contest was waged with a so called republic; yet Mexico hardly deserves the name. Since the struggle terminated, which produced a separation from Spain, Mexico has been the theatre of anarchy and blood. Revolution and violence have succeeded each other in rapid succession. The existence of each government has seldom lasted longer than two years, and instability and misrule have always controlled the fortunes of the Mexicans. This result, so fatal to law and order, has undoubtedly been produced by the peculiar mental organization of that people, and the amalgamation of the different races, which are found within the borders of Mexico. The people are...