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Polk was unhappy with the terms of this Treaty.  He wanted even more Mexican territory.  But he felt he had no choice other than submit this Treaty to the U.S. Senate for ratification, which it did on March 10, 1848 by a margin of 38 to 14.  The 2/3rd minimum required for ratification was 2/3rd of 52, or 35.  The Treaty was ratified by a margin of only 4 votes.

Polk was unhappy with the terms of this Treaty.  He wanted even more Mexican territory.  But he felt he had no choice other than submit this Treaty to the U.S. Senate for ratification, which it did on March 10, 1848 by a margin of 38 to 14.  The 2/3rd minimum required for ratification was 2/3rd of 52, or 35.  The Treaty was ratified by a margin of only 4 votes.

In August 1846, soon after the war began, Congressman David Wilmot introduced a "rider" (unrelated amendment) to an appropriations bill stipulating that "neither slavery nor involuntary servitude shall ever exist" in any territory acquired from this war. Southern senators (especially South Carolina Senator John Calhoun) blocked this "Wilmot Proviso," but its concept was so powerful that it inspired the abolitionists all the way until (and through) the Civil War, much as the pro-life movement inspires people today.  The Wilmot Proviso to stop slavery became as influential as the movement to overturn ''Roe v. Wade'' to stop abortion is today.

In August 1846, soon after the war began, Congressman David Wilmot introduced a "rider" (unrelated amendment) to an appropriations bill stipulating that "neither slavery nor involuntary servitude shall ever exist" in any territory acquired from this war. Southern senators (especially South Carolina Senator John Calhoun) blocked this "Wilmot Proviso" and it did not pass, but its concept was so powerful that it inspired the abolitionists all the way through the Civil War.  The Wilmot Proviso to stop slavery became as influential as the movement to stop abortion is today.

In addition to all of Polk's accomplishments in adding territory, he also had a habit if seeing every single visitor, no matter who he was, who came to the White House!  No wonder it exhausted him.  Still a young man, Polk died shortly after leaving office of an exhaustion-induced illness.

In addition to all of Polk's accomplishments in adding territory, he also had a habit if seeing every single visitor, no matter who he was, who came to the White House!  No wonder it exhausted him.  Still a young man, Polk died shortly after leaving office of an exhaustion-induced illness.