Democratic standard. [volume] (Georgetown, Brown County, Ohio) 1837-1850, 1844-05-21
LETTER OF MR.. VAN BUREN.
TEXAS.
(Concluded.)

In consequence OF press OF othe
matter, this letter was broken off rather
abruptly last week. We left off where al
lusiOn was made 10 the course OF IhsMexi.
eau Govern nent on tho subject Of an
nexalion,-- ,er threats against our Gov.
ernmenL Aud Oh lhIs subject the letter
cCnlinuts
Butlhs is beseting and very ancient
foIble of the mother country, as we'll as
Of her defendants, in their diplomatic
Intercourse. Every one conrersaUt with
thu subject of Spanish relations, knows
that, at least f.Om the time Of Don Lou
is d'Onis to the present day, this gov
ernmeDt has been frcqlentIy TO say
conIinually--subiecled 10 this species Of
diplomatic dogmaIism. Partly ia cun
sequence Of the genius OF their language;
partly from their peculiar temperament;
much from habit, but more from a raids
cal defect Of judgment,-they continue
the use Of language in their state papers,
which bet or tempered, if not wiser dip
loma,isls have almost every where laid
aside as worse than useless. But at no
time has our government suffered its ac-
ton upon greet national questions to be
Influenced by such pe1uance. From the
modest, vet firm Madison, TO the late
Mr.. Upshur, (whose melancholy fate is
so Justly and so generally lamented,) tas
every Secretary Of State, acting under
the direction Of the executive, deemed il
Sufficient to place the government and
minister employing it in the wrong, by
showing its injustice as well as its futiI-
ity. Wa have then heretofore, as hope
we shall now, decided to sctit1 the mat
ter under confederation 10 manner
which was deemed due 10 justice and 10
our own character, without being in any
degree Influenced BY such unavailng me-
naces. Il is foreign 10 my habit, and
repuqnant TO my feelings, TO say anything
that should offend the pride Of any na-
,ion. if the declarations of individuals
could possibly have that effect; being
sincerely desirous that the United States
should cultivate friendly rslati9gS with
all, But with population not Equal TO
half tba, Of the United States, and labor
ing under many serious disadvantages,
from which we are comparatively free =,
Mexico could not, with propriety,'bs Of
tended by the assumption that this gov.
eminent may act as it wouldhavedone had
no spcb meI.ace been made, without the
sliohtest danger Of being regarded by the
rest Of the world, as having been intimi-
dated by threats Of fwsr from that repub'
lie. So al least should act, if the di-
rec,iOn Of public affairs were in my hands.
The question then recurs, If, Bs sensible
man. we cannot avoid the conclusion that
tho immediate annexation OfTexas would,
in all human probability, draw after it a
war with Mexico, can it be expedlent to
attempt it. OF the consequences Of such
= war, the character il might be made to
assume, the entanglements with other
0a,ions which the position Of beliger'
ant almost unavoidIy drsws after It, and
the undoubted injuries which might be
indicted upon each, Notwithstanding the
Qreor disparity of thei: respective forces
/ will not say word. God forbid that
an American citizen should ever count
the cost Of any appeal TO what is aPPToc.
pria,ely denominated the last resort OF
nations. whenever that resort becomes
necessary either for the safety or to vim
dicate the honor Of his country. There
isl trust. not one SO base as not to re-
gard himself, and all he has, to be Tor
ever and at all times subject TO such
reuuisition. But would war with Mex
100, brought on under such circumstan'
ces, be a contest Of that character!-
Gould we hope to stand perfectly justin
cd in the eyes Of mankind for enterlni
into it; more especially il its commence
nent is TO be preceded by the apPrOPrla
ti0n to our own uses Of the territory
theN sovereignty Of which is in disput
between the two nations, one Of whic
We ere 10 join in the struggled Thi
eli, is matter Of the very gravest in
pOEt--One in Eespectlo which no Amer