In the first place he was not prepared to say that the United States desired no more Spanish territory.

Not that Adams desired or would tolerate conquest.

At the time of the Louisiana Purchase he had wished to postpone annexation until the assent of the people of that province could be obtained.

But he believed that all the territory necessary for the geographical completeness of the United States had not yet been brought under the flag.

He had just obtained Florida from Spain and a claim westward to the Pacific north of the forty-second parallel, but he considered the Southwest--Texas, New Mexico, and California--a natural field of expansion.