The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-05-23
GEN. HAMILTON'S TEXAS SPEECH AT
SAVANNAH
fExrRAcTs }

SAVANNAH.
{ExTRACTs)
do not mean, fell w-citizens 10 detain you by re-
condiie references To international law TO show that
even through the treaty -making power ihet Texas
has uncomfortable right a. sovereign and inde en-
dent State, TO make solemn compact with our Gov
eminent TO become member of our confederacy, and
that Mexico has no Just cause Of war against our
country in case she is annexed The moment the
Government of Texas was recognised by the u mi ed
States and admitted likewise by European recogni-
tion into the family OF nations, she became lust
competent, without offence to any human power, as
Mexico herself to enter into such treaty spulatons
as she deemed fit. Our recognition Of her indepen-
dence Was not made sub mode with qualified cogni-
zlnce OF the possible and contingent power of Mexico
TO wage war against her even reduce her TO sub
lection again, but with inferental negaion of the
latter contingency. 1t is quite true that Mexico may
declare war against us, precisely, Mr.. Chairman,
you OF may he knocked down in the street without
provocaiion by some ruian " ho has nothing better
to do. But when are we TO commence our primers Of
cowardce ia this country, and to be advanced in the
alphabet OF timdity into the conjugaton Of the verb
ito fear until we tumble down into stale Of sus-
pended animation in the subjective mood Are our
school masters Messrs Clay and Van Buren, TO teach
US this lesson know that they will have a, least
some obduratc and ugly scholars in their school on
this side of the Potomac.
except when we in the wrong. The Anglo
Saxon race, who coonized, settled and conquered
Iexos have better title to her territory than MeXl
co. They went into the country on the faith of So
Tenn compact between the Government of Mexico
and Stephen +. Austin, their venerable patriarch,
which was arociousiy vicatcd on the part of Me xico
10 an extent which justified resistance. Resistance
ended In conquest The only title by which most coun-
tries hold bat they POSSESS. If Mexico therefore,
goes to war she must 60 To war in her own wrong II
she does, let me ask where she will be, and will
be, IN twelve months after the commencement of hos
tilities Why, size in the dust. and proud ban
cleaning in the glorious sunlight of her gorgeous
sky-the eternal sign that civilization has at last
come to enllghen and bless benigh'ed people
This country, sir, for our Union to be prosperous,
and The South to be secure, must be ours. Why,
then, is this matter postpanedl The mtst convent
ent time to do good thing is to do it notc. Delays
are dangerous.
have said that the slave question lies at the bot
tom Of the whole opposition to annexation. But thu
might not be innoIious, if political causes did not
concur to give potency to this occult resistance to
measure vitality connected the best interest ofthe
country. a President equally the object of the I'M
sParng hostility Of both parties originated the nego
tiaiion, and has been cond ucted by statesman
whose genius and virtue. envy turns lis baeful gaze
" Sun, hate thy beams
What a commentary is il upon our Institutions
that great measure should be impeded by mise able
calculations for power aud Office and that this
elective monarchy of ouis should be eating into the
,als Of our country with he destructive apidiy of
a cancer! Yes, SIR, II IS John Tyler's Gssty, and
negotiated by John G. Calhoun aud az such it must
be put down-cost what il my.
Mr. Clay could not resist the temptation OF putting
his foot the throA, of the latter and my old and
approved friend, MIR. Van Buren, has hug gcd with
delight the concet that he has cornereJ the nullser
IN spot narrow that suffice alton is inevitable
Vain and inconsidera,e hopeil What has teen the
result Why, that Mr.. Clay, yet warm with the
Inequalities of the South, in his retreat North et
fly this PaTthan arrow, II has MOI grszed Mr. Ty-
Ter, bu, has killed every fre he has south of tn,
Potomac, no, one Of whom IN the face Of this mighty
Southern question, will politically survive the su-
tumnal equinox whilst Mr.. Van Buren,, iaI more
disinierfsted and generous, has only killed himself
A suicide 81 perfectly inontnsi,e that posi-
soyfem examiu alton, not a mark of yolence will b.
discovered on his person his cuuntenance wearing
so placid smile OF his enyiabe temper, the
must find that be has " his qui;tus made with bare
bo1kin."
The question ar rs, shall this great national ac-
QUESTION be defeated by those struggling fir Pc
lhicsl power Shall We wait until Mr.. Clay should
obtain the permission of that respectable portion OF
the cit z-ns of the United States which he considers
as an indispensable preliminary to his concurrence
IN the policy Of annexation, comprehend ng OF
course, the special appreciation of those Two highly
respectable philanlhopsts, Mcss,s. Adams and Gar
rison.
Shall we wait until The ction Of my friend
Van Buren, and he shall have recovered from his Sc
we're his Of moderation and be able to come out in
columns of IN mon b-cv,r ON the other side of the
question in support of annexation Shall We wait
until Texas shall have made better blrgsin else
where with the most powerful Of our rivnls7 MOI
We might rs we'll vat until the day Of judgment, or
three days of grace aGer NOW OR NEVER.
think may venture to suggest how long we may
wait Until, sir the delegations in Congress from
the South in favor OF anne rston shall meet one uni-
ted aud indy'sbie IN conclsve on the adjournment
Of Congress, and with coo ness courage, discretion
and sssacity clearly define the course their people at
home are 10 pur Ne. We have right 10 expect this
counsel, this confidence, this instruction at their
hands. Prcambles, Resolutions with all the refine
nent Of egel mumcn may as Burke says, "snuH
tyranny in the tainted breeze" They may point out
injustice, buOnsion only come a.