Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-05-03

nave already referred TO an application for the
eomPshment OF the same object that made to this
| government by Texas, whilst ! was President The
history of Texan revolution and the condition of
hat republic, as well as the probable advantages 10
result TO both from the proposed annexallon were
placed before US IN elaborate and ahs comuiunca
ton 1t can scarcely be necessary say that the ar
picaon was considered with that attention and care
which were due 10 grave proposition and under
the full influence OF feelings Of sincere solcude for the
prosperity and permanent welfare Of young and neigh
boring SiaIe, whose independence We had been The
hrst 10 acknowled ge-ieengs which constitute, and
sincerely nope, ever will constitute, the prevailing
ment OF the people OF the United States In coming
10 The decision which IT became my duty 10 make /
was uided, IN addition 10 the other members of my
cabinet, by the counsel aud constitutional advice OF
TWO distinguished citizens of your section of The
Tn on, o the first order of intellect great experience
IN public affairs, aud hose devotion To their own as
well as every other Of the Union was above all
question: The result OF our united opinions was an
nounced 10 The Texan minister Gen llunt) in COM
muncaon from the lat, Mr.. Forsyth, the substance
of which cannot better express than by incorporating
one or two bret extracts from in this letter Upon
The general SUBJECT my own views, well as those
| OF my cabinet, were thus stated:
80 long US Texas shall remain at war, while the u.
states are at peace with her adversary, the proposition
OF the Texan Minister penipoten,ary necessarily IN
wolves the question OF war with that adversary The
United States are bound TO Mexico by treaty Of ami
~ and commerce, which will be scrupulousy observed
y" 'e part, so long as u can be reasonably hoped
That Mexico VIII perform her duties and respect our
rights under IT. The United States might Justly be
suspected OF disregard Of the friendly purposes OF the
compact, II the overture Of General Hunt were to be
even reserved for future consideration, as this would
imply disposition part TO espouse the quarrel
OF Texas with Mexico-a dsposition wholly at yar;-
ance with the spirit Of the treaty, with the uniform po-
Icy and the obvious welfare of the IT, States
"Ihe inducements mentioned by General Hunt for
the United States 10 annex Texas 10 their territory,
lOFa dn 10 a..
certainly they are, they light when opposed in the
scale OF reason to ren;y obligations, and respect for
that integrity of character by which The United Sn,es
have sought TO distinguish themselves since the esab-
snmen OF the'r right to claim place in the great ia
m.ly OF nations
The in,imation in General fIunts letter that Texas
might BE- induced to extend commercial advantages 10
other nations 10 the prejudice of the States was thus
noticed:
alt presumed, however, that the motives by which
Texas has been governed in making THE overture will
have equal force III npelling her preserve,
dependent power, the most liberal commercial relations
with the T. States. Such disposition will be cheer
fully met, in corresponding spirit BY this Govern.
men II the answer which the undersigned has been
directed TO give to the proposition of General Hunt
should unfortunately work such change in the
menis OF that Government az to induce attempt
to extend commercial relations elsewhere, upon terms
prejudca TO the United States, this government will
b. consoled by the rectitude of ts Intentions and
certainty that, although the hazard OF transient losses
may be incurred by agid adherence 10 just principles,
no lasting prosperity can be secured when they are dis
| REGARDED
That these views were not altogether satisfactory to
General Hunt, nor probably TO his government, has
been seen. But think may safely say, that seldom.
II ever has the decision by this government OF ques
ton Of equal magnitude, been more decidedly or more
unanimously approved by the people of the u States.
The correspondence was very after it took place,
communicated to Congress and, although the public
mind was al the time III state of the highest excite
ment and the administration daily nssaed through
every avenue by which it deemed approachable,
am yet to see the first sentence Of complaint upon that
point, any quarter of the Union Even resolution
offered in the Senate, declaring nation "whsnever
II could b. effected consistently ,cth Tie pablic th and
treaty stipuiaticns IF Tie taaed SUITES, desirable,
ordered to be LAID upon The tab-; and similar dspo-
sition made III the House Of the papers upon The
subject which had b. en- referred To the Committee
Foreign Relations and that committee discharged from
the further consideration of the matter, upon lis
application. Nor were The friendly relations then ex-
is'ing between that Republic and the u States 10 liz
honor be 1t said-In any perceptble degree impaired
by this decision
Standing in this position before the country it he
comes my duty to consider, whether either the nature
OF the question: the circumstances of the case have
SO far changed, rs 10 justify me in advising po
Icy from which then, in the nest solemn form, dis
scented
In giving 10 you, and through you to the public, the
result OF very careful and dspassonate examination
Of this grave question. should neither do Justice 10
YOURSELF 10 the patriotic State which YOU, conjunc-
ton with others, 10 represent in the Convention 10
the people of the United States nor TO my own posi-
ton, II failed 10 accompany it with brief position
Of the grounds upon which have proceeded 1t is in
that way only that Justice be done to my inten
tons, and that is all that desire The Of
the territory and the consequent assumption by Of
responsibility TO protect and defend its inhabitants
would, IN respect 10 the consideration 10 which
about to refer, stand upon The footing with that of
its admission as State The recognition of Texas az
an independent State, n measure which received
IN various and appropriate forms the sanction OF every
department OF the Government, whose operation
was necessary 10 It's validity, and had my hearty
currence From this net Of Government, Just and
proper IN all respects 1t was inference has how
ever been drawn and brought bear upon the
question, not very far beyond It's real bearing but by
which It's true character is entirely rsed. Many
persons who enter upon the consideration OF the sub
ject with the purest Intentions and incapable of
knowingly giving false Interpretation TO any thing
connected with it, take it for granted, TINT the United
States, IN recognising the Independence of Texas de-
claed to the world, not only that she independent
in fact but also tina, she was such Of reM Acting
upon this erroneous construction, they very naturally
conclude, that, having gone thus far having examined
INTO and passed not only upon The existence Of her in
Dependence but also upon her right 10 lis enjoyment,
II IS now (and more especially after the lapse of several
years. too late 10 hesitate upon The question of annexa
ton the ground of any existing controversy upon
those points The al!acy OF this reasoning will be ap
paren, when is considered that the usage of nations
10 acknowledge the Government de facto, OF every
country, established for the express purpose Of
avoiding all inquiry into, the expression of any OPT
MON upon the question of right between the conendng
parties. They acknowledge other power in any
country than that which is in fact supreme. They
no, inquire beyond that point without interfering with
the internal of other naons-a practice which
oil disclam, ard disclaimer which il has been in
variable usage not only make but to enforce with
pulous fidelity To recognize the independence of the
Government de faco, also matter of State necessi
ty; for without 1t, neither commercial diplomatic
intercourse between any such power and the nations OF
the world could be carried with and the So
cal interests OF mankind require, that these should not
be arrested by quarrels between contestng parties in
regard their respective right To the supreme power.
In respect all beyond this the laws and usages of ma
tons equire the observance ola strict neutrality between
the conendng parties, long The war lass. t due
also fran every Government 10 lis own citizens TO de-
clare when arevled colony shall be regarded indie
pendent na,ion Because at belongs to The Government
alone to make the declaraton and because until
made or tie parent State renqushes her CLAIMS
of Justice mus consider the ancient state Of things
remaining unaltered, and the sovereign power of the
oaren, State that colony stl subsistng. But
nothing be farther from giving The act of recogn