Iowa territorial gazette and advertiser. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa Territory [Iowa]) 1840-1846, 1844-09-07

armies were in possession Of many Of the
strongholds Of the country. What reason,
then, could / have had for supposing for
an instant that Treaty with Texas, after
eight years Of actual independence. with
no Mexican soldier within her territory,
and subject only u occasional border inter.
ruptions, could or would have met with
opposition from him or his friends? and
meeting with no sieh opposition on TIE
part either Of Mr.. Van Buren, or Mr..
Clay, and their friends, it would puzzle q
soundcr casuist than profess 10 be, TO
conceive in what possible way it could
have interrupted the relations Of those
two gentlemen, who stood at the moment
at the head of their respective parties, and
v ere looked upon BY all as competitors fcr
the Presidency. II issweli known that
when the negotiation for acquisition OF
TIE as was commenced, and Up 10 period
succeeding the signing Of the Treaty, it
was my confident Conviction. e pressed to
many. that it would, frum the circumstan-
ces have stated, receive the support both
of Mr.. Clay and Mr.. Van Buren,, SO that
neither would be affected by is negotia-
ton. 4
If il had been charged that Tie 4 dnili-
istration was prompted BY the ambition Of
securing the greatest boon to the country,
and the whole country, in tie acquisition
Of territory SO important in itself and SO
inseparably connected with the in erests Of
every State in the Union, and every in
terest Of the Union, would have plead
guilty, without moment of hesitation. l
confess ! felt ambitious to add another
bright STAR to the American constellation.
It would have been source Of pride to
me, il that measure had been carried, to
have witnessed from the retirement that
awaits me, the annual expansion Of our
coastwise and foreign trade, and tie in
creased prosperity Of our agriculture and
manufactures, through the rapid growth Of
Texas, which would have followed the
ratification Of the Treaty. Yes, freely
confess that this would have furnished me
an uniai!ing source Of qualification to tie
end Of my life. | should have seen also
the Union Of the States becoming strong
er and stronger, through their reciprocal
affection-local jealousies suppressed, and
fanatical schemes and schemes alike pros
trate. should have witnessed the bless
ed results Of our Federative system as il
embraced the finest country j., the world,
and brought under its influence a people
devoted like ourselves to the mainte ance
ana preservation Of free government
THIS was the kind Of ambition which
prompted the negotiation Of the Treaty.
lis ratification was the sole honor which
coveted, and all that / now desire. What
sinister n.otiues could have originated the
negotiation at this time, that did not exist
in 1927? What was there nop to have
rendered Treaty infamous which did moi
e list then? If it be said that we had a
Treaty of Limits with Mexico, l ask it.
in the year 1927, we had not also Treaty
of Limits with Spain? We had recog-
missed the independence Of Mexico, and,
therefore, virtually claimed that we had a
perfect right to treat with her for tie
annexation of Teas, and in fact, if we
had so pleased, for Mexico entire
Fight years ago we recognised Texas as
independent, and surely our right to ne
gotiate with her, implied no worse faith
than in 1927 to negotiate with Mexico for
her. The idea that because Of the exist
ence Of Treaty Of Limits with any ma
ton, we must forever thereafter deny to
all parts Of the territory If such nation the
right Of revolution or change, can only ex-
cite, with an American citizen, a smile.
Was it deemed necessary, in 1927, to con-
suit the States, to consult the Senate, or to
consult the House OF Representatives, or
the People ?--Was it considered necessary
toobtain the assent Of epery State, as would
seem now to be proposed, before forming
Treaty Of Annexation! II the assent Of
every State is nece ssary, then may we bid
adien to the prospect Of anne nation now
or hereafter. The Constitution devolves
the treaty making power on two thirds Of
the States, through their Senators, and Il
is altogether new doctrine that Treaty
should not be negotiated without the assent
Of all. Danger to the Union through the
exercise of the power Of constitutional
majority in the msaking of a Treaty, is q
doctrine for the first time advanced, and
having no foundation in point Of fact. |
regard the preservation Of the Union 40
the first great American interest. l
equally disapprove Of all threats Of its dir
solution, whether they proceed from the
North or South. The glory Of my coun-
try, its safety and its prosperity alike de-
peifd on Union, and he who wo, Id con-
template lis destruction, even FOR mo.
ment, and form plans to acco nplish It, de-
serves the deepest anathcn.as of tie human
race. l believed, and still believe, thst
the annexation Of Texas would add 20 its
strength, and serve to perpetua- it Tor age )
yet to cone; ara my best efforts, while
,o.cos,, -, - IN -