Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-10-24

and cripple us. were 10 take part IN ochall oi
Nexico in the war how would the dit!cFcn. bclli-
geren,s present themselves TO Christendom and
The enlightened world We have been seriously
charged with an inorinate spirit VI 'eIii'oli1'
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT; and, without adihiuiiS 'ne Jus
tice of the charge, il must be owned th"t we ha'e
made vast acquisitions OF territory "hii .ic id>
forty years. Suppose Gre;t Dliidli anu 'i.e
or one of them, were 10 take part WIN MeAlco
and. bv manifesto. were 10 proclaim that lheiT
ohipcIs were 10 assist weak and helpless ally 10
check the spiri, of encroachment and ambition o!
an already oyergrown Republic, seeking SUI inr'
Their acquisitions of territory 10 maintain Tue III
dependence of Texas, disconnected with the Unit
ed States, and 10 proven, the further propagation
of slavery from the Ini,cd States. what would be
the effect Of such allegations upon The Judgment
OF an impartial and enlightened world
Assuming that the annexation oil texas is
war with Mexico, is il competent 10 lhe treaty
making power 10 plunge this country mo wa,
not only without the concurrence OF, OUT "iiho"'
deisning TO consult Congress 10 WINCH ny uie
Constitution, belongs exclusively TIC power VI
declaring war?
have hitherto considered the question npon
the suppos,ion. tha, the annexation IS attempted
without the assent Of Mexico. II she yields heT
consent. that would materially affect the foreign
aspect OF the question, il il did not remove all
foreign difficulties. On the assumption Of tina,
assent. the question would be confined 10 INC DO
nestle considerations which belong TO 1t, embra-
cling the terms and conditions upon which annex
alton is proposed. DO rot think that Texas
ought TO be received into The Union, as an lnles
raj part of it. in decided opposition TO the wishes
of a considerable and respectable portion OF the
Confedcracy think il far more wise ara I'M
portant to compose and harmonic The present
Coneiieracy, as il noT exists, than TO introduce
new elc nenl of diScold and distraction into it,
In nv humble opinion, it should be the constant
and earnest endeavor Of American Statesmen To
eradicate preudices 10 cultivate and foster con-
cord. and to produce general contenncnt amongst
all parts of our Conederacy. And true wisdom,
ii seems 10 me, points 10 the duty OF rendering lis
present members happy prosperous, and salls-
fed with each other, rather than To attempt TO IN
troiuce alien members agains, The common con-
sent and with the certainty of deep dissatsiac-
lion Mr.. Jefferson expressed the opinion, AMI
others believed that il never was in the coniem-
plation of the trainers o the Constitution 10 add
foreign territory 10 the Coniedcracv, out OF which
new States were 10 he formed. The acqnis !tlcnS
OF Louisiana and Florida MAJ he defended nron
the peculiar gfound OF the relation in which they
stood 10 the States of Tie Union. After they
were admitted, we might we'll pause awhile,
prepare the means of defending what we pos
sesS, and augment our strength. POKER, aud
greatness II hereafter further territory should
be wanted for an increased population, we need
entertain no apprehensions, but that it will nc ac-
Qured BY means, il is 10 be hoped, fair, honor
able, and constitutional.
1t is useless 10 disguise, that there arc those
who espouse. and those who oppose, the anneza-
ton OF Texas. upon the ground OF the influence
which it would exert, in the balance OF political
power, between two great sections OF the Union.
