Arkansas intelligencer., 1844-04-27
HERMlTAGE, Feb. IL, 1S43.

My Dear Sir: Yours Of the 23d ult. has been
received, and with it the Madisonian, containing
Governor Glmer's letter on the subject of the an.
nexdtion of Texas to the United States.
You arc not mistaken in supposing that have
formed an opinion on this interesting subject
II occupied much of my attention during my pres
idency, and am sure has lost none of its impor.
lance by what has since transpired.
Soon after my election in 1929, it was made
known to me by Mr.. Erwin, formerly our Min
lister at the court of Madrid, that whilst at that
court he had laid the foundation of treaty with
Spain for the cesson of the Floridas and the set.
Element of the boundary of louisiana, fixing the
western limit of the latter at the Rio Grande,
reeable TO tho understanding of Franco that he
had written homs to our government for powers
to complete and sign this negotiation but that in
stead OF receiving such authority, the negociatin
was taken out of his hands and transferred to
washington, and a new treaty was there conclu.
ded, by which the Sabine, and not the Rio Grande.
was recognized and established as the boundary
of louisiana.
Finding that these statements were true, and
that our government did really give up that i'm
Portant territory, when it was at its option to re-
tain it, was filled with astonishment. The right
to the territory was obtained from France Spain
stood ready to acknowledge it to the Rio Grande;
and yet the authority asked by our minister to in
sert tho true boundary was not only withheld, but
IN lieu of it, limit was adopted which stripped
us OF the whole Of the vast country lying between
the two rivers.
On such n subject. | thought with the ancient
Romans, that it was right never to cede any land
or boundary Of the republic but always to add
to it by honorable treaty, thus extending the area
of freedom; and it was in accordance with this
feeling that gave our minister to Mexico ins,ruc.
tons to enter upon negotiation for tho retro
cession of Texas to the United States.
This negotiation failed, and | shall ever regret
it rs q misfortune to both Mexico and tho United
States. Mr.. Gilmer's letter presents many of the
considerations which, in my judgment, rendered
the step necessary TO the peace and harmony Of
the two countries; but the point in it at that tme
which most strongly impelled me to the course
pursued, was the injustice done to us by the sur.
render of the territory, whom it was obvious that
it could have been retained without inc reasinp the
consideration afterwards gved for the Floridas. |
could not but feel that the surrender of so vast
and important a territory was attributable to an
erroneous estimate Of the tendency of our inst
tutions, in which we was mingled somewhat of
jealousy TO the rising greatness of the South and
West.
But forbear to dwell on this part of the hi.,o.
ry OF this question. 1t is past, and cannot now be
"ioo'o' W S"h HoW onIy look NJ II as one OF
annexlon, if Texas presents it to US ; and if she
does, do not hesitate to say that the welfare and
happiness of our Union require that it should be
accepted.
II in military point of view alone the ques-
ton DO examined, it will be found to be most inn
portant to the United States to be in possession of
that Territory.
Great Britain has already made treaties with
Texas; and we know that farseeing nation new
or omits circumstance in her extensive inter.
course with the world, which can be turned to ac-
count in increasing her military resources. May
she not enter into an alliance with Texas and
reservng las she doubtless willy the northwestern
boundary question as cause of war with US
whenever she choose to declare it, let US suppose
that, as an ally with Texas, we a re to fight her.!
Preparatory to such a movement, she sends her
20 or 10000 men to Texas organizes them on
the Sabine, where her supplies and arms can be
concentrated before we have even notice of her
intentions; makes Judgement on the Mississippi
excires the negroes to instructions; the lower
country falls, and with it New Orleans !; and
servile war RACES through the whole South and
West. rrt ..-- ~. f..-.r.- .rr .s....
In the meanwhile she also moving an army
along the upper western frontier from Canada,
which, in cooperation with the army from Texas.
spreads ruin and havoc from tho Lakes to the
Gulf Of Mexico.
Who can estimate the national loss we may