Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-06-21


aside the treaty and reclaim Texas, and restore
10 the Union. / will read one paragraph IRON
that speech:
Mr. Clay said, 'Iet as PIT @si@c ne nea'n; :, ,ei
her (Spain) 10 grant US our own rights to ihel
ntlermrst cyteni. and If she still .fa'ters, le
MS assert those rights by whatever measures y J.
for the interest OF our country 10 aoop. cc,.,o
When MIR. Claybcca the Secretary oil o.ale
under Mr.. Adams he persisted III MS dclefiiil''a
lion 10 reclaim Texas. and make II once more
part of the u States On inc 2olh VI mdien
1926. only TWENTY-FIVE days amer ms ii.sd,a'ioi
into Office, Mr. Clay instructed W.T. foihse''' Uu
Minister to Mexico, 10 open Ieso.ld'i 0.,, ~,
that country tor the re-anneXa'ioi, a.'u VII INV
a lengthy argument 10 demonstrate rs s.e'. IN.
porance in military point oi VIEW, if n,l'an.
that the Sabine approached 80 heai ~ az -,
as 10 endanper irs peace and safety, and that inc
Red river and Arkansas, and their tributaries
ought to be entirely within the hml's ana ui.ucl
the Jurisdiction of the L. States III io.'' w
Clay renewed his instructions, ana desired .,''
Rio dl Norsc as the boundary, Offering at 'i'
same time, a large sum oi money as 'ne coiisi
deration. | NAV here add. as am passing, INA
Gen. Jackson. Mr.. Van Buren, and Mr.. rorsyh
made similar applications and offered sun larger
sums Of money for the purchase OF lhal country
all placing il upon the ground, that IN aoai'ioh
TO its other numerous and incacuiaple auVaii-
taees the possession of Texas by tins country was
absolutely essential 10 The succeSsiui ueieiIe %
New Orleans, and the whole MISSISSIPPI sdI,es
against the invasion OF a lofelsh enemy. Du''
Sir, in defiance of all his otcia ac'S ana letolu.
ed opinions upon this subject we now nhu iio'il
Clay opposed 10 the remuneration VI CIV,
advocatino q separaic republic, which, we all
know would be under The influence and pro'ec-
lion if no, the direct control, OF the British Gov
eminent. What has transpircd 10 produce such
a total revolution in his opinions upon ques,
ton 50 important and vital to our interests ana
security as nation? True, Texas, in the mean
time has declared and established her independ-
ence of Mexico; but does that fact render her
less formidable in the hands of a foreign enemy
in war. or her increased commercial advantages
less desirable in pcace2 The changed condition
of Texas can have produced no other effect than
10 render The reasons for remuneration more ur-
gent and imperative. | repeat, ihen, what can
have produced this wonderful change III the opin-
ions of Mr. Clay ? Neither he nor his irichds
will condescend 10 inform us. And must con-
fess, that they show their prudence by iheir 81
lence But whilst Mr.. Clay does not attempt 10
reconcile his present with his past opinions OF 10
eyplain away his gross Inconsistencies; ne has
offered few reasons, il, indeed, they are entitled
10 be called reasons in his Raleigh letter, III sup
mort OF his present position. In that letter he as
Sunqes that Texas and Mexico are engaged IN an
actual war and then contends that the le-annexa-
lion of Texas, willis, that supposed war contln-
mes would be a violation Of the laws OF nations,
and a breach of our treaty stipulations with Mex
leo. Protesting that there has been no open, ac-
,ual war. existing between Texas and Mexico Tor
the las, eight years-that a Mexican army has
moi venturrd 10 encamp on Texan soil within ma,
there has been nothing III the shape
of acu,ual ho>iilie>, except series OF maraua-
inc incursions. under the cover OF night, Tor the
nnrnose Of plumber and murder which were no
sooner discovered than Notwithstanding this
10 be the true state of the relations between Texas
and Mexico for the last eight years. propose 10
compare Mr. CLAWS former acts with his present
opinions on the supposiion that The facts really
are as he assumes them TO be. Was there no
war between Mexico and Spain, in 1898, when
Mr.. CLAW proposed 10 purchase Texas from Next
60? Mexico was revolving Spanish province.
