The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-04-05

Mr.. Forsyth'S Despatch 10 General Memucan
Hunt, &c.
The unaersis ned, Secretary Of State of the Uni
ted States has had the honor TO receive the note of
his Excellency, General Hunt, Envoy Extraordi-
nary and Minister PlenipJtentiary of Texas, dated
the 4th instant, proposing negotiation for the pur-
pose OF annexiDg that country TO the United States.
That communication has been laid before The Pre-
sideni who has considered il with just sensibility
In giving to the undersigned Instructions to present
in reply, prompt and decisive indication of the
course il has been deemed necessary 10 adopt, the
President INDUCES the confident expectation that
uniriendly spirit towards the Government or the
People Of Texas, will can be imputed to the Uni
ted States.
Neither TIE duties nor the settled policy Of the
United States permit them to enter into examna
ton Of the accuracy Of the historical facts related
by General Hunt, to allow them il even admit
ted to be correct to control the decision Of the ques
ton presented by him. The United States
foremost in acknowledging the Independence of
.uerieo, and have uniformly desired and underworld
to cultivate relations Of friendship with that power
Having always, since the formation Of their Govern
ment, been exempt from civil wars, they have learnt
the value Of Internal quet, and have consequently
been anxious, yet passive, spectators OF the ieuds
with which their neghbor has been afflicted. Al
though in the controversy between Texas and Mex
ieo circumstances have existed and events have &C.
cured peculiarly calculated to enlist the sympathies
Of our people, the effort Of the Government has been
to look upon that dispute also, with the same rigid
mpartalty with which 1t has regarded all other
Mexican connections.
In determining with respect to the independence
Of other countries, the United States have Ia
ken the question Of right between the contending
parties, into consideration. They have deemed It
dictate of duty and policy to decide upon the ques-
ton Of fact mainly. This the course pur-
sued with respect 10 Mexico herself. II was adj
Lered TO when analogous events rendered it proper
TO investigate the question of Texan independence.
That inquiry was made with due circumspection,
and the result arrived at, until IFS probable
consequences had been accurately weighed. The
possibility of collision interests, arising, among
other causes from the alleged superior aptitude of
the climate and soil of Texas, for the growth
of some of the staples Of the United States,
was not overlooked. sense Of duty, and
reverence for consistency, however, it was consid-
cred left this Government alternative, and it
therefore led the way in recognising Texas. hope
was certainly entertained that this act and the mo-
tives that conduced 10 it, if other considera-
tons were to have influence, would point out to the
Government of Texas the proprety of not only che
rishing intimate and amicable relations with this
country, but of abstainng from other connexions
abroad which might be detrimental to the United
States. Apart from this however, it was presumed,
that Government would enter upon the execution of
the intentions minated by its Envoy Extraordinary,
with respect to connexions with foreign powers,
with full understanding of the just and liberal COM
mercial supulatiops existing between the United
States and other nations pervading principle OF
those compacts is impartial treatment Of the citizens,
vessels and productions Of the parties in their
spective territories As it was not to be believed
that the commercial allies Of the United States would
swerve from their engagements no apprehension was
felt that the interests Of this country would suffer
from the arrangement which Texas might enter into
with them.
The question Of the dnneration Of foreign indie
pendent State TO the United States has before
been presented to this Government Since the adop-
ton Of their Constitution two large additions have
United States. In acquiring them, this Government
was not actuated by mere thirst for sway over a
broader space. Paramount interests Of many mem.
sers Of the confederacy, and the permanent wel-be
ing Of ALL imperatively urged upon this Government
the necessity Of extension Of IFS jurisdiction over
Louisiana and Florida. As peace, however, was our
cherished policy, never to be departed from unless
honor should be perilled by adhering to it, we pa
tiently endured for time serious inconvenience and
privatons and sought transfer Of these regions by
negotiations and not by conquest
The issue Of those negotiations a conditional
ce.on of these countries TO the United States. The
circumstance, however OF their being colonial pos
sessions Of France and Spain, and therefore Deepen
dent on the Metropolitan Governments, renders
those transactions materially different from that
which would be presented by the question Of the
~erafion Of Tera The latter IS State with an in
dependent Government, acknowledged as such by the
United States and claiming territory beyo though
DO dering on the region coded by France, in the
Treaty of the 3Oth Of April, 1903. Whether the
Constitution Of the United STATE, contemplated the
neIstion Of such State, and II so, in what manner
tina, object to be Effected questions in The OPT
mon ofrHr President, it would be inerpedieni un.
der existing circumstances 10 agifaie.
so long as Texas shall remain at wsr, while the
United Satose at Peooe ~h her adversary the propo-
sition Of the Texan Minister Plenpotcntiary neces-
.arily involves the question Of war with that adver
sary. The United States bound to Mexico by
treaty OF amity and commerce, which will be scru-
pulously observed their part so long IT be
reasonably hoped that Mexico will. perform her du
ties and respect our rights under it, The Unii, d
State, might justly Be suspected Of disregard Of The
friendly Jpos, Of the eOmpooD The overture Of General
Hunt uere 10 be epen RESERVED FOR FUTURE
CONSIDERATION, as this would imply dispo-