Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-08-20
FROM THE HERO OF THE HERMl'
TlGE
HERMITAGE, June 25ih, 1911:

HERMITAGE, June 23ih, lcil.
Gentlemen: | have had the honor To receive
the invitation Won were pleased 10 address 10 nc
on behalf Of the Democracy OF Kentucky, 10 ~
convened al Harrisburg on The l2th OF jay;
The state OF my hcalih making II inposSibi1,
for me 10 undertake journey OF thai distance,
can do no more ,han thank yon torthe honor con-
f.rred upon me, and express my regret ifat can
not have the qualification Of meeting my Dciio-
cratic friends ON that occasion.
The issueS involved IN the approaching Pre-
sidenial election are great and important, ana
not the least oithem, in my Judgment, Is Inc cues
ton of annexin. Texas 10 our Union.
On the latter subject, You are aware mat my
eninion has been before the public for nearly Two
wears. Ii was founded mainly on the Importance
of tina, territory 10 our safety in military POM
of view: and j, gives me pleasure 10 see that The
measure is sustained by the great majority OF
those who have examined the subject. But II ap-
rcars tina, opposition 10 the measure Is sought
10 be justified by tie supposed right OF Mexico
who vet maintains quasi war WIN Texas, I"
he frs, consulted. This opinion has been 50 con,
clu>ively reinted hv your learned Judge Bibh. and
other able lursts iha Think II has ceased 10 Dc
a shield for those who oppose the acquisition OF
that territory The opposition al las, will be
found 10 rest on no other grounds than such as
haze been disclosed in the British Parliament,
and Mexican consent will turn oui 10 he nothing
more nor less than permission from Great bri-
lain: and this permission, as has been indicated
hv Lord Aberdeen, will be withheld unless sla-
very can be abolished in Texas.
This is the true question, and it is useless 10
disguise it: Shall the United States fail to ADOPT
measure admitted 10 he essential 10 her sale
v unless she can obiain the consent oi Great DIT
tain who without any authority. or IA" pieicnce
Of any, becomes a voluntary NEEDLE! IN HE mat
LEI!
Texas is as independent Of Mexico slhc United
States ave. and al who know thcifGc condition
of the two countries. will admit that this IndcPen-
derce cannot ne altered without the interference
Of foreign powers.
1.-THE question ot the annexation Of Florida or
Louisiana 10 our Union, we've reserved for our
consideration and action al this day. England
would have as much right 10 lhwan il a. she now
has the annexation of Texas: and She uniouhlcd-
ly would exercise the ri9h, ii we were timid Or
iuo;>h enough 10 allow her.
L.; u not ne deceived hy false appeara.ccs.-
Ii slavery he IN evil, there are Other evils more
10 lie dreaded by -, and one otthcse would be IN
Occasionally an interference with the subject 80
lar a. Is incorporated with oar federal system
bv foreign government Bat is slavery an evil
which England wishes 10 eradicate? Do the
/
>olihy. teach her to overlook the starving condi-
,ion 81 her OWE people. until She can teach us that
tine relation sabsi>t;ng between the while ami
black races III this country and in Texas must be
changed or modified! 1t i mo,c rational to sup
rose hal her highest ami first ohlect would be 10
feed ana cloihe her own people and that the anx-
ic:v oi her statesmen on this subject, leads them
10 overlook III: inerc>! oil other nations while they
are advancing that OF their own.
However this may be. lei Us do what is right,
in ITSELF and Necessary 10 the protection and secn
ri;y of our free Institutions The annexation OF
Texas will do 10 wrong u my other nation II
vii give or Union strength in the same man
her tat Louisiana and Florida did SO. In the
same manner, also, il wilt extend our agricuiu-
ral manufacturing and commercial resources.
There are other and equally cogenl reasons in
favor oil the annexation Of Texas 10 or Union.
hui have not The time To trace them here, nor X
i; necessary: ny object in noticing Your refer
ence 10 the subject, is simply 10 assure you, that
| deem i; row WORTHY of the serious attention oi
he American people, whose Judgment doasI
not Will hc wise and just.
Respectfully, your servant,