George Meade, The Life and Letters of George Gordon Meade, Major-General United States Army
George Gordon Meade, Ed.

I must now resume my narrative of events, which, doubtless, you are anxious to hear; and indeed some things of importance have occurred. I think when I last wrote I informed you of the peaceful intelligence that General Arista was to assume command, and hostilities not to commence till the 1st of June. This at the time was a mere report in Matamoras, and as such brought over to us. Much evidence of the same kind has since been given, to prove that Arista is to command, but as to the precise period of hostilities nothing is known. From a careful perusal of the news brought by the steamer Mississippi, with Mr. Slidell, I am led to believe that Mexico has no intention of declaring, or commencing, the war herself. In fact the proclamation of Paredes, after Mr. Slidell's departure, is to that effect. He says he has no power to declare war, that the Congress must do it, but that he will repel invasion. Now, at the time of his proclamation, he had known for weeks of our march, and his not ordering us to be attacked, notwithstanding they consider us as invaders, proves he is most reluctant to begin the war. But I fear that Mr. Polk has no such restraining influences; on the contrary I believe he desires a war with Mexico, for he can then take possession of California, and hold it by right of conquest, without affording England any pretext for interference. But the fact that Mexico has pledged California to England, in payment of bonds given for money loaned, and upon which she does not even pay the interest, will give England a plausible pretext for interfering with the sale of California to us, on the ground that it is mortgaged to her. Hence Mr. Polk would prefer acquiring it by conquest. What would have to be paid for it will cover the expenses of the war, and indeed Mexico may be forced to pay the expenses herself. If some such reason has not influenced the President, why should he insist on Mr. Slidell's being received as a Minister Plenipotentiary, when he was repeatedly assured by the Mexicans they would only receive a Commissioner? If he at heart desired peace, there was nothing undignified in making him a Commissioner. The treaties of Ghent, and that of ‘83 in Paris, were made by Commissioners, and it is usual, upon renewing intercourse, or after wars, to have Commissioners to arrange the preliminaries, and even treaties, and then send your Ministers, for it may happen the Commissioners may not agree, and recourse must again be had to arms. The requiring Mr. Slidell to insist on being received as Minister was a sad blunder of Mr. Polk's, if he desired peace; but my impression is he desires war. The question now is,