but I mean to make a clean breast of it myself; and I protest that I see no reason, I believe there is none, why we cannot obtain as safe a peace, as honorable and as prompt a peace, without territory as with it.  The two things are separable.  There is no necessary connection between them.  Mexico does not wish us to take her territory, while she receives our money.  Far from it.  She yields her assent, if she yields it at all, reluctantly, and we all know it.  It is the result of force, and there is no man here who does not know that.  And let me say, Sir, that, if this Trist paper shall finally be rejected in Mexico, it is most likely to be because those who under our protection hold the power there cannot persuade the Mexican Congress or people to agree to this cession of territory.  The thing most likely to break up what we now expect to take place is the repugnance of the Mexican people to part with their territory.  They would prefer to keep their territory, and that we should keep our money; as I prefer we should keep our money, and they their territory.  We shall see.  I pretend to no powers of prediction.  I do not know what may happen.  The times are full of strange events.  But I think it certain that, if the treaty which has gone to Mexico shall fail to be ratified, it will be because of the aversion of the Mexican Congress, or the Mexican people, to cede the territory, or any part of it, belonging to their republic.

I have said that I would rather have no peace for the present, than have a peace which brings territory for new States; and the reason is, that we shall get peace as soon without territory as with it, more safe, more durable, and vastly more honorable to us, the great republic of the world.

But we hear gentlemen say, We must have some territory, the people demand it.  I deny it; at least, I see no proof of it whatever.  I do not doubt that there are individuals of an enterprising character, disposed to emigrate, who know nothing about New Mexico but that it is far off, and nothing about California but that it is still farther off, who are tired of the dull pursuits of agriculture and of civil life; that there are hundreds and thousands of such persons to whom whatsoever is new and distant is attractive.  They feel the spirit of borderers; and the spirit of a borderer, I take it, is to be tolerably contented with his condition where he is, until somebody goes to regions beyond him; and then he is all eagerness to take up his traps and go still farther than he who has thus got in advance of him.  With such men the desire to emigrate is an irresistible passion.  At least so thought that sagacious observer of human nature, M. de Talleyrand, when he travelled in this country in 1794.