General Taylor never entirely forgave the Commander-in-Chief for taking from him the best part of his force, and he contended that had Scott threatened Vera Cruz only, and so divided the attention of Santa Anna, leaving the army at Monterey in its full force to march thence upon the capital, Mexico would have been taken at a less cost of time and blood than was ultimately expended on the conquest of the place. So also thought a large section of the American people, and though another commander actually took possession of the capital, Taylor was popularly regarded as the real hero of the Mexican war. This feeling was strengthened when the series of quarrels began between Scott and his companions in arms, and between that general and the American Minister, Mr. Trist, deputed to arrange a treaty between the two countries; and when Scott left the army in charge of General Butler to return in disgust to the United States, there was no officer in all Mexico, whose reputation could stand in competition with that of “Old Rough and Ready,” as Taylor was now called. He was looked upon as the one heroic leader of the successful war. Bayard Taylor, after his stay in the city of Mexico, says he does not believe that Mexican enmity has been increased by the war, but rather the contrary. During all his stay in the country he did not hear a bitter word against the Americans. The officers of the United States’ army seem to have made friends everywhere, and the war, by throwing the natives into direct contact with foreigners, greatly abated their former prejudices against all not of Spanish blood. The departure of the American troops is declared to have been a cause of general lamentation amongst the tradesmen of Mexico and Vera Cruz. Nothing was more common to me (continues the traveller) than to hear Generals Scott and Taylor mentioned by the Mexicans in terms of entire respect and admiration. “If you see General Taylor,” said a gentleman to his namesake Bayard, “tell him that the Mexicans all honour him. He has never given up their houses to plunder; he has helped their wounded and suffering; he is as humane as he is brave, and they can never feel enmity towards him.” Not without contest and difficulties, but still by a considerable majority, General Taylor was in November, 1848, rewarded for his many years’ services by being installed in the highest position his countrymen had in their gift. They made him President of the United States, and his term of office in that capacity commenced in March, 1849, under the favourable impression created by the following straightforward declaration:—