Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1844-03-29

Dnations IN feicud cHices, TO sec0re to
her tho d3rsble peace and tranquility,
which a me are wanting 10 her growth
inlo a popuous. productive, and~wealthy
State amoRgt the nations OF the earth.
Our first objection TO the annexation
OF Texas is, that it cannot be accomplish
ed without involving the country in
war; too gresl-a price to pay for any
territorial acquisition whatever, which
the National honor does not demand.
Oar second objection is. that, far from
demanding this acquisition, the Nation
al homer forbids Ii. So long ss war
continues between Mexico snd Texas,
and solemn Treaty Of Peace and Ami.
ity'exsts between US and Mexico, we
cannot, without violating the sacred
faith Of treaties, undertake TO possess
ourselves Of the Territory, to which
I5MeXico still maintains heTright, We
have, j; is true, acknowledged the inde-
peudence Of Texas, as we had right 10
do, for certain international purposes; ;
bat hat'recognitioO did not extinguish
or in any manner affect the rgh's Of
Mexico upon Texas The obligations
Of our Treaty with Mexico remain un
touched; and Mexico would have the
same right to possess herself (f she
could) Of any State Of this Union g. the
Government of The United States has TO
possess itself of Texas.
Our third great objection (which
would be conclusive without the preced
iugl is. that the Territory of the United
States is already large enough. 'Il is
infinitely more important that we should
people Ond improve whatwe have than
grasp after more, especially when lie
acquisition would be inevitably attend =
ed with discOrd and dissatisfaction. 1t
is far moro imporIant 10 the happiness
Of the People Of tho United States that
they should enjoy in peace, contentmeut
and harmony. what they already y,bave,
than that they should place all those
blessings at hazard by this new expert
ment.
Our fourth objection is, that, If tho
'annexalion' Of Texas were in other re
spects desirable, one entire third Of this
Union forblds the bans, doubts the con-
slitutionaI right 10 establish the connex
ion, Ond declares it's determination 10
resist il. The proposition TO annex or
incorporate q Foreign Nation in this
Union, moreover, is entirely new, and
tho authority 10 90 it s-solemnly ques-
toned. This objection would have
much less force had we, in this case, in
stead Of recognising the independence
oI Texas, negotiated with Mexico, with
or without the consent Of the People OF
Texas, for the acquisition Of that terri.
tory. We would not, merely TO acquire
moro land, tOf which VIC have already
more than we want) leopard the exis-
lcDco Of The Union, which ought to be
dearer 10 tho heart OF every American
citizen than any consideration exlrane
Gus to il.
| Filthy. we dread The beginning BY
the United States ola system Of acquisi-
tiOn Of foreign territory by conquest,
(Which, as things stand, the annexation
of Texas would effectively 6e,) or even
by purchase. Once begin t,"Hnd Whert
will it end2 Shall we eDer have terri
tory enough for ambition, thOugh
have enough Tor our wanlsY
With these brief hints we willingly
relieve our readers from our own dis.
course, to ask their attention to nView
of the ground heretofore occupied by
our Government on this subject, from
which it 10 proposed now to depart. We
have tho more pleasure in doing this,
because il affords usthe opportunity oI
giving due credit TO tho last Admins
tration for its conduct 10 regard to this
matter, and particularly oI doing justice
to the patriotism and nice sense Of hon
or Of the Secretary of State (now n
morc) under that Administration, as dis
played, in reference TO this question, IL
the extracts which we shall mako.
On the 4lh Of August, 1887, few
months after the accession Of Mr., Var
Buren to the Presidency,H a corrospon-
denco was opened with Mr. Forsyth
then Secretary of State, by tGen Mo
mucOn Hunt, Envoy Extraordinary an
Minister PIeEiPoIenliury Of The Repub
lie Of Texas, in which the annexation d
Texas was formally proposed 10 thi
y Government, and supported by trai,
Of argument quite as cogentas any lha
can nov bo applied TO sustain such Al
application. The offer wns declined, q
our readers know, by the President; an
THE declension was communicated b
Mr.. Forsyth to the Texian Minister
letter under date Of August 25th, tina
the terms OF which nothing canhe NOR
,, decisive or explicit. 1t is from this let
ter that we make tho following extract
for the Information OF such Of our rea