The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-07-03
EXECUTIVE SESSION.
SPEECH OF MR.. WOODBURY.,
Ia Ssnslx, june 4, lS44-in secret session on Inc
treaty for the annexation Of Texas 70 me on'<d
States.

In Ssasts, June 4, l6l4--In secret session on The
treat, for the anne xalion Of Texas 10 the United
States.
lcoSrMuED.l
How much did consider ations like some Of these
rally all Europe band together in driving Napoleon
10 Elba and 81. Helena, and thus restore peace ADD
order and prosperity to the dssosted cities and heIds
OF rost of Christeudom These are not war inca
sures but peace Nations, like individuals,
are often b. biz ssed If peace'nakeTs and tha Dol
only by the use of arguments and en'reaties, boi
force, ii required. Bo,h should thus ncrpose, "
death, or run, or serious injury Is likely I" happen
to Others as well as themselves by continuance oil
hosiiIilies-as the rights OF peace are paramount 10
those Of war, and such inlerposi,ion Is the more
quickly 10 restore commerce and public tranquility
his suppression of further conflict proper between
parties who either do not proper means for end
ing them seasonably who outrage The laws OF cvi-
iixation in their mode Of warfare. The object Of
such interference is speedier and surer rspose to the
world. Ii deserves encoura cement from The friends
Of peace and sound morals, well OF improving
industry and free trade. II ~ philanthropy, rather
than selfish aggraDdizement; aud merits applause,
rather than the denunciatioDs witnessed on this &C.
cason against those who anxious by the ratiiics-
ton of this treaty, to stop the further efuson Of hn
man blood, the waste Of money, and distractions to
agriculture and commerce too long growing out OF
the past runous relations between Mexico and Texas
Finally let II be forgotten that il is duty TO
take this peaceful and voluntary csssion, even IL
risk Of war ensues, provided that ourselves are
Thereby likely escape from serious injury through
foreign influences. Much more can those vlndcnte
who believe il necessary to actual self preservation,
the security of the 'utions, properly, and com
meree Of any portion Of that great republic, one and
indsisible, whose domestic trsnquilhiy and welfare
the constitution itself was made m part To guaranty
Thus, while France subdues Algeis. or seizes on
islands in the Pacific, and while England invades
China, and India, and Africa, we look on wtbon,
intermeddng, except by uniting in that public opio-
ion and public judgment OF the rest OF the civilized
world, which finds so much to condemn in some OF
toese aggrandiz ng and violent measures. but let
these foreign powers, in their Restless ambition, APP
proach Cuba the south, or Texas the west,
and our hearths and affairs become endangered;
and the pervading instinct Of self-preservaton no
less than interest," III, times, require us TO act
In such case, il need be, we must take more stfca
eious than TO talk We must even arm,
rather Than have powder magazines Of all kinds
placed around our frontiers, and The safety of prop
ery revenue, and all the commerce Of the mighty
West jeopafded. The precautions taken and the
resistance made on our part, in such case, cannot
justly be called iniermeddng in the internal conflicts
Of parties in another government Nor is it strug-
GLE like many in centuries past, to preserve the old
balance VI power, and check the undue enlargement
Of neighbor, which remotely, and in time, might
prove luxurious; but 1t is 10 repel danger TO cur
selves, quite certain if not immediate and that from
aquarter already hemming in and round at every
point Of the compass. We can, in such cases, on
sound principles Of national law no, only take pre-
cautions TO prevent the catastrophe, is pro-
posed for that and other reasons, by peaceful and
voluntary purchase of the territory, but can, if we
please, lawfully interpose and aid the party which
Is just IN its efforts for selfgoyernment by making
With alliances or union Of territory, institutions,
and exertlons.
Hence, in kents Commentaries, p. SO, while he
justly speaks against the interference of nation
of her al he
tim he says Emery nation has undo,bfsd rghi 10
provide for It's safely aud 10 take du. preea,tion
against distant, as ,ceH as impending Danger"
memorable case occurred in 1910, showing
ul man as MIR. Madison felt justified TO seIze on
nsghbor,ng territory in possession of Spain, and
without act Of Congress
In the National Intellgcncr, December % 1910,
letter from New Orleans speaks to this effect, Of
the territory east from New Orleans to the PerdIdo
"The country, at least far as the Perddo, ough,
10 be taken possession OF by the United tsts. and
II there should be the most distant probability Of
East Florida falling into hands of any European
power whatever, we should, without hesitation, fla
our standards al st. Augustine aud Pensacola. The
province Of itself is OF little value but is one Of the
Keys to the Mississippi. Power placed there will
control the commerce of the Western World"
And in the presidential message Of December,
1910, MIR. Madison announces his movements to take
N
adjusted claim, and revolution, and we could hold
Tin arrangement was made with S, ain.
Spain had been left possession till the claim u
1t by us was sened by negots,i but her power
had been resisted by insurgents and subverted and
Madison ordered out troops and took ossession Of
It without waiting fvr any new law by Congress be-
cause situation was produced, exposing the country
10 ue'ior sueno ,ohiel might essentially effect the ighb
and welfare ofhe Union"
If force was opposed to US, the United States
troops were instructed to repe it, except from any
place still in Spanish occupation.-(int December
5, 1900
Ia b's message, he says Congress will make
,chaierer provision may be due TO the essential rights
and equitable interests Of the people, thus brought
into the bosom Of the American family
He thought srisis had arrived "endangering the
tranquility and security n adjoining ierriio' les, +"
&c.-(See bis procamation.)
In State Papers, p 39l.9, is Mr.. Madison's mes
sage at length, and letters to that part Of West
Florida.
From the whole appears, that by force we
occupied east 10 Perdldo, not because IL was
claimed by US, but because the Spanish authority
had been 'subvered by revolutionary proceeding,
and the contingency Of the country being thrown into
foreign hands, had forced itself into view"
A few of Mr.. Clsy's remarks on that occasion
were so intrepid in spirit, and showed well the
dsuntess energy Of hun and his then republican
DIS towards all opposition, whether from abroad
or at home, that they deserve special remembrance.
IL was such conduct then, and in 1871 1878, and
1920, on kindred topics, that paved the path which
be has since walked TO such wide fame
81 have no hesitation in saying, that if a
parent country will not cannot maintain
its authority in colony adjacent TO Us,
and there exists IN IL state Of misrule and dis
order, mcnacing our pcace-and II, moreover, such
colony, by passing into the hands Of any other power
would become dangerous TO the integrity Of the
Union and msniiesty tend 10 the subversion Of our
laws-we have right, upon eternal principles Of
self preservation, TO lay hold Of it, This principle
alone, independent, of any title, would warrant our
occupation OF West Florida.
We are told Of the vengeance OF rcsusci,ated
Spain. II Spain, under any modification Of her gov
eminent, choose TO make war upon us for the act
under consideration the nation, have no doubt will
be willing 10 The Int NJ