The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1844-05-08

l. uc lOHOhiDg ltttef ITOln hr. ClaV 10 the
editors was forwarded from Raleigh on the
day of its date, but did not reach our hands
in time for publication earlier than to-day
Nat. Int.
RALEIGH, April II, lS44.
To he Editors Of the National EntelEgencer:
| Gentlemen: Subsequent to my departure
! from Ashland, in December last, I received
various communications from popular assem-
blages and private individuals, requesting an
expression Of my opinion upon the question:
of the Annexation of Texas to the United
States. have forborne to reply to thcm,bc-
cause it was not very convenient, during tho
progress of my journey, TO do so, and for
other reasons, | did not think il proper, unne>
cessary to introduce at present a new eIe-<
ment among the other exciting subjects whiclI
agitate and engross the public mind. The
rejection Of the overture of Texas, some
years ago, 10 become annexed to the Cnited
/ States, had met with general acquiest ence.-
Nothing had since occurred materially 10 va
ry the question. / had seen no evidence OF
a desire being entertained, on the part of any
considerable portion of the American people,
/ that Texas should become an integral part of
the United States. During my sojourn IN
New Orleans, had, indeed, been greatly sur
L
Texas, that in the course Of the last fall,
voluntary overture had proceeded from the
Executive of theUnited States TO the author
tiles of Texas, TO conclude a treaty of Annex
alton; and that in order to overcome the re-
pugnance felt by any of them to a negocia-
tion'upOn the subject, strong, and as believ~
ed, erroneous representations had been made
to them Of a state of opinion in the Senate
of the United States favorable TO the ratiica-
J ton of such treaty. According TO these
representations, il had been ascertained thaf
number Of Senators, varying from thirty
five to forty-two, were ready TO sanction such
a treaty. | was aware, too, that holders OF
Texas lands and Texas scrip, and speeulal-
tors IN them, were actively engaged in promo
ting the object Of annexation. Still, | dix
not believe that any Executive Of the United
States would venture upon so grave and mo-
mentous proceeding, not only without any
general manifestation Of public opinion in IA
vor Of il, but in direct opposition 10 strong
and decided expressions of public disappro~
baton. But it appears that / was mistaken,
= To the astonlshment Of the whole nation, We
are now informed that treaty of annexation
has been actually concluded, and is to be sui
mitted to the Senate for its consideration
The motives for my silence, therefore, nc
longer remain, and feel it to be my duty to
present an exposition Of my views ard opin-
ions upon the question, for what they may
be,worth, to the public consideration. j a.
dept this method as being more convenient
than several replies to the respective commu-
nications " hich have received.
! regret that | have not the advantage Of
view Of the treaty itself, so as to enable me
TO adapt an expression Of my opinion to the
e
contains. Not possessing that opportunity,
am constrained to treat the question accord
ing TO what presume TO be the terms of the
treaty. If, without the loss of national char
acter, without the hazard of foreign war, with
the general concurrence Of the nation, with
out any danger to the integrity Of the Union,
and without giving an unreasonable price for
Texas, the question Of annexation were pre-
sented il would appear in quite different
light from that in which, | apprehend, it is
now to be regarded.
The United States acquired a title TO Tex
as, extending, as | believe, to the Rio del
Norte, by the treaty of Louisiana. They
I ceded and relinquished that title TO Spain by
the treaty of 1919, by which the Sabine was
substituted for the Rio del Norte, as our wes-
tern boundary. This treaty was negotiated
under the administration Of Mr.. Monroe, and
with the concurrence Of his Cabinet, Of which
Messrs. Crawford, Calhoun, and Writ, being
majority, all Southern gentlemen. composed
a part. When the treaty was laid before the
House Of Representatives. being member of
that body, expressed the opinion. which
then entertained, and still hold, that Texas
was sacrificed to the acquisition Of Florida.
We wanted Florida; bat | thought it must,
from its position, inevitably fall into our pos
Il. Il - r.
er or later, was of no sort of consequence,
and that in giving five millions Of dollarsand
! Texas for tive gave more than Just equiv
alent But, if we make a great sacrifice in
the surrender Of Texas, we ought TO take
care not to make too great sacrifice in the
attempt TO re-acquire it.
Ny opinions Of the inexpediency Of the
treaty of 1919 did pot prevail The country
and Congress we're satisfied with it. appro-
priations were made 20 carry it into effeet,the
line of the Sabine was recognized by us as
our boundary, in negotiations with bothSpain
and Mexico, after Mexico became independ-
ent, and measures have been in actual prog
ress to mark the line, from the Sabine to the
Red River, and thence to the Pacific Ocean.
We have thus fairly alienated our title toTex-
as, by solemn national compacts, TO the full
ifIment of which we stand bound by good
faith and national honor. IL is, therefore,
perfectly idle and ridiculous, if not dishonor-
able, to talk of resuming our title TO Texas.
as if we had never parted with it, We can
no more do that than Spain can resumeFlor-
ida, France Louisiana, or Great Britain the
thirteen colonies, now composing part Of
the United States.
During the administration Of Mr. Adams,
Mr.. Poinsett, Minister of the United States
at Mexico, was instructed by me, with the
Presidents authority. 10 propose re-pur-
chase of Texas; but he forebore even to MADE
an overture for that purpose. Upon his re-
turn TO the United States, he informed me.
at New Orleans that his reason for not ma
king it was, that be knew the purchase was
wholly impracticabe, and that hewas PERSIA.