Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1844-03-29
From The NorOnol lntelI seRcer.
The Texas Question:

III SAIL GoFeTnmenlss especially IN
those whereta, as n this Government
the sovereignty Of the People is Fecog-
Missed, questions sometimes arise 81
grave 10 their nature that, being Sc
riousIy announced, they command the
whole attention OF all men of common
intelligence, and, disdainng association
with themere party topics Of The day or
OF The ege, occupy at once exclusively
the public mind. OF this character, II
question ever was. is that conce e'ning
the annexation ofTexas to The United
States, now sprung upon The country.
When, early in the present session
OF Congress, the subject was casually
alluded 10 by US, we we're somewhat
staggered by the remark Of a cotempo
Yary-bette: informed on the subject,
il seems, lhan.w then were-that tho
project vac worthy OF rmore serious
consideration than we were disposed 10
give TO it. But, still increduous, no
longer ago than tho 96'h oflast month,
though our tuspcions were not alto
gelber laid, we treated the report Of a
pending negotiation for 'anncXaion,' re
celved by way Of Texas and New Or,
leans, as being most probably Hhe work
OF wanlon mischief or interested specu.
la,ion.' Liu!e did we even then dream
that the influences 20 which we then
alluded, as being employed in agItating
tho question Of annexation, had been
seconded by tho Executive power Of
this Government, in the manner and in
the extent 10 which we are forced, by
information from different quarters, re-
luctaully TO believe.
Matters have proceeded so far, how
ever, that II is proper that we should
Slate TO our readers what knowledge we
have recently acquired on this sub ject,
from sources TO be relied upon, and en-.
deAvor TO open lheir eyes TO The dark
cloud which OVerhangs tho public peace
end the national welfare, if not the ex-
isIence Of this Union.
1t is now somo months ago probably
not long after the retirement Of Mr..
Webster from the Department OF State
hatan overture was made, By this GOu-
ernmcnt, through Iho Secretary Of State,
iariting from The Executive Of Texas
jGen. Houston) a proposition for the
annexation Of Texas 10 tho United
States. This overture was, a! first, il
we understand rightly, rather cooly re
ceived by theChel OF the young Re
public. But, since the meeting Of Con
gress, the Government Of Texas having
been egAin approached -wO will no
say impOrluned, though circumstances
almost jnslily tho use Of that phrAse--
by tho Executive Of tho United States
Gen. Houston did at length consent to
negotiate on the subject. Tho terms
Of an arrangement between Tho high
contracting parties are already made
aud, # not already done, they are 10 bC
reduced forthwith TO the form ola Trea
~, through tho agency OF a SpeciO
Minister from Texas, (Mr Henderson
who is already on his way to this city
for the purpose, il, before This paper
goes 10 press, he have mol already ar
rived.
So far Gs the President OF the United
SlAtos and the President OF Texas are
concerned, the Treaty is all but mOdo.
THIS Information has, we con fess
filled our minds with humiliation GDd
apprehension. Humiliation at the un,
authorized and almost cIandesriDo man
ner in which, after having heretofore
soIemnly rejected, for unHnswersbe
reasons, a proposition for ANNEXATION
when sought by the Government o.
Texas, our own Government has gone
a'wooing 10 that OF Texas and solicited
ils Iavorj and lhe'Opprehonsion Of tht
consequences Of tho contamination o
the Treaty, which the President at eas
has been made 10 believe will be promp
iy ratified by a constitutional majority 0
tho Senate of tho United States.
The sudden occurrence Of this ques
ton, we have already minated, is on
Of those occesions OF engrossing inter
est, which like that OF foreign iuvS
sion, or rebellion al home "a pest
Ienco, or an eartkquako-ought 10 SUI
pend for time all nero party differ
ences aud contentious II is aqueslo
o(peace or war, Of oCli-preservslion
Of national existence, in comparison
with which the ordinary topics OF party
controversy dwindIo into absolute insig
,nldcanee.
White speaking thus we know Gnc
ifetlhat we arc expressing sentiment
not in accord with those of some of ou
political friends. We sincerely repret il
on our account and on theirs. Bu
when, in our opinion, grOO, DANCE
.impends, we must not be deferred b
such considerations from 'ounding IN
alarm. and calling upon pubic opinio
10 mako itself heard at the Capitol
tones which can neither DO msuBdov