Baton-Rouge gazette. [volume] (Baton-Rouge, La.) 1819-1856, 1844-05-11

g still further acquisitions of territory 10 fnaif
tain the independence of Texas, disconneCte
= with the United States, and to prevent tn
n further propagation Of slavery from the Unite
o States, what would be tho effect Of Buch ale
:. cations upon the judgement Of an .itDpartis
and enlightened world7
Assuming that the annexation of Texas
7 war with Mexico, is IL competent 70 shs treat
.tnaking power 10 plunge this country int
war, not only without the concurrence off, bu
t without d%eiRning to consult Congress, +
which, by the Conelitutlon, belongs exclusive
ly tho power Of declaring war
/ have hitherto considered the question up
on the suppesition that the annexation IL at
tempted without tho assent Of NexiCo.
she yields her CONSENT, that would HIsteriAIll
affect the foreign aspect Of tho question, if /
did not remove a foreign difficulties, On tn,
assumption Of that %asseniS the question woulc
be confined to tbs domestic consideration
which belong to it, embracing the terms and
conditions upon which III annexation 10 pro.
posed. | do not think that Texas ought to be
received into the Uufon, as an intrsgal part
Of 1t, in decided opposition to tbs wsshss Of
considerable and respectable portian Of the
Confederacy. | think it far more wise and
important 10 compose and harmonize the pres.
ent Confsderacy, az il new s~xists, lhan to in-
trUduce a n0w element Of disCord and diRtrac.
tioa into it, In my humble opinion, It should
be the constant and earnest eudsayor Of A.
meriCan statesmen to eradicate preIudiCes, to
cultivate and foster concord, and to produce
general C01tentment among all paris Of our
ConfedsraCy. And true wisdom, it seems TO
me, points to the duty Of rendering it, prss-
ent members happy, prosperous, and satisfied
with each other, rather than to attempt 10 in
troduCs alien members against the comrHou
consent and with the certainty Of deep dissat-
i]sfaction. Mr.. Jefferson expressed the opin
ion, and others believed, that il never wss In
the contemplation Of the trainers Of the Con-
~gtiution to add foreign territory TO the Con-
federdcy, out Of which new States we're to be
formed. The acquisitions Of Louisiana and
Florida may be defended upon the peculiar
ground Of the relation in which they stood
to the States Of the Union. After they were
admitted, We might we'll pause awhile, peo-
pie our vast wastes, d~eyelOpe our RESOURCES,
prepare the means of defending what We pos.
sess, and augment our strength, power, and
greatness. thereafter further territory should
be wanted. forIan increased population, we need
entertain no approximations but that il will be
acquired by means, it 10 to be- hoped, fair, hon
orable, and constitutional.
II is useless 10 disguise that there are
those who espouse and those who Oppose the
annexation Of Texas upon the ground Of the
influence which it would exert, in the balance
Of political power, between two great sections
Of the Union. / conceive that no motive for
tho acquisition Of folsign territory would be
more unfortunate, or, pregnant with more IA
tai consequences, than that Of obtaining II for
the purpose of strengthening one part against
another part Of the common Confederacy.
Such a principle, put into practical operation
would ueuance the existence, if it did not GER
tainIy SOW the seeds Of a dissolution Of the
Union. 1t would be to proclaim 10 the world
an Unsuitable and unquenchable thirst for for
eign conquest or acquisition Of territory. For
if to-day Texas be acquired to strengthen one
part Of the confsderacy, tomorrow Canada
may be required to add strength Ito another.
Andsafter that might have been obtained, still
other and farther acquisitions would become
necessary to equalizs and adjust the balance
Of political power. Finally, in the progress
Of this spirit Of universal dominion, the part
ofthe Confederacy which is now weakest,
would find itself Btill weaker from the impos.
ibility Of securing new theatres for these Pc
culiar institutions which it il charged with
bsing DESTROYS to extend.
But would Texas, ultimately, really add
strength 10 that which ID now considered the
weakest part Of the Confederacy4 If my in.
formation be correct, it would not. Aec0r-
ding to that, the territory Of Texas is suscep.
tibIe Of d division into five States Of c~onyen-
lent size and form. OF theee, two only would
be adapted to those peculiar institutions to
which | have referred. and the other three,
lying west ard north Of San Antonio, being
onlyIadapted TO farming, and grazing purposes,
ftom the nature of their soil, climate and pro-
auctions, would not admit of those Institu-
tons. In the end, therefore, there would be
two slave and three free States probably ad-
ded to the Union. If this view ef the coil
and geography Of Texas be correct, ii might,
serve to diminish the zeal both Of those who
oppose and these who are urging annexa-
tion.
Should Texas be annexed to the Union,
the United States will assume aud become
responsible for the debt Of Texas, be its a.
mount what it may. What it is, ] do not
know certainly; but the least | have seen il
stated at is thirteen millions of dollars. And
this responsibility will exist, whether there |
be a stipulation in the treaty or not expressly
assuming the payment ofthe debt of Texas.
For | suppose 1t to be undeniabla that, if one !
nation becomes incorporated in another, all
the debts, and obligations, and membranes,
and wars of the incorporated nation, become
the debts and obligations, and membranes,
and wars Of the common nation created By
the incorporation.
IF any European nation entertains any am
bilious designs upon Texas, such as that of
colonizing her, or in any subiuga.ing her, [
should regard it as the imperative duty of the
Government of the United States to oppose
to such designs the most firm and determined
resistance, TO the extent, if necessary, Of ap-
to arms to prevent the accomplish
rnent Of any such designs. The executive of
the United States ought to be informed as to
the aims and views of foreign powers with re.
gard to Texas, and | presume that, If there
be any of the exceptionable character which
| have indicated, the Executive will disclose
to the coordinate departments of the Govern
rnent, if not TO the public, the evidence of
From what | have seen and heard.
I believe that Great Britain has recently, form
ally and solemnly disavowed any such aims
purposes-has declared that she is desir-
GUS only Of the independence of Texas. and
that she has no intention to interfere in her
domestic institutions. If she has made such
disavowaI and declaration, I presume they
are in the possession of the Executive.
In the future progress of evefts, it is pro-
babe that there will be a Voluntary or forcf-
BILE separation of the British North American
possessions from the parent country. I an
strongly inclined to think that 1t will be beat
for the happiness of all parties that, in that
event, they should be erected inso a separate
and independent Republic. With the Cana
Republic on one side, that of Texas on