| conceive, that no motive ioi the acquisition Of
foreign territory would lie more unfortunate, or
pregnant with more fatal consequences, than that
OF Obtaining ii for the parposc OF Strengthening
one part against another part OF the common
Confedcracy. Such principle, put into practi-
cal operation, would menace the existence, il it
did not certainly SOW the seeds OF dissolution OF
the Union. 1t would be 10 proclaim to the world
an Unsuitable and unquenchable thirst for foreign
conqucs, or acquisition OF territory. For, if TO-
dav Texas be acquired 10 strengthen one part OF
the Confederacy, tomorrow Canada may be re-
CURED 10 add strength TO another And, after
that might have been obtained, still other an! fur
Their acquisitions would become necessary 10
cqualize and adjust the balance of political
power. Finally. in the progress Of this spirit oil
universal dominion the part Of the Conictcracy
which is now weakest, would find itself still
weaker from The mposSibili,y Of securing new
theatres tor those peculiar institutions which il
is charged with being DESTROYS 10 extend
But would Texas ultimately, really add
strength To that which is now considered tho
weakest part o. The Con.cderacy If my intor-
nation be- correct il would not According tc
that, the territory Of Texas is susceptible of di.
vision into FIVE States Of Convenient size nd
form. OF these, two only would lie adapted &c
those peculiar institutions 10 which have refer
red and the other three, lying West and North OF
San Antonio, being only adapted 20 iarmin" and
grazing purposes, from The nature OF their soil
climate, and productions, would not admit OF those
institutions In the end, therefore, there woule
be two slave and three free States probably oddc'
to the Union. Ii this view Of the soil and geo
graphy of Texas he correct. it might serve 10 di
minish the zeal, both Of these who oppose, anC
those who are urging annexation.
Should Texas Dr. annexed 10 the Union, ,ht
United States will assume, and become rcsron
sblc for the debt of Texas, he lis amount what j
NAV What il is DO not know certainly bu
the least have seen it stated N, is thirteen mil
lions of dollars And this responsibility vii
exist. whether there be stipulation in the Treaty
or not, expressly assuming the payment Of lh'
debt of Texas. For | suppose il 10 be undo
niable, tha, if one nation becomes incorporated
in another, all the debs and obligations, and in
cumbranccs, and wars of the Incorporated nation
become the debts and obligations, and inculn
branceS, and wars OF the common nation, creact
o. the incorporation.
Ii any Earopcrn nal!ca cn.crtains any amoi
iiouS designs upon Texas, such as that OF colon
ling her. or in anv way subjusaiing her, should
regard il a the imperative duty of the Govern
mcnt of the United States to oppose to such de-
signs the most firm and determined resistance K
the extent, il necessary, of appealing 10 arms L
prevent the accomplishment OF any such de
signs The Executive OF the United States ou.h
10 be informed as 10 the aims and views Of 10
reign powers, with regard to Texas, and pre-
sumo, that if there be any of the exccp,ionabl,
character which have indicated, the Executiy,
will disclose to the coordinate departments of lht
Government, if not TO The public, The evidence o
them. From what have seen and heard, he
lieve that Great Britain has recently formal,
and solemnly disavowcd any such aims or pur
poseS-has declared that she IS DESTROYS only o
the independence Of Texas, and lha. Sic has NJ
IF she has made such jisavuwal and declaration
presume they are in the possession Of the Exc
cutive.
In the future progress Of events, il is probable
tina, there will b. voluntary or iorcbc separa
lion of the British North American possession,
from the parent country. am strongly inclined
to think that it will he best for the happiness Of
all parties, that in that event. they should be
erected into Il separate and Independent Republic
With the Canadian Republic on one side, that Of
Texas on the other and the United States, the
friend of both, between them, each could ad-
vance its own happiness b. such constitutions
laws. and measures, aS We're hes, adapted 10 lis
peculiar condition. They would be natural al.
lies, ready by cooperation, 10 repel any Euro
pean or foreign attack upon either. Each would
afford secure refuge 10 The prosecuted and OPP
pressed, driven into exile b. either Of the others
They would emulate each other in improve
ments, in free institutions, and in the science OF
sclEGovernment. Wills, Texas has adopted
our Constitution as The model Of hers, she has. in
several important particulars, greatly improved
upon it.
Although have iclt compelled, from the ma
ture Of the inquiries addressed 10 me, 10 extend
this communication 10 a much greater length
than could have wished, Icoul,! not do justice to
the subject, and fairly and fully expose my own
opinions in shorter space. In conclusion they
1 60. IL L. n.