The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-03-07
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MIR. WALKER, of MISSISSIPPI,
RELATIVE TO THE
ANNEXATION OF TEXAS.
IN REPLY TO
THE CALL OF THE PEOPLE OF CARROLL
COUNTY, Ry) TO COMMUNICATE HIS
views ON That SUBJECT.
WASHINGTON CITY, Jan. s, 1874.
Your letter, dated Client Carol county, Ken
lucky, November 25th, 1913, has been'received.-
II contains the resolutions Of meeting of the
people of that couaty, in favor OF the annexa-
for the Presidency and Vice Presidency of the
Union to make "known to (you) or to the public
their views on this subject. As committee, you
have transmitted me these proceedings, together
with special letter, addressed to me as candl-
date for the ''Vice Presidency" requesting my OPT
Mons on this question. l am not candidate for
he vice-presidency. The only State In which my
name has been designated, to any considerable
extent, for this station, was my owDs and knowing
how many, with much older and better claims
than mine, were named for this office, for this and
other reasons, by letter dated November 20, lSf3,
addressed by me, to the democratic convention
is Withdrawn Internationally.
The treaty by which Texas was surrendered to
Spain, was always opposed by me; and in 1926,
me- and then published, in favor of the reannexa-
ton of Texas; and the same opinions have been
often expressed by me since my election, in 1895,
to the Senate of the Union.
1t was revolution IN Mexico that produced the
conflict for independence In Texas The citizens
Of Texas had been invited there by Mexico, under
the solemn guaranty OF the federal constitution OF
1924 This constitution, to which Texas so long
and faithfully adhered, was prostrated by the
per Santa Anna. After severe struggle, the peo-
pie of Mexico were subdued by amercenary army;
the States were annihilated, and military dicta-
In the capital of Mexico, and of the State Of Goa
hula and Texas, the civil authorities were sup
pressed by the bayonet the disarmng OF every cit-
zen was decreed and the soldiery Of the usurper
proceeded to enforce the edict The people of
Texas resolved to resist, and perish upon the field
Of battle rather than submit TO the despotic sway
of a treacherous and sangulnary military Dictator
Short was the conflict, and glorious the issue. The
tyrant were overhrown and dispersed, and the die
tator himself was captured. He was released by
Texas and restored to his country, having first ao
knowledged, by solemn treaty, the Independence
OF Texas. After the fall Of Santa Anna, and the
total route and dispersion of the Mexican army,
and when resubjugatlon had become hopeless,
introduced iat0 the Senate the resolution acknow-
Lodging the lndepende nee of Texas. Il was adopt
bed on the roll OF independent nations. Subse-
quently, France, England, and Holland, have re-
cognised her independence; and TEXAS now has
all the rights OF sovereignty over her territory and
the world. twas to Spain, and not to Mexico that
we transferred Texas by treaty; and 1t was by
revolution in Mexico, and the recognition of her
independence, not by Spain, but by this republic
and other nations, that Mexico acquired any title
to Texas. 1t was by a successful revolution, and
the expulsion Of Spanish power that Mexico, ur-
recognized by Spain, acquired all her night to this
territory; and 1t is by similar successful revolu-
ton that Texas has obtained the territory
These principles have been recognised for many
years by Mexico, and by this republic; and it is alb
surd in Mexico now to attemrt to recall her une-
ouiyocai assent to these doctrines, and ask to be
permitted TO change the well tiled law of nations,
and oppose the remuneration of Texas II is an
admitted principle of the law Of nations, that eve
ny sovereignty may cede the whole or any part Of
their territory, unless restrained by some constitu
tional nterdict; and which, if it exist, may be re-
moved by the same sovereign power which inn
posed the limitation. There ~, however, no such
limitation in The constitution OF Texas, which is a
single cenfr government, with The same authority
to make the cession, as per,ained to France or
Spain, in the transfer OF Louisiana or Florida.-
Nor does 1t change the question OF power, that
these were distant colonies; for the sovereignty
extends alike every portion OF the nation; and
this principle wasfully recognised when Mr.. Adams
as President and Mr. Clay, as Secretary OF State,
IN 1925 and 1877, by instructions TO our minister at
Mexico, and General Jackson as President, and
Mr.. Van Buren, as Secretary of State, by subse-
quent similar instructions in 1922 endeavored to
procure from Mexico the cessiOn of Texas, then
contiguous and integral portion Of the Mexican
confederacy And il nation may cede portion
Of her territory, being completely sovereign over
the whole, she may certainly cede the whole; and,
in any event this would be a question, not OF our
right to receive, but Of the authority of the ceding
nation to make the transfer, or simply an inquiry,
whether we obtained good or a bad title. In
this case, the title would be unquestionabe; for
Texas being independent in fact, and recognised
by ourselves, and the great powers OF Europe, as
completely sovereign throughout her territory,
Mexico could make no Just objection to the trans
fer
In 1885, this question, together with that Of rati-
flying their constitution, was submitted by the con-
sttuted authorities to the people of Texas, who,
with unparalleled unanlmity, (there being but
ninety-three dissenting yotesD decided IN favor Of
remuneration.
Texas, them has already assented to the reannex-
alton, not merely by the act OF all her authorities
but of her people, and made 1t part and parcel OF
the organization OF the government ITSELF and he
who, with the knowledge OF those facts, would now
deny the power of Texas to assent TO the reannexa
ton must reject and discard the great fundamental
principle OF popular sovereignty. Surely, then, no
one will contend that monarchles may transfer,
and receive, their colonies and subjects, with
out and against their consent; but that the entire
people of single republic, in whom resides the
only nghtful sovereignty, cannot cede, nor we re-
celve, their own territory, and that mOnarchs have
nore power than the people, and are more truly
sovereign. Texas, then, having the undoubted
right to transfer the whole. or any part of the terri
tory there can be no difference, as a question of
part or the whole Of the territory.
The reanne xatlon, then, can be accomplished by
any one OF three modes. LIST, by treaty; ID, by an
act of Congress- without treaty; and 3D. by the
authority reserved to each State, TO extend their
boundaries, and annex additional territory with the
sanction OF Congress.
LIST. BY reaty.-This right was established in
the cession of Louisiana and Florida, and cannot
now be questioned, without menacing the organiza-
ton Of the government and integrity of the Union;
for, by virtue OF this power, three States and seye
raj Territories now compose part Of the republic
In 1912, we acquired territory by treaty and al
tached it to the States Of New York and Vermont
There was there no disputed boundary, for the call
ton of mcasurement-which, when made, placed
this territory within the undoubted limits OF Cana
da; in consequence of which, we had abandoned
the fortress erecting at Ronse's Point, and the
ground occupied, (Which part ofthat terrific
ry,) which we acquired by the treaty OF 1912. The
question Of the power Of annexation by treaty, is
settled and incorporated into the very existence Of
the Rnvernmenf and of the IIninn