Reading Notes Week 5: De Burton, Part A

Don Mariano remembers feeling bitterness against Mexicans. He felt Mexico abandoned the Mexicans left in California after America won California, but then he realized that Mexico could not predict the future and how Americans would treat the Mexicans in California. "...I saw that Mexico did as much as could have been reasonably expected at the time (De Burton, 248). In the very preamble of the treaty the spirit of peace and friendship, which animated both nations, was carefully made manifest. How could Mexico have foreseen then that when scarcely half a dozen years should have elapsed the trusted conquerors would, 'In Congress Assembled,' pass laws which were to be retroactive upon defenseless, helpless, conquered people, in order to despoil them"

De Burton, Maria Amparo Ruiz, "The Don's View of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo", pgs. 244-248.