The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 184?-1851, 1844-05-08

raj subject, my own views, as well as those ofmy
cabinet, were thus stated:
"So long as Texas shall remain at war, while
the United States are at peace with her adversary.
the proposition of the Texan minister plenipoten-
tiary necessarily involves the question of war
with that adversary The United States are
bound TO Mexico by treaty of amjiy and CON-
merce, which will be scrupulously observed on
their part so long as il can be reasonably hoped
that Mexico will perform her duties, and respect
our rights under il The United States might
Justly be suspected of disregard of the friendly
purposes of the compact, if the overture of Gen
Hunt were TO be even reserved for future consd-
Grafton, as this would imply disposition on our
part to espouse the quarrel of Texas with Mex-
co-a disposition wholly at variance with the sp-
rt of the treaty, with the uniform policy and
the obvious welfare of the United States.
"Ihe inducements mentioned by Gen. Hunt
I for the United States TO annex Texas to their
territory, are duly appreciated: but, powerful
and weighty as certainly they are, they are light
when opposed in the scale of reason to treaty
obligations and respect for that integrity of char
acter by which the United States have sought to
distinguish themselves since the establishment
of their right 10 claim place in the family of ma
tons. "
The intimatou in Gen. Hunt'se letter that Tex
as might be induced to extend commercial ad-
vantages TO other nations TO the prejudice of the
United States, was thus noticed:
i at is presumed, however, that the motives
Iby which Texas has been governed by making
this overture, will have equal force in impelling
her to preserve, as an independent power, the
most liberal commercial relations with the United
States. Such disposition will be cheerlully
met, in a corresponding spirit, by this govern
ment If the answer which the undersigned has
been directed to give TO the proposition of Gen.
Hunt, should unfortunately work such a change
in the sentiments of that government as to induce
Ian attempt TO extend commercial relations else
where, upon terms prejudicial to the United
Fl States, this government will be consoled by the
rectitude of its intentions, and certainty that,
although the hazard of transient losses may be
/ incurred by rigid adherence to just principles
no lasting prosperity can be secured when they
are disregarded"
That these views were not altogether satsfac
| tory to Gen. Hunt nor prabably TO his govern
ment, has been seen. But | think that | may
safely say that seldom, if ever, has the decision,
, Iby this government, of a question of equal mag
, mously approved by the people of the United
States. The correspondence was, very soon af
{ ter it took place, communicated to Congress- anc
| although the public mind was at the time in Q
state of the highest excitement, and the admins
traton daily assailed through every avenue by
S which it was deemed approachablc, | am yet to
| SEQ the first sentence of complaint upon that
point, in any quarter of the Union.-Even a res
| oluton offered in the Senate, declaring annexa-
ton, "whether it could be effected consistently
y Nth the public faith and treaty stipulations ofMt
] United States desirable" was ordered to be laid
: upon the table; and similar disposition was
= made in the House of the papers upon the sub
: iect, which had been referred to the Committee
: on Foreign Relations, and that committee dis
, charged from the further consideration of the
: matter, upon its own application. Nor were the
= friendly relations then existing between that re-
0 public and the United States-to its honor be i
-. sad-in any perceptible degree impaired by this
S decision.
= Standing in this position before the country
e y it becomes my duty to consider whether either
Q the nature of the question, or the circumstances
Of the case, have so far changed as to Justify me
d in now advising policy from which then, ii
/ the most solemn form, dssented.
), In giving to you, and through you 10 the pub
. lie, the result of very careful and dispassionate
e examination of this grave question, should nei
), her do justice to yourself, to the patriotic State
which you, in conjunction with others, nre to rep
f resent in the convention, to the people Of the
:. United States, nor to my own position, if failed
+. to accompany it with brief exposition of the
e grounds upon which had proceeded. 1t is il
IL, ,1x, ho fr ;r
,f tentions; and that it is all desire. The annex
: alton of the territory, and the consequent as
+ sumption by us of responsibility to protect ant
y defend its inhabitants, would, in respect to the
+ consideration to which | am about TO refer
r stand upon the same footing with that Of its ad
II mission as State. The recognition of Texa
it as an independent State, was a measure which
l. received, in various and appropriate forms, thc
II sanction of every department ofthe government
d whose cooperation was necessary TO its validity
and had my hearty concurrence From this ac
of oar government, Just and proper in all respect
as it was, an inference has, however, been drawn
= and brought to bear upon the present question
@ not only very far beyond its real bearing, but b,
d which its true character is entirely reversed
Many persons who enter upon the consideration
is ofthe subject with the purest intentions, and ar
l. incapable of knowinglyigyinga false interpreta
e ton to any thing connected with it, take IT fo
n granted that the United States, in recognizin
n the independence of Texas, declared TO tn
y world, not only that she wasindependent in fac
e but also that she was such of right. Acting uT
on this erroneous construction, they very natura
e y conclude, that, having gone thus far, havin
e examined into and passed not only upon the e1
lr Iistence of her indenendence hut also upOn he
Is right to its enjoyment, it is now (and more espt
10 ciay after the lapse ofseveral years. too late
hesitate upon the question of annexation on til
or ground of any existing controversy upon thos
rs points. The fallacy of this reasoning will be-