The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 18, July 1914 - April, 1915 Page: 125
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Early Sentiment for Anncxation of California
ject was reported by Larkin to the state department and was con-
sidered of sufficient importance to receive the notice of the Presi-
dent.19 But, as a matter of fact, the new law seems to have had
only a short existence; and whalers found little difficulty, after
the first few months, in securing their share of the California
trade.20
Various other occurrences during their period that had some
bearing upon the American interests were the arrival of John C.
Fr6mont at Sutter's Fort early in the spring of 1844 on his
second exploring expedition;21 the return of Lansford W. Hast-
ings to the United States to encourage further emigration to Cali-
fornia, in order to bring about its separation from Mexico; and
the revolt of the native Californians against the Mexican gov-
ernor, Micheltorena. As all of these incidents receive subsequent
mention they need not detain us here, and we shall pass on to a
consideration of Polk's diplomatic attempts to secure the province.
Announcement of Polk's Policy.-When Polk came into office
on the 4th of March, 1845, the attention of the American people,
as has been shown, had already turned toward California.22 Two
presidents, Jackson and Tyler, had made earnest efforts to pur-
chase it from Mexico, in the name of the United States. It is
not surprising, then, to find the annexation of this province figur-
ing as one of the four important measures which the new Presi-
dent, even before his inauguration, had set his heart upon carry-
ing into effect.23 Polk's intentions, moreover, were not long kept
to sell goods and reprovision-will work a great hardship if denied him
at San Francisco (Larkin Official Correspondence, Pt. II, No. 13). Larkin
sent this letter to Governor Micheltorena.
"'Calhoun to Larkin, Dec. 28, 1844. Ibid., No. 303. It was brought by
the president in turn to the attention of Congress.
"Larkin to Calhoun, Aug. 19, 1844. MS., State Department; same to
Henry Lindsey, Editor of the New Bedford Whalemans Shipping List,
Dec. 11. Larkin Official Correspondence, Pt. II, No. 11.
"Sutter to Larkin, March 28, 1844. Larkin MSS., II, No. 73. Fr6mont
reached New Helvetia March 6.
22It was a singular coincidence, if nothing more, that caused the editor
of the New York Journal of Commerce to publish in his paper of March 5,
directly beneath Polk's inaugural address, an article headed, "California
Coming."
'The remaining three were the settlement of the Oregon boundary line,
a reduction of the tariff, and the establishment of a subtreasury. See
Edward G. Bourne, Essays in Historical Criticism (Yale bicentennial pub-
lications, II), 229; and various other authorities.125
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 18, July 1914 - April, 1915, periodical, 1915; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101064/m1/131/: accessed May 1, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.