The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1837-09-19

DIR. CLAIMING has lately addressed to HENRY
CLAY several letters on Texas, which have peen
published. The following are extracts
aBv whom has Texas been conquered by
the colonists BY the hands which ra'seu VIZ
standard of revolt? by foreign Hoyerl ii "nn
espousing their cnuse3 NO: II nus NV p c;t;zens
uuered by your and my countrymep, uy . liz .nd
~ the limited States in violation OF our Jaws a,iu
~ the laws of nations. WE have hiieu INC IanNe
which have wrested Texas from Mexico. In me
army of eighteen hundred men VINO won l'I
victory which scattered the Mexican iorce' e enu
made its chief a prisoner, "not more thah MY
were citizens of Texas, having grievances OF
their own to seek relief from, on that held" Inc
Teyans in this warfare are little more than
name. a cover, under which selfish adventures
from another country have prosecuted their "orh
of plumber -, chain ,,oor;,ude have touch
of the sublime; and to this dignity the seizure OIL
Texas by our citizens is entitled. Modern times
furnish no example of individual rapine on SO
grand q scale. Tits nothing less than the ROBBERY
Of realm. The pirates seize ship Inc col
onsts and their conductors can satisfy themselves
with nothing short of an empire. Ihey nave
left their Anglo Saxon ancestors behind them.
Those barbarians copformed TO the maxins OF
their age ITO the rude code of nations IN time OF
thickest heather darkness. They invaded Eng
land under their soveregns, and with the sane
is in civilized age, and amidst rehnements OF
manners it is amidst the lights of science and
the teachings of Christianity, amidst expositlons
of the law of nations and endorsements OF kthe
laws of universal love- amidst institutions OF re-
lgon, learning, and humanity, that the robbery
of Texas has found its Instruments. 1t is from
free we'll ordered, enlightened Christian coun-
try, that hordes have gone forth in open day, to
perpetrate this mighty wrong"
sit is full time that we should lay OH ourselves
serious, resolute restraint. Possessed of do
main vast enough for the growth of ages, it is
time for us to stop i'm the career of acquisition
and conquest. Already endangered by our great
ness, we cannot advance without imminent peril
10 institutions, union, prosperity, virtue, and
speace. Our former additions of territory have
been justified by the necessity of obtaining out
let's for the population OF the South and West.
No ,such preext exists for the occupation of
Texas. We cannot seize upon or join to our
selves that territory, without manifesting and
strengthening the purpose Of setting no limits to
our empire. We give ourselves an impulse,
which will and must precipitate us into new in
vasions of our neighbours soil. Is it by pressing.
forward in this course that we are TO learn self
restraint? Is cupidty to be appeased 10y graliti-
cation? Is it by unrighteous grasping, that an
impatient people will be instructed how to hem
themselves within the rigid bounds of Justice?
"Texas is q country conquered by our citizens;
beginning of conquests, which, unless arrested
and beaten back by a just and kind Providence,
will STOP only at the Isthmus of Darien. Hence
forth, we must cease 10 cry peace, peace. Our
Eagle will whet, not gorge its appetite on its first
victim; and will snuff a more tempting quarry,
more allurng blood, in every new region which
opens southwark. To annex Texas, is to declare
perpetual war with Mexico. That word yMerico,
associated in mems minds with boundess wealth,
has already awakened rapacity. Already it has
been proclaimed, that the Anglo Saxon race is
destined to the sway of this magnificent realm,
that the rude form OF society which Spain estab
lished there, is to yield and vanish before high
er grade ofcivilizatioD. Without this exposure of
plans OF rapne and subjugation, the result, as far
as our will can determine it, is plain Texas is
the first step to Mexico. The moment we plant
our authority on Texas, the boundaries of those
two countries will become nomnal-will he little
more than lines on the sand of the seashore. In
the fact, that portion of the Southern and West
ern States are already threatened with devasta-
ton, through the Impotence Of multtudes TO pre-
cipitate themselves into the Texan land of pro-
mise, we have pledge and earnest of the food
which will pour itself still farther south, when
Texas shall have been partially over-run.
"Can Mexico look without alarm on the APP
proaches of this ever growing tide? Is she pre-
pared to be a passive prey? TO shrink and sur
render without struggle? Is she not strong in
her hatred if not in her fOrtresses skill? Strong
Can she not bring to bear upon lis a force, more
formidable than fleets the force of privateers that
is, of legalized pirates, which, issuing from her
ports, will scour the seas, prey our commerce,
and add to spoliation, cruelty and murder?"
"Is the time never TO come, when the neigh
borhood of more powerful and civilized people,
will prove blessing instead of curse to an in
ferior community? 1t was my hope, when the
Spanish colonies ofthis continent separated them
selves from the mother country and, in admira-
ton of the United States, adopted republican in
situations, that they were to find in U.S. friends to
their freedom, helpers to their civilization. If
ever people were placed by Providence in a
condition to do good to neighboring state, we
of this country sustained such relation to Mex
leo. That nation, inferior in science arts, agri-
culture, and legislation looked to us with a gen
erous trust. She opened her ports and terrific
ries to our farmers, mechanics, and merchants
we might have conquered her, by the only hon.
orable arms, by the force of superior intelligence,
industry and morality. We might silently have
poured in upon her our own improvements; and
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