The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-05-07
Commodore CHARLES STEWART,
Bordentown, New jersey

our oOedleni servant,
Commodore CHARLES STEWART,
Bordent0wn, New Jersey.
HILL or HEALTH,
Near BOrdent0aen, ~ J. May z, 1874
| SIR: have had the honor to receive your letter
| OF the 18th OF last month, lntmating that have
g been spoken OF as a candidate TOR the Office q
| President of the United Sates;" remarking, also
that " an Intelligent people, exercising the night Of
selecting their own chief magistrate, entitled 10
know the opinions Of those whom they may select
their candidates, upon the leading questions thai
ing mine on "the question of the annexation OF
Texas 10 this Union" as one which, ''irom the ne
cessity OF mmedIate action upon II, Is the mos,
prominent and Interesting measure now before the
people" And you also add, tina, ''being delegate
TO the Baltimore convention, which assemblies on
the 9th of May, it will be your desire to make my
views on this subject public.'
| am m otoundly sensible of your good and parl-
otlc views in making this inquiry, under existing
circumstances, and shall proceed to reply, in all
trankness and sincerity, to your inquiry.
assume that there exists no constitutional OBJ
lection to Texas being Incorporated with our Union.
QUESTION OF Louisiana and Florida. and the album
dant, and, as | have supposed, satisfactory discus
sion OF 1t, to which all have access. will at least
venture TO say tina, they have satisfied my mind.
Passing, then, to the general question, the reasons
are so numerous, cogent, powerful, and urgent both
on the score of policy and humanity for aknp
Texas part of the Union, and have so strong bear
ing upon our national industry, revenues, prosperity
and power, that have not been able to refuse the
assent OF my judgment TO them.
have considered, on the other hand, the views
alleged against the measure; and, greatly as the
sources whence they emanate are entitled to, and
have my respect, they have not proved, on the
calmest reflection, sufficient with me to outweigh
the strong reasons that exist in its favor That a
step OF so much magnitude, present and future,
should meet with opposition in the first instance. Is
ha tod
ed Louisiana and Florida, the objections to which
are now forgotten in the unspeakable advantage
flowing from it, and to flow throughout ages to come.
Such, 1t appears to me, would decidedly attend the
annexation of Texas. Millions unborn, and age,
In the future, may be expected to reap the advan
tages of its incorporation with our Union long after
the objections OF the day. are forgotten.
This important acquisition, which can now be
obtained with honor and advantage to all parties in
erested bringing with it the consent and affections
of its Inhabitants, will, perhaps, when future ces-
sity makes its acquisition imperative, be acquired
only through desolatlng war, sansulnary contests
and the loss OF those affections of the Texan Inhab
tants essential to happiness in a united and re-
publican people But would not be for gaining
those advantages, however transcendent and lasting
believe they would be for our country, at the ex
pense OF justice,
The main question, therefore, is, would 'annex-
alton" give Mexico Just ground of complaint ?-fol
OF course, no other foreign country has anything &c
| do with the question. Now, have not been able
Mexico any just cause of complaint whatever. II
is almost eight years since Texas won her ndepen.
dence at the decisive battle of San Jacinto. Nc
serious invasion OF her soil, or other efforts or i'm
portant movements IN arms, have been made b.
Mexico against her since that decisive victory. Il
was, In fact, the contamination OF Texan indie
pendence, and has produced throughout the worlt
the unavoidable effect of event SO decisive. The
most powerful states Of Europe have fully recognis
ed the independence Of Texas-not suddenly, ii il
necessary TO bear in mind, but after letting time
enough eapse fairly to attest that the overwhelming
victory of San Jacnto was decisive. Those states
never would have recognised her independence SO
long as they supposed there existed any probability
OF Mexico being able again to reduce Texas to sub
mission by force Of arms. Ii has, indeed, been Il
principle with the United States, when civil wal
existed In countries, TO treat each party alike,
soon as the power OF waging war de facto existed
with each. But this has not been the practice OF
The great powers OF Europe. Thev act different
principles, TO which their institutions NOR naiu
rally incline them. They are slow to sanction re-
slstdnce, in any shape, TO existing authority III
government. They were view tardy, as all may
remember, in acknowledging the Independence oi
he revolted colonies OF pau h America, including
Mexico among them. Nevertheless most of thos
anc ent kiDgd ms and STATES have adopted Texas
no the family Ell nations by their most solemn
acts OF recognition, which mean with them great
deal more than the mere formal acknowledgment
o a de fdcto government existing IN Texas, and
liable, at any Eiomen', 10 be again ovenhrown
and which facts may therefore, well make us fee
easy as to their opinion OF anne xa ion.
The captur. OF Lord CORVALLIS did not more t.
ctually establish independence tor by force .,
arms, (not much so, perhaps, all circumstance,
considered, } the total overth ow of the Meyicat
oces SanI aclnlo and Simultaneous capne OF tie
mead Of the Mexican nation, established lndepend
enc- Tor Texas. Great Britain acknc lodged our,
Immediately after tn form event, an ancient
proud, and powerful monarchy as she was We
Mexico keeps up the idle show of stil being Tn,
parent state over Texas, now nearly eight year
90.
macy, which so decidedly persisted the plain
| Of San Jacinto.
| 1t may be asked is this right? Can it stand be
fore the dispassionate Judgment OF nations! and /
| it reasonable towards the United States! II can
not be forgotten h@w long and Justly Mexic
| comp aimed of SPANS refusal to recognise he
| ndep. ndence after SIC had actually won il b,
force or arms. And here It may be mentioned
that the fact of Spain having refused TO recog
Mise it long subsequent to the year 1925. formed
| no objection with government for Offering /,
purchase Texas from Mexico IN that year. Thu
last fact, of ITSELF may serve TO show that other
tons not bound 10 wait until the parent STATE
gives her forma consent, unreasonably prolonged
| 10 the Independence of the resisting colony His
| tory conuadics that idea II it were true, HOLLAND
would have had to wait seventy years before sh,
| became independent nation: Tor we have Lately
been reminded, from distinguished source, that !
was full that length OF tune before Spain--agans
whom she had revolted-woud acknowledge he
| independence lhope may be excused for adding
| for | consider II as belonging to the subject q
this letter, and due to the true spirit OF this whole
| occasion-that there are not wanting opinions
carefully formed, which so to say, that if Mexico
should, at this late day, recommence warm earnes
against Texas, instead OF keeping up, in the latte
| power, the irritation and inconvenience of only
talking about it for eight years nearly the chances
| would be full as great, or even greater that she
would be conquered herself, as that she would eve
re-subugate that gallant and independent people.
Notwithstanding the conviction of my judgmen
1 bat May MT hlya lpnsf n
complaint against VI, in Justice or reason, for i'm
| mediate annexation, shond we adopt that measure
| | think 1t would become the magnanlmty OF thu
| great republic TO pursue towards her generou
| and liberal course possible
| If, therefore, any subsequent steps of the mos
conclliatory nature, for soothing her feeling, ma'
be open to us, would be for adopting them to thu
very verge OF not yielding up rights, interests
| or honor. It anything beyond this be expected o
demanded Of Ms, (Which will not anticlpate,) o
| "a lIl-cnn sernences ahnnld threnlen lMhlch