The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-04-29

safety OF the United States. should she succeed in
her endeavors. The investigation has resulted in
the settled c"nvcten that il would be difficult for
Texas, in heI actual condition, to resist what she
desires, without supposins the influence and exer,;
the limits assigned by Lord Aberdeen, and that, if
Texas could not resist thr contamination OF the OBJ
eci Of her desire, would endanger both the safety
and prosperity OF the Union Under this conviction
it is felt to be the imperious duty of the federal 60
vernment, the common representative and protec-
or Of the States Of the Union, to adopt, ia sefde
fence, the most efvciua measures to defeat 1t;
This is not the proper occasion 10 state al large
the grounds Of this conviction. 1t is sufficient to
say, that the contamination OF The avowed object
OF her wishes in reference to Tex would be fol-
lowed by hostile feelings aud relations between
not fail to place her under the influence and control
OF Great Britain. That, from the geographical po-
sition al Texas, would expose the weakest and
most vulnerable portion Of our frontier to nroads,
efficient OF efecting in the neighboring States
Of this Union what she avows TO be her desire to do
in all countries where slavery exists. To hazard
consequences which would be SO dangerous to the
prosperity and safety Of this Union, without resort.
ing to the most effective measures to prevent them,
would be, on the part of the Federal Government
an abandonment OF the most solemn obligation i'm
posed by the guarantee which the States, in adopt
ting the CONSTITUTIONS entered into II protect each
other against whatever might endanger their Safe
ty, whether from without or within Acting IN
obedience TO this obligation, on which cur federal
system Of Government rests, the President directs
me to inform you that treaty has been concluded
between the United States and Texas, for the an
ncxation of the latter to the former part OF its
territory. which willb submitted without delay to
the Senate for its approval This ep has been Ia
ken as the most effectua, if mol The only means Of
guarding against the threatened danger, and secur-
ing their permanent peace and welfare.
1t is well known that Texas has long desired to
be annexed to this Uaion that her people, at the
time Of the adoption of her Constitution, expressed,
by an almost unanimous vote, her desire to that
effect and that she has never ceased to deiire it
as the most certain means Of promoting her safety
declined to meet her wishes, but the time has now
arrived when they can no longer refuse consistent
ly with their own security and peace, and the sa-
cred obligation imposed by their constitutional COM
pact for mutual defence and protection. Nor are
they in any way responsible for the circumstances
which have imposed this obligation on them They
had no agency In bringing about the state Of things
which has terminated n the separation OF Texas
Mexico herself which invited and offered high in
dncemenis TO our citizens to coonize Texas That
from the diversity OF character, habits, religion,
and political opinions necessarily led to the sspara.
in any mar'er whatever. II is true, the United
States, at an early PERIOD recognised the indrpen-
dence of Texas but, in doing so, it is we'll known
they but acted in conformity with an established
principle to recognise the Government de facto
They had previously acted on the same principle in
reference to Mexico herself, and the other govern
ments which have risen on the fo:mer dominions
OF Spain on this continent.
They are equally without responsibility for that
state of things, already advered to as the imme-
date cause Of imposing on them, in self defence,
the obligation OF adopting the measure they have.
the part Of Great Britain, which has led to it's adop-
tio2, had no immediate bearing on their peace and
safety. While they conceded to Great Britain the
right OF adopting whatever policy she might deem
BEST in reference TO the African race, within her
own possessions, they, on their part claim the same
right for themselves. The policy she has adopted
III reference 10 the portion of that race IN her do
minions may be humane and wise; but it does net
In reference to the United States and other coun-
tries, whose situation differs from hers. But
whether it would be or not, it belongs to each to
judge. and determine for itself. With US it is
ment, but by each member Of this Union for itself,
according to Its own views of lis domestic policy.
and without any right on the part Of the Federal
Government TO interfere IN any manner whatever
the guarantees of tie Constitution, each member
OF this Union, in whatever policy it may adopt in
reference to the portion within its respective limits
large number Of the States has decided, that it
Ii neither wise nor humane to change the relation
which has existed, from their first settlement be-
tween the two races; while others, where the Afri-
can Is less numerous, have adopted the opposite
whe Their the former have decided wisely or not
and II it did, the undersigned would not regard
this as the proper occasion to discuss the subject.
He does not, however, deem it irrelevant, to state
that II the experience OF more than half century
is to decide, 1t would ke neither humane nor wise
IN them TO change their policy. The census and
other authentic documents shew that, in all in.
stances IN which the States have changed the for-
nlef relation between the two races, the condition
OF the African, instead Of being improved has be-
come worse. They have been invariably sunk
into vice and paupersm, accompanied by the bod-
ly and mental infections incident there,o-deaf
ness, blindness, insanity, and idiocy, to degree
without example; while, in all other States which
have retained the ancient relation betwee them,
they have improved greatly in every respect-in
number, comfort, intelligence and morals-as the
following facts, taken from such sources will serve
to illustrate:
The number Of deaf and dumb, blind, idiots,
and insane, OF the negroes in the States that have
changed the ancient relation between the races. is
one out OF every ninety-sx; while in the States
adherlng to 1t, 1t Is one out of every six hundred
and seventy.two-'hat is, seven to one in favor of
the latter, as compared with the former.
The number OF whites, deaf and dumb, blind.
idiots and insane, IN the States that have changed
the relation, Is one ia every five hundred and sixty
one; being nearly SIX to against the free blacks
in the SAME States.
The number OF negroes who are deaf and dumb.
bind idiots, and insane, panpeIs, and in prison. in
the States that have changed, is one out Of every
Six and in the States that have not, one out Of
every one hundred and hity-four; or twenty-five to
one against the former, as compared with the lat
ter.
Taking the two extremes of north and sou,h--in
the State Of Maine, the number of negroes return
ed as deaf and dumb. blind, insane, and idiots by
the census OF $780, Is one out Of every twelve; and
IN Florida by the sane returns, is of every
eleven hundred and five or ninety-two TO one in
favor OF the slaves Of Florida, as compared with
the free blacks of Maine.
In ADDITION. II deserves to be remarked, that in
las N - re he ri m
latisn Oi the two races was fist made, {aOw more
than sixty years snce) whore The grestest zeal has
been exhibited III their behalf. and where their num-
Der is comparatively lev, {but ttle more than 600
~ a population OF $4,000 The cond,'ion OF the
African is among the most wretched By the Ltest
authentic accounts, there was one out e every II
OF the black population ia als or houses of correc.
hon; ard one out OF every thirteen was ei h oeaf