, 1844-03-27

Stale among the nations OF tne eaTth
Our frs, objection TO the annexation o.
Texas is, that it cannot be accomplished
without involving the COUNT d war;
100 great a price to pay for any tetriio-
rial acquisition whatever, which nc Ma
tional honor does not demand.
Our second objection is, thai, Ear from
demanding this acquisition, The National
honor forbids it. So long as war coniin-
ues between Mexico and Texas, and a
solemn treaty Of Peace and Amity ex-
isis between us and Mexico, we cannot.
without violating the sacred faith Of trea.
Ties, undertake to possess ourselves Of the
Territory, to which Mexico still main
iains her right. We have, it is true, ac-
.knowiedged the Independence Of Texas.
as we had n right TO do for certain inter
natioral purposes; but that recognition
did not exlinguisb, or in n name af-
feet the rights Of Mexico upon Texas.-
The obligations Of our Treaty with Mex
ieo remain untouched; and Mexico would
have The same right to possess herself (if
she couid1 of my State Uf this Union MS
|lhe Government OF the United States has
10 possess itself Of Texas.
Our third great objection (Which would
be conclusive without the ~preceding) is
that the Territory of the United States is
already large enough, 1t is indefinitely
more important that we should people
and improve what we have, than grosp
after more, especially when its acquisi-
ton would be inevitably attended with
discord and dissatisfaction. It is far more
important to the happiness Of the people
of the United States that they should
enjoy IN peace, contentment and harmo.
ny, what they already have. than that
they should place all those blessings al
hazard by this new experiment.
Our fourth objection is, that, if the "an-
ncxation" of Texas were in other respects
desirable, one entire third Of this Union,
at least, forbids the bans. doubts the con
sti,utional right to establish the connex
ion, and declares its determination 10 re
sist it.. The proposition TO annex or in
corporate a Foreign Nation in this Union,
moreover, is entirely new, and the nu.
thority 10 do il is solemnly questioned
This objection would have much less
force had we, in this case, instead Of re.
cognizing the independence of Texas,
negotiated with Mexico, with or without
the consent Of the people Of Texas, for
the acquisition Of that territory. We
would not, merely to acquire more land,
(of which we have already more than W.
want,) leopard the existence ofthe Union,
which ought 10 be dearer TO the heart ol
every American citizen than any consid.
GRAFTON extraneous To il. r,
Filthy, we dread The beginning by the
United States Of system o~facquisiiiou ot
foreign territory by conquest, (which ms
things stand, the annexation of Texas
would effectively be-. or even by pur,
chase. Once begin it, and ,chere will il
end? Shall we erer have territory @,
cough for ambition. though we have e.
nough for Our wants?
With these brief hints we willingly re
lieve our readers from our own discourse.
10 ask their attention 10 a view of the
ground heretofore occupied by our Gov.
ernment on this subject, from which it i.
proposed now TO depart. We have the
more pleasure in doing this, because il af
fords US the opportunity of giving due
credit 10 Inc last Administration for ils
condnc, in regard to this matter, and par.
licularly Of doing justice TO the patriot,
ism and nice sense Of honor of the Secre
tary of State [now 10 morel under tina,
Administration, as displayed, IN reference
10 this question, in the extracts which WI
shall make.
On the 4th of August, 1887, a few
months after the accession Of Mr.. Var
Buren, 10 the Presidency, a correspon
dence vas opened with Mr.. Forsyth, thu
Secretary Of State, by Gen. Memucar
Hunt, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister
Plenipo,entiery Of the Republic Of Texas
in which the annexation of Texas WA
formally proposed TO this Government
and supported by a train OF argumeu
quite as cogent as any that can now b.
applied to sustnin such an application
The offer was declined, as our reader
know, by the President; and this declen.
sion was communicated by MI. Forsyth
to the Texan Minister in a letter unde
date of August 25th, than the terms O
which nothing can be more decisive o
explicit. II is from this letter that ",
make the following extracts for the in
formation Of such Of our readers as havl
never seen or have forgotten this cores
~pondence.%
"Tho question Of the annexation Of
foreign independent State to the Unite,
States has never before been presented 4
this Government. Since the adoption o
their Constitution two large addition
have been made TO the domain originall,
claimed by The United States. In acquir
ing them this Government was not actua
ted by a mere thirst for sway over
broader space. Paramount interests O
many members Of the C~onfederacy, an
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