Page:American Historical Review, Vol. 23.djvu/302

292 Under our second head, Mexican officials were frequently requested to furnish laborers and supplies; and it was not unusual to add in such instances that in case of non-compliance the Americans would help themselves to what they needed, and pay nothing. This threat, however, sounded more terrible than it was. "There must be the semblance of coercion", Worth wrote on one such occasion. The people were usually glad, or at least willing, to exchange produce and services for round, yellow dollars; and it was obviously for the common advantage that a person in authority, well acquainted with his constituents and the local conditions, should arrange the exchanges; but any appearance of having friendly business relations with the invader seemed likely to bring down punishment from Mexican sources at a later day, and therefore was guarded against. Transactions of this kind proceeded usually with little real friction, save when the excessive prices, that were often demanded, had to be reduced arbitrarily.

Certain other relations between American commanders and Mexican officials proved less agreeable to the latter. So long as active hostilities continued, both Taylor and Scott were unwilling to seize instead of purchasing supplies, as the Executive recommended. They knew that our gold in a Mexican pocket diffused a soporific influence among the nerves of his patriotism; that stocks would be concealed or even destroyed by the owners rather than