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Correspondence of JAMES K. POLK
FROM GEORGE BANCROFT
My dear Sir,

I send you today my reminiscences on the annexation of Texas, as far as your opinions were concerned.1

I add two considerations. Tappan says your election of the House resolution placed “the United States in a state of war with Mexico .” The man is beside himself. The Senate’s action was quite as unmindful of Mexico, & even more so. This shows how Tappan’s memory & judgment are both at fault.

Next. For Senators to have voted a compromise on which you were to be arbiter, & to have solicited your decision in advance, would have been dishonest. The compromise implied freedom of election on your part. It would have been a fraud on the majority of the Senate, to have passed a resolution with an alternative, when there was to be no alternative at all. Mr Tappan’s charge lies heaviest on himself. I do not think the subject merits much of your attention. The calumny is foolish. In substance the two modes proposed are identical. Each annexes Texas, & with or with out the leave of Mexico.

I most ardently hope for your sake, for the sake of the country, for the sake of Europe, for the sake of the world, that Cass may be elected. The whole conservative force of England prays for his defeat. His success will be your own triumph. I wish I could witness it.

Pray find time to write me, but above all, in your last message, do not fail to speak in words that will make Europe leap. Speak specially in favor of the federative principle. In Austria a plan to have the Ban of Croatia come & take Vienna, has led to a new & a more determined insurrection. The bad faith of kings, at a time, when if they were honest, they could do great good, leads to convulsions & will lead, alas, through bloody scenes to republican forms of Government. If France would but learn the benefit of States Right, of provincial liberties, she would redeem Europe.

Best regards to Mrs Polk. Will you come to Europe after the close of your wearisome but most glorious struggles?

GEORGE BANCROFT

[P.S.] Perhaps it might be well to read to the Cabinet my narrative of their statement of the reasons of their advice. I think Marcy, Buchanan, Mason & Walker must all remember it. As to Johnson I do not so distinctly remember about him on that day, but think he was with you.

ALS. DLC–JKP. Addressed to Washington City and marked “Private.” Postmarked “NEW-YORK/SHIP/OCT/26.” From Polk’s AE: received and answered October 27, 1848. Published in BP, pp. 120–21.

  1. Bancroft enclosed his other letter of October 13, 1848.