Spain was attempting 10 reduce her TO subuSa-
lion and was at that moment i'll possession OF
the s,ronges, fortre>ses in the province, with SIX
thousand soldiers in The field The Wal was
actually raging, and the Spanish Government
protested against our interference, alleging her
ability and determination 10 reconquer Mexico.
Under these circumstances with lull KNOW
ledge of the existence otthe war, andol The lncI-
lions OF Spain, Henry Clay, as Secretary OF State
his instructions 10 Mr.. PoinSelt Tor The
purchase OF Texas from Mexico.
Was that proposition an adoption OF me war
which Spain was then wagins against Mexico
Was il a violation of The laws OF nations and OF
,ur treaty stipulations with Spain? Did Henry
clay, in the name of his country, commit crime
If that enormilv and thereby disgrace the nation,
n the ewes OF the whole civilized world This
conclusion is inevitable if his present position in
eeard 10 Texas is tenahle. He convictS himself,
" his own testimony. of that high crime. Has
&c shown himself BY his own acts, a safe man 10
e entrusted with the foreign "a well as the inter
a affairs OF this great Republic?
In his speech Of 1920, previously referred to,
Mr. Clay gave another reason for the admission
{ Texas into The Union again, in which iuily
oncur. Ii was conclusive then, andhas lost none
{ lis force BY the lapse of time. Our treaty OF
S03 with France, by which We acquired LCuiSl-
ma. including Texas, contains the following pro-
iSion: "
"The inhabitants of the coded territory shall be
in the United States, and admitted
: soon as possible according to the principles OF
he Federal Constitution. to the enjoyment OF all
he rights. advantages, and iminunities oil citizens
4 the United States: and, in the meantime, they
hall be maintained and protected in the free en-
ovment of their liberty, property and the religion
which they profess.
This section OF the treaty remains IN full force,
md By the Constitution OF the United States. Is
declared TO be tthe supreme law of the land.'-
What right then, had this Government TO cede
rexas 10 foreign power, in violation OF this so
emn treaty stipulation Are not our treaties
With France as sacred, and ought they not 10 be
preserved as inviolate, as those with Mexico or
INV other nation This treaty requires the i'm
mediate admission Of Texas into the Union, for
he time has now arrived when it can he done
according 10 the principles ofthe Federal Con-
,titution," she having the requisite number OF
inhabitants The faith and honor Of this nation
ire ilTevocably pledged to France and TO the in
of all the original territory Of Louisiana.
% adm; I.exas into this Union. The people of
Texas as a part OF the inhabitants of the ccdcd
erritorv" of Louisiana, have a RICH, 10 demand
admission and you cannot deny them. The re-
usal would he such an act of unparalleled and
periidy as no American Congress
lare commit in The name Of the American people.
These were once the views OF Henry Clay. In
$50, he enforced them with great power and effect.
But wonderful change has come over the spirit
IF his dreams: he has forgotten our treaty stipu-
atoms with France-our plighted faith 10 the in
rom his mind and lie can now only see Mexico
packed by England. and lie trembles at the vision.
Aside from the imperative duty resting upon us
O re-annex Texas for the considerations TO which
have alluded, there are man. others, sufficient
IN themselves affecting the expectancy of the
measure The first relates 10 its great importance
in a military point of view. as acknowledged BY
he administrations Of Messis. Adams and Jack
,on, when negotiating for lis purchase. Indeed,
Cen Jackson, whose opinion upon that subject is
worth more than that Of any man living, consi-
lers it indispensable 10 The defence of New Orleans
md the whole Mississippi valley, against lormi-
liable foe.
MIR. Hardin said Gen, Jackson had defended both
without Texas.
Mr. Douglass. Yes, but ] greatly fear that
when we get into another war with Great Bri-
tain, we will not have Jackson 10 lead our
forces. Such men "are like angels visits, few
and far between" General Jackson did at New
Orleans what no other man could have done, or
mus, ever he expected to do again. 1t was one
OF those brilliant unrivalied achievements, which
stands forth on the page Of history without pa
ralel. But il must be recollected, that Texas
was then, comparatively speaking, an upcoplcd
wilderness II it had then been densely popula-
ted and in the possession of the enemy where