The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1843-09-28
DESIGNS OF THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT


lions with The Government of Texas. We can
not shut out from our mind the conviction ha
the British Government is resolved 10 obtain &
permanent foothold on our Southern border iol
the purpose, should it at any lime mediate 8
war, to facilitate its hostile movements against
this country.
That Great Britain desires TO get possession
of Texas, or at all events meditates a design to
control its destiny, and render it subserven tc
her purposes, The following remarks of one Of
their lordsbps in Parliament should, we think,
be sufficiently convincing:
g The importance Of Teaas could not be orerraled
Aicas country Of the greatest capabilities, and
tent lLy large as Frace Ii possessed soil Of the
finest and most fertile character and it was capable
OF producing nearly all tropical produce, and It's eli
mate was OF most healthy character. IL had access
TO the Gulf Of .Herico through the riuer Mississippi 1rih
'ch'eh 1t communicated by means Of the Red ,irer :"
The Government of Great Britain does not
''overrate" the " importance Of Texas for it has
already partly succeededinits preferred mediation
betwe n that power and Mexico. An armistice
has been agreed upon, and in the meantime ac-
i've negotiations are going on with the former.
And Texas, although lis inhabitants are mostly
the natives OF our own soil, harrassed by
invasion, its finances exhausted by continued
war, and its spirit wounded by the repulse OF lis
application to be admitted into the Unon NAV
now sink into the proffered embrace Of our an
Client foe and present rival.
England can never regard the nursery of
freedom--the land which is disseminating Re-
publican principles fast and far over the world
with tue friendship and favor. The las, lines
quoted above betray her hostile designs Texas
has "access to the Gull of Mexico, through
the rirer Mississippi, &C." Well, what if it
has? Why should lis advantages of location
be a matter Of concern TO England? Az, why,
unlesS Great Britain designs TO enjoy then,
Do we ever hear the natural advantages of any
portion OF our country, or any other country ca
rable of resisting aggression, thus discussed in
the British Parliament?
The "noblen member Of Parliament thus
continues
The population Of the country was said to exceed
100000, but he had been assured by gentleman " no
came from that country, and who was member of
the same profession himself, that the whole popu-
lation, free and slaves, white and coored, did
coed 100 600; but he grleved TO learn that not
less than onefourh Of the popuation % 600 per-
sons, were in state of slavery. This point led him
TO the foundation of the question which he wished
put TO his noble friend. There very little or no
slave trade carried on with Texa. from Africa d.
recty, but large number of slaves constantly
being sent overland to that country Although the
MAJOR part Of the land in Texas well adapted
for white labor, and therefore for free cultivation,
still the people OF that country, by strange in
Iatuation, or by inordnate love of immediate
gain, preferred slave labor to free labor"
Surely, surely the British Government takes
very deep interest in the STATISTICS of Texas.
It's condition is spoken OF with the same minute
ness of detail as would naturally be expected if
it were on the eve of being taken possession of
"a a colony, and the speaker expected TO receive
a Royal Grant. But his lordsbp "was grirv-
ed TO learn that $4,000 persons were in state
Of slavery;" and thai led him "to the .Jouadd-
ton of the question y ''lsrge number of
slaves were constantly being SENT" &c. "the
lard in Texas was well adapted" &c. but "by
some strange inlauaion," &C. &c. Who would
not think "the noble lord" was speaking thus
concernedly Of the condition of one of the Br-
fish colonies Why should he take such an
interest in an independent State-in a kcpub-
lie If our Minister at London and our ciii-
zens at home, will only watch closely, they will
see before many years, and we trust they will
see them before it be too lalc the ultimate designs
Of Great Britain.
The noble" member proceeds
4" As all access to the African slave market was
shut out 10 them, their market for slaves was the
United States from whence they obtained large sup.
ply Of negro slaves. The markets from whence they
obtained their supply of slaSes were Georgia, the
Carolinas and Virginia, which States constantly sent
their surplus slave population, which would other
wise be burden 10 them, TO the Texan market No
doubt true had been stated that they treat
ed their slaves toerably well, because they knew that
it was for their interest to them, they had
such profitable market for them in Texas. This
made him rresistbly anxious for the abolition Of sla-
very in Texas, for if it abolished there not onl,
would that country be cultivated by free and white
labor but it would put stop 10 the habit Of breeding
slaves for the Texan market
THE CONSEQUENCE WOULD BE, THAT
THEY WOULD SOLVE THIS GREAT CUES
TON IN THE HISTORY OF THE UNITED
STATES, FOR IT MUST ULTIMATELY END
IN TIE ABOLITION OF SLAVERY IN ANE
RIGA"
We are not prepared to say what measures
on the part of our Congress, such declaration
would justify. We doubt not our Minister at
the British Court, and General Murphy at
the capital of Texas, have been promptly and
fully instructed Of the estimate placed upon
such indications, by the Government Of the
United States Our President and Secretary of
State, the country may be well assured, will ne
yer be found blind, or deaf, or enervated, when
its honor and interests arc threatened in any
quarter.
Our readers, the American citizens, cannot,
we are quite certain, and should not,'w are We
ry sure, be indifferent TO the declaration of the
British Government that phy steal interference,
what is equivalent to it, with the lawful insti
iuuons OF our country, has been determined on
We may recur 20 the subject