that the expedition was sent for a wider purpose, the protection of American commerce in that part of the world. The Republican Congressional Committee — Buchanan's opponents — claimed that "Mr Buchanan's war on Paraguay was not for glory, but to furnish means of corruption". They said the Paraguay expedition was an opportunity to dispense political patronage; several examples were given. The expedition The Paraguay expedition consisted of two functions: the naval force, and an accompanying diplomatic mission. The naval arm Up to that time it was the largest naval expedition ever to leave the United States. It accounted for 25% of the Navy's personnel and operational vessels. These ships carried 200 guns and 2,500 men. Most of the American fleet drew too much water to ascend the rivers. Therefore, the United States chartered seven commercial steamers and adapted them as naval vessels. The charters gave the United States the option to buy them outright, which it did. In the table they are denoted by an asterisk. The diplomatic arm, and its instructions President Buchanan appointed a diplomat to accompany the expedition. He was Judge James Butler Bowlin, a prominent and well-respected St Louis politician with "a reputation as a forceful, no-nonsense diplomat". Bowlin was instructed to demand: "an apology for the attack upon the Water Witch" ; "an apology for the rude and offensive manner in which Commander Page's proposition for an exchange of the ratifications of the Treaty was received, and for the rejection of that of Mr Fitzpatrick upon the grounds alleged"; "an indemnification of not less than five thousand dollars to be paid to the representatives of the seaman who was killed upon the occasion"; and "a suitable indemnification in behalf of the United States and Paraguay Company for their losses and damages in consequence of the treatment of the servants of that Company by the Paraguayan government". As to the last point, Bowlin was not to accept less than $500,000. If, however, Paraguay would not pay even that, the claim was to go to international arbitration. "An indispensable preliminary, however, to this adjustment, will, of course, be an acknowledgment on the part of the Paraguayan government of its liability to the Company". In other words, the arbitrators were to assume Paraguay was liable; their sole function was to determine the monetary amount. The military challenge Should Bowlin be unable to achieve an agreement with Paraguay