Democratic standard. [volume] (Georgetown, Brown County, Ohio) 1837-1850, 1844-05-21

diS tu0 CuiuIeu VI tue SuDy anu pdIldh'
Of IFS warmth" Yet, whether we stant
or fall in the estimation Of our county
men, il is always true wisdom, as we'll al
true morality, TO hold last to the truth
II is, moreover, consolation to know
hat if TO ,urish enthusiasm is one o
the affects Of genial climate, it at th'
same time seldom fails to give birth 10
ChivalrOus spirit, which will not permi
ittelf 10 be ouldone in the extent or sin
cerily of sacrifices at the shrine OF patri-
Otism, To preserve our national escUt
cheon unlarnished, has, consequently, i
reliance can be placed upon our public
archives, been an object Of uuceasing so
lieitude with southern statesmen.
Nothing is more true or more exten>
siVely known, than that Texas was wres
ted from Mexico, and her independence
established through The instrumsnlality
of citizens oftbe United States. Equal.
y true is il that this was done not only
against the wishes, but in direct contra
vention Of the best efforts OF our govern
meHt to prevent our citizens from en-.
gaging in The enterprise. Efforts have,
nevertheless, not been wanting on the
part of those who ara not over anxious for
the credit ofrepublican governments, to
misrepresent the views Of ours in this re-.
specific cause il to be believed that our
efforts 10 prevent unlawful participation
by our citizens in that struggle were in.
sincere; that we coveted this portion Of
the territory of Mexico; and having fail
ed to obtain it by fair purchase, or by
negotiation, we saw in this movement a
preliminary step, which would, in the
end, be equally subservient TO our views
upon Texas. No one can have had bet
ter opportunities of knowing how unfoun
ded these injurious imputations were
than myself, As early as when Presi-
dent Houston first went 10 Texas, | be-
lieve in 1929, | was consulted by Gen.
Jackson upon the subject of private
letter addressed by him to the honorable
Mr.. Fulton now Senator Of the United
States, then Secretary OF the Territory
of Arkansas, requesting him to cause
the movements of Gen. Houston 10 be
watched, and to apprize the President Of
the first indication on his part ofan in>
teElion TO violate the laws Of the Uni.
ted States by an incursiOn into Mexico.
From that period 10 the end ofGen. Jack
sons term Of Office, ] am we'll satisfied
as can be of any fact, that he was sim
cerely desirous 10 perform his whole du~
ty as chief Magistrate Of the cnuntry,and
to prevent, iH this respect, the slightest
violation Of the laws, with the execution
of which he was charged. He no doubt
sincerely believed that the incorporation
of Texas into the federal Union would
be alike adva nlageous TO her, TO Mexico,
and 10 the United States; and was ever
ready to adopt all proper measures for the
accomplishment Of that object. But they
know very little Of General JacksOn's
true character, who can for a moment
permit themselves to believe him capa-
bic Of doing, countenancing,or advising,a
single act which he believed, or had even
reason to apprehend, would violate the
plgbted faith of his ceuntry, or infringe
upon the duty which it owes TO the great
family of nations. To prevent our peo-
pie from going to Texas, and embark,
ing in the war, was an impossibiliIy which
neither he or any other chief magistrate
could have accomplished. lfIhey went
there without military organization, or
ornaments, and chose to place them
selves beyond the protection ofthis gov
eminent, we had no right TO control their
action; nor do other governments exer>
clse any such right in similar Gases
For the suppression of military enterpris'
es, organized and armed here against a
nation with which we are at peace, the
provision of our laws are ample. But OF
The difficulties Of enforcing them with a
frontier and seabcard like those which
open our communication with Texas, no
sensible and we'll informed mind can be
ignorant.
For the voluntary action Of our gov
ernm ent in regard to the subjectOi annex
alton, we can have no such explanation
to give. The acquisition Of so valuable
territory by means which are Of ques-
tionable prOpriety, would be departure
from those Just principles upon which
this government has ever acted, and
which have excited the admiration and
secured the respect Of the disPassion-
ate and enlightened friends Of freedom
throughout the world. But l am very
sure that we shall all, in the end, SO acI
upon this subject as to put it out Of the
power oftb natural enemies OF republic
can institutions to make any plausible
charge Of in6delity 10 our avowed princi'
ples in respect to it. No one was more
deeply sensible Of the necessity of lh'
greatest prudence in this particular, o
more anxious TO secure its observance
than Gen. Jackson. As late as Decem
Der, ls36--only few months before IT,
recognition--he thus expresses himself
Tin special message to the Senate: :"Bu