The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1843-09-21
From The .Nslo Orleans Republican.
TEXAS

From The .hsp Orleans Republican.
TEXAS
The inquiries made by US, touching the negotiations
which are believed to be on foot between Mexico and
Texas and Texas and the United States, accompa-
MED as regards the two first, by the mediation Of
Great Brltain--have resulted in little that is definite
satisfactory Pre- dent Houston had been absent
from the seat of Government Of Texas, and as late
as the lst instant little nothing had transpired
there on the subject of the proilered mediation of
England.
We are led to infer how ever, that public opinion
in Texas Is strongly opposed to the schemes of Eng
sh Abolltionists and Captain Elliot will not press
the point in his official Intercourse with the Texan
authorities Still, 1t is probable, the mediation Of
John Bull is not disnterested and he surely will not
furnish he.money whichsSanla Anna ants and Tex
as is too poor to gNe-wih6ut securing for Great
Britain ample remuneration in commercial prNi-
legcs and lands.
AS respects the turn which the policy of the Uni
| ted States may take towards Texas we think the
complaints .of the Mexican Government, that the
United States officers do mott ing TO preserve our neu-
trality-followed, as they have been by upbraidngs
from the Texans, that officers have done too
much-combine in constituting such another cause
for interference induced President Monroe to order
the occupation of Amelia Island previous to the
sion of Florida to the United States. We would ad-
wise the President to answer the complaints OF Next
10 and Texas by ordering General Gaines TO occupy
the country between the Sabine and the Neuces RI
vers. That country once formed part of Louisiana,
and 1t cannot be controyerted, that the treaty by
which France coded Louisiana to the United States,
put it beyond the power of the General Government
to deprive any inhabitan Of Louisiana Of his right
of citizenship.
AS far back 49, we find the, King of France
exercising authority over the lands, coasts and
islands, which are situated in the Gull Of Mexico,
between Carolina the East and Old and New
Mexico the West" and basing the authority there
exercised on the discoveries of La Sale and her
vilIe-the former having built fort St Bernard
in 1853, and the latter having discovered the mouth
Of the Mississippi IN 1893.
So much for the original title of France to Texas
"a title which was transferred to the United States
in 1903. Let us next inquire whether the President
and Senate of the United States, can, without viola
ting the Constitution, cede away by treaty consider
able portion of the United States. Among other
statesmen and jurisconsus who have treated this
question, what says Mr.. Henry Clay:
The Constitution of the United States has not
defined the precise limits of the treaty making power
because from the nature of it they could not be pre-
scribed 1t appears to me, however, that safe
American statesman will assign to it boundless
scope"
q But il cannot, under color of fixing boundary
previously existing though in fact maIked-uuder-
take 10 cede away, without the concurrence Of Con-
gress, whole provinces"
50 In the Florida treaty it was not pretended that
tHe ooJect was SIMPLY DECLARATION OF Wnere Inc
Western limit oil LOUISIANA was--t was, on the con-
rary, the Of avowed cesson of territory from
the United States TO Spain"
This argument against the cession of Texas as be-
ing unconstitutional, is certainly strong enough for
all who are not latudinarians. But proceed and in
qure whether such transfer not also violation
OF the treaties. What is the meaning Of the follow
ing, being the Sd article of the treaty concluded al
Paris, April 80, 1903; "The inhabitants of The ceded
territory, shall be Incorporated in the union Of the
United States, and admitted as soon as possible, ac-
cording to the principles of the federal ConstItu-
ton, to the enjoyment Of all the rights advantages and u
munes, Of the citizens Of the United States and in the
meantime they shall be maintained and protected in
the free enoyme of their liberty property, and the
religion which they profess"
The rulers Of the United States during nearly
tw eny years, insisted that Louisiana extended the
Bay Of St. b, rnard is certain that several cili-
subjects of France inhabited the country be-
You'd the Sabine previous to the treaty Of cession
Could the United States denalionalize, take away
from those people their rights Of citizenship, and
make them subjects of Spain, Mexico, or Texas,
without violating the faith of treaties and the Con-
stitution of the lsnd' We believe no States Rights
man, enlightened legst, will pretend such power
could be justly and fairly exercised. Yet such has
been the course of our government under Of the
most popular admnisra ions, that Of James Monroe +;
and III the face Of the declaration Of Mr.. Clay that
it was nexpedlent TO cede Texas to any foreign
power-for it constituted an inheritance which should
be held sacred for posterity." 81 wish it was-if it
is not (added Mr. Clay an invoable law of the land
that people should be inalienabe to any foreign
power"
We have thus endeavored to demonstrate that nei-
Their the treaty of Paris--nor the constitution Of
the United States-authorzed or sanctioned the bar
gain between Spain and the United States by which
the country between the Sabine and the Rio del Norte
was placed out of the Union, and the inhabitants
thereof deprived of their legitimate rights. In pre-
vlous numbers we have endeayored TO prove that the
remuneration Of Texas essential TO The balance
Of power between the slave and ncn-slayeholding
States and moreover to the peaceable maintenance
of the social institutions of the South. On some f
ture day. 1t shall be our task 10 prove that the
patton OF Texas IS highly necessary to the safety Of
New Orleans, and that preponderance on the shores
of the Gulf Of Mexico, without which the immense
commerce Incidental to tie increase Of population in
the Great Valley OF the Mississippi, could be car
ried on, during any length Of time with either safety
or advantage.