CHAPTER III.
Review (_continued_) .-- Triumph of the Democratic Party .-- Impending Troubles with Mexico .-- Position of Parties .-- Struggle for the Equality of Free and Slave States .-- Character of the Southern Leaders .-- Their Efforts to control the Government .-- Conservative Course of Secretaries Buchanan and Marcy .-- Reluctant to engage in War with Mexico .-- The Oregon Question, 54 deg., 40', or 49 deg. .-- Critical Relations with the British Government .-- Treaty of 1846 .-- Character of the Adjustment .-- Our Probable Loss by Unwise Policy of the Democratic Party.
The annexation of Texas being accomplished, the next step was looked for with absorbing interest.

In the spring of 1845 the Democratic party stood victor.

Its policy had been approved by the people, its administration was in power.

But success had brought heavy responsibilities, and imposed upon the statesmanship of Mr.Polk the severest of tasks.

Texas came to us with undefined boundaries, and with a state of war at that moment existing between herself and Mexico.