Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1844-10-15
Extract Of Letter from Gen. JACKSON in
favor OF Annexation.
HERMITAGE, August %, ls44.

Dear Sir am in possession of YOUR
note of the 9th inst, and, although great
ly enfeebled by the excessive warm wea-
Their of this month, shall endeavor TO reply
to it.
The more have reflected on the policy
of annexing Texas to the United States,
the more decided IS my conviction that,
since the establishment of the federal con-
stltution, no question has arisen OF SO great
Importance TO the welfare and safety OF the
people Of the United States. Ii seems to
me that in this Instance, as in the rsvolu-
ton and our last war with Great Britain.
kind Providence stall interposes to help on
our efforts in the cause of selfgoverEment,
and to give US the necessary guaranty for
our independence.
Under the treaty Of 1903, BY which Mr..
Jefferson obtained Louisiana from F.ance.
the people Of that country acquired the
right TO incorporation in our Union as am
pie and complete as that possessed by The
original states and territories, and all the
corresponding rights of citizenship and pro-
lection. In The treaty, thei efore, in 1919,
by which the people Of Louisiana west of
the Sabine were deprived Of the guarantees
of the treaty Of 1903, serious question
arises whether this government can dis
member its territory, and dlsiranchise its
citizens, without their consent and. in the
case Of Texas, without the consent Of
France. But leaving out of view this So
lemn question, and looking only al the
consequences which have followed tho
treaty OF 1919, it is wonderful that the
course of events is such as to enable US to
repair The errors Of that treaty, al The same
time that we would avoid doing wrong to
other powers, either on this, or the CONT
nent of Europe.
| The people Of Texas have maintained
their separate existence, and, after wears
of battle and toll, have achieved their free
dom and independence. And withon: a
stain on their character, without violating
obligations with Mexico or other foreign
powers, with no restraint on their soYe-
reignty her than that which has been
imposed by their God, they again come
back 10 US, and tell US that, although the
guarantees Of the treaty OF 1903 have been
Withdrawn from them, they are yet willing
TO embrace them. And the question is,
what shall we say TO them in replya
But before answering this question, lie,
US see if Mexico has any right to the ter.
ritory OF Texas, or any cause for resisting
the extension to the citizens Of Texas Of
the guarantees Of citizenship as intended il
the treaty of 1903. When did Mexico nc
quire any title to the territory OF Texas
The title of France was conveyed to us
and that title was recognized by all the ci
vlized world as the only good one Die
we convey it to Mexico? We did not
We conveyed it TO old Spain, and she die
not convey i, to Mexico. How then doe.
Mexico derive her title? She pre,ends Il
none except what results from the confed
GRAFTON VIII CHI was formed in 1924. ane
founded on revolution, in which compnc
Texas expressly stipulated that her sepa.
rate sovereignty was retained The over.
throw OF that confederation or compact by
military force gives Mexico no title 10 the
territory, unless she can show that she has
conquered one; and if we examine The
claim on the score of conquest, i, is noto-
riously unjust. That clam was slenced
by the battle OF San Jacin:o; after which
event the principal powers of the world re-
cognized Texas as an independent State.
| L here IS, then, no reason for the oppos.
ton now made by Mexico 10 the annexation
Of Texas to the United Stares-none found
ed on any just claim 10 the territory Or the
loyalty Of the citizens of Texas.
We are then brought TO the unem5ar
raised question: is il right for US 10 pos
sess Texas on the reasonable terms pro-
posed by her? Is it a step necessary TO
our safety and prosperity, cay ii is, and
as you have requested my reasons, will
briefly state them.
That territory is represented by Mr..
Thompson, and other gentlemen of char
acter who have the means OF Judging cor
rectly, as possessing sorie of the finest
lands in the world. In soil. climate, and
productions, il is said to surpass the Flori-
das, and TO equal Louisiana and Mississippi.
| AZ po rton Of our confederacy, then. will
il not benefit US in the same manner that
the states just mentioned, and tho other
new states, have done! Have these states
contributed 10 the wealth, safety and PROS
perity Of the other portions of the confede-
| racy? Have they not furnished homes for
thousands and thousands of happy and free
people engaged in the noble pursuit of ag-
riculture, and hare not the products Of
this agriculture. exchanged in our own
and foreign markets. given healthful en-
pIoy ment TO our manufacturing and nav-
eating interests, and 10 the various me-
chatical arts Unless The measure of
our prosperity is different from that which
is applicable 10 all other nations, il is i'm
possible TO resist the conclusion thai il will
be promoted by the annexation of Texas.
This conclusion deem self-esident.
But great as are the advantages OF an
nexation in the encouragement, which will
result to our industrial pursuits -sdvaa,a-
ges in which all sections of the Union will
particiPate-they are not so important as
the security which Texas, in a military
point of view. offers us II is in this as
peei OF the question tina, shudder when
look at the course of the newspaper press
opposed 10 annexation, and read the speech-
ss of many public ulen-who, absorbed in
the effort TO make President, seem to
care nothing FOR the iu,rigues of Grea:
Britain TO defeat our true policy.
We have abored for many ysa1s TO free