The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1843-11-27

F"
pie will not be found to possess less degree OF
national spirit aud patriotism, though less prompt
and sensitive in its nature, than was ascribed
to lh~m by the DUKE Of Wellington. We have
alluded now to these subjects Of the Creole aud
the Right OF Search, 10 show the obstinacy with
which the British Government has chung to ITS
purpose, and its perfect recklessness of the feel
iass, interests, and even national rights OF our
People in the pursuit Of tina, purpose, until, al
length, il is encouraged TO make STD holder
demonstration, and one 10 which submission on
our part would not only be recreant and craven
abandon Of the stand taken 10 the face OF
the world by President Monroe, bull would ex-
pose US TO the unmnga,ed scorn Of those who,
like the Duke of Wellington, have witnessed a
fierce and ndomtabe national spirit displayed
even under the debasing governments Of Spain
and Portugal.
Great Britain has at length driven US into a
coIner and compelled US TO make at least de-
fensiye stand. We must adopt some precau-
tionary measures, or else lamely submit TO have
our national independence outraged, or the
Union dissolved ; and the question is, what these
precautionary measures shall Beg
We can imagine nothing shorl Of the annex
alton Of Texas which would effectualiy guard
US against the impending danger. Great Bri-
tain has right, under the law of nations, IL
propose what terms of treaty she pleascs 10
Texas, and Texas has right to accede TO them,
provided they do not directly infringe upon ouI
tights. With this proviso, any treaty which
she might make, however indirectly injurious 10
US, would give us no just ground Of war; Be-
sides, we wish, if possible 10 avoid being, even
in appearance only, the aggressor in war.
II may be urged that we, also. have right to
make treaty with Texas. But even admitting
that we could propose as favorable terms as
Great Britain, no treaty that we could make, in
conformity with our Constitution and The Spirit
of our institutions, would enable US to acquire
such control over the destnies of Texas, as
would prevent the | disability Of tn ir b ing
brought into conf ct with our own, through the
Vaccinations OF foreign powers, and particularly
o(apower SO determinedo on accomplishing It's OBJ
ject as Great Britain. A treaty Of alliance, Of
fensive and defensive. however intimate and
strongly cemented, might prove but transiory
and Elusive, besides being contrary 10 the spirit
Of our institutions and so far as it respects
slavery, there would be the same opposition and
grounds of objection by Abotionists TO any
such treaty as 10 annexation.
Annexation, therefore, is the only certain de-
fence and protection against the designs Of Great
Brilain-designs manifested in so many ways,
by acts betraying such perseveripg and aggres-
sive spirit, and al length so recklessly avowed,
that TO be any longer blind to them, passive
under the attempts to accomplish them, would
render us the laughing stock of mankind. The
best defence which we have against them is one
in perfect conformity with our Constitution as
settled by repeated and ,irreversible precedents,
and TO which Great Britain has precluded her.
self from Directing as any violation OF the law
of nations, or as an act Of hostility to Mexico,
by her own recognition of Texas.
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