Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1844-12-07

under foot So far as Mexico herself was con-
ccrncd, the measure should have been regarded |
by her as highly beneficial Her inability to
reconQrer Texas had been exhibited, repeat, |
by cight-now nnc-years of irutless and ru- |
innus contest.
in the mean time, Texas has been growing in
population and resources Emigration has flow
cd into her territory from III parts OF the world,
in current which continues Ia increase IN
strength Mexico requires permanent, boun-
Diary between that young republic and herself.
| Texas at no distant day, If she continues scpa.
rate aud detached from the United States. will
! inevitably seek To consolidate Ler strength by
adding To her domain the con,gions provinces
| of Mexico. The spirit Of revolt from the con.
/ trul of the Central Government has. heretofore.
| manifested itself in some of those provinces; and
! il is fair Ia infer that they would be inclined 10
| take the first favorable opportunity to proclaim
! their independence, and TO form close alliances
| with Texas. The war would thus 5e endless
or, if ccssations of hostities should occur, they
would only endure for season
The interests Of Mexico. therefore, could in
/ nothing be better consulted than IN peace with
! her neinhbors, which would result in the esa.
bshmci,t ui permanent boundary. Upon the
ratification otthc treaty, the Executive was pre-.
pared to treat with her on the most liberal basis
| Hence the boundaries of Texas were lett unde-
] ulIth Wy tht 'IthlN Ut fNtCulINP VTOID-tu 10
settle these upon terms that all the world should
have pronounced Just and reasonable No ncgo.
tlatlon upon that point could have been under
| taken bctw we'n the United States and Mexico in
| advance ot the ratification OF The treaty. We
! should have hal no rlght-no power no author.
| liy, to have conducted such negotiation ; and
To have undertaken it, would have been an as.
sumption equally revolving to the pride OF Mex
| lco and Texas, and suhlccting us to the charge
of arrogance while TO have proposed in ad.
vance OF annexation, to satisfy Mexico r any
/ contingent interest she might have in Texas
would have been to- treat Texas, not as mn
independent, power, but as a mere dcpcndcn.
/ cy vt Mex co.
THIS assumption could not have been acted on
hy the Executive, without setting at defiance
yonr own solemn declaration that that Republic
Was an independent State. Mexico had, 1t is
tue, threatened war against the United States
in the event the Treaty of Annexation was rati.
fed. The Executive could moi permit itself 10
be Influenced by this threat. 1t reprcse en'ed in
this the spirit Of our people, no are ready 10
sacrifice much for peace, but nothing 10 intimi-
dation. war under any circumstances, is
greatly To be- depored, and the United States is
the last nation To desire 1t but II, as The condi.
ton OF peace, 1t be required of us to iorcgo the
unquestionable right Of treating with an indie
pendent Power, ofour own Continent, upon mat
trrs highly Interesting to both. and that upon
naked and unsnstalned prctenslon Of claim by
third Power to control the free will of the Pow
er with whom we treat-dcvo,cd as we NAV be
to peace. and anxious to cultivate friendly rela.
tIons with the whole world, the Executive docs
not hesitate to say that the People ot the United
Slates wouId be ready to brave all consequent
crs, sooner than submit to such condition.
But no apprehensons of war was entertained
by the Executive ; and | must express frankly
the op mon that had The Treaty been ratified by
the Senate, II would have been followed b, a
prompt settlement 10 the cnt re n: siattiun OF
Mexico, OF every matter in difference between
the two countries. Seeing, then, that new prepa
ralons for hostile invasion of Texas were about
TO be adopted by Mexico, and that these were
brought about because Texas had adopted the
suggestions of the Executive upon rh" sub,c #
AnncNation il could not passlNely have folded Ms
, arms and permitted war, threatened To be ac-
COmpanIcd by every act marking bari arc Us aye,
10 be wugcd against her because she had done So.
, Olher considerations Of controlling charnc.
ter influenced the cause OF the Executive. The
, treaty which had thus been neg"ciated. had ia /.
led To receive the ratification al the Senate. One
of the Chief objections whiCh were urged against
II, was found to consist IN the fact that the uues
tIon Of annexation had not been submitted ,c
r the ordeal OF public opinion in the United States
| However untcnnh.e such an objection was g..
tcemej to bc, III view Of the unquestonable
, power of the Executive to negotiate the treaty
and the great and lasting Interests involved IN
the question, felt II IN be my duty To submit
, the whole subject TO Congress the best cX.
, FOUNDERS Of popular sentiment. No definite ac
ton having b, en- taken on the subject bv Con
grcSs, the question referred itself directly to Ihe
decision of the States and the people. The
great popular election which has just terminated
afforded the best opportunity Of ascertaining The
\ will OF the States aud people upon II.
}. Pending that ISSUE it became ihe imperative
f duty OF the Executive To inform Mexico tin
V the question Of annexation was still before The
}, American people, and that, until their derisior
g was pronounced, any serious invasion of TeXa,
= would be regarded as an attempt to fnrestal
i their Judgment, and could not be looked upor
. | with indifference. | am most happy to in!nrm
YOU that no such lnva Ion has taken place, ant
!. trust that whatever your action may be upoI
IT, Mexico will see the Importance of deciding
o the matter by a resort to peaceful cxpedenls
n IN preference 10 those oi arms. The decision o
l.. the People and the States, on this great aud in
d tcrestIng subject, has been dccisivcly NANTES
I ted. The question OF annexation has been pre-
Y scntrd nakcdly io their consideration. Rut th,
$ treaty. itself all collateral and incidental Issues
1t which were calculated 10 divide and distrac
d the public councils were carefully avoidcd =
il These were et 10 the wisdom of the future 4
:, determine. 1t presented, repeat, the solare
10 question of annexation and in that form it Ina
r been submitted To the ordeal Of public sen,men,
n \ controlling MINORITY of the People. aud
c large majority Of the States. have decided in ia
,r,E q .itatn