The Woodstock age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1844-1845, 1844-12-12


underlined by the treaty. The Executive
proposed to settle these upon terms that
all the world should have pronounced Just
and reasonable. No negotiation upon
that point could have been undertaken be-
tween the United States aud Mexico, in
advance of the ratification Of the treaty.
We should have had no righl-no power
no authority, to have conducted such a
nerotiniion; and to have undertaken it,
would have been an assumption equally re-
voting to the pride of Mexico and Texas,
and subjec,ing us To the charge OF AFRO
gance; while to have proposed in advance
Of annexation, TO satisfy Mexico for any
contingent interest she might have in Tex
as, would have been to have treated Texas
not as an independent power, but as a
mere dependency of Mexico. This as
sumption could not have been acted upon
by the Executive, without setting al def
ance your own solemn declaration that that
Republic was an independent State. Men,
leo had, it is true, threatened war against
the U. s., IN the event The treaty Of An
neya,on was ratified. The Executive
could not permit itself to be Influenced by
this threat, 1t represented in tins, the
spirit of our people, who are ready To sac
rilice much for peace, but nothing for IN
limidallun.
A war under any circumstances, is great
ly to be dcplored, and the United States is
The last nation to desire it, but ii, as the
condition of peace it be required Of us To
lorego the unquesiIonahle right OF treating
with an independent power, OF our own
Continent, upon matters highly interesting
TO both, aud that upon naked and un'
sustained prclcnslou of claim by third
mower, to control the free will of the pow
cr with whom we treat-devoled as we
may be to peace, and anxious to cultivate
friendly relations with the whole world the
Executive does not hesitate TO shy that the
people of the United States would be ready
to brave all Consequences. sooner lhan
submit to such condition. But no nppre-
hension Of war was entertained by the En-
ecn,ve; and ! must express frankly my
opinion that had the treaty been ratified by
the Senate, it would have been followed
by prompt settlement, to the entire sails
faction Of Mexico, Of every matter Of d'l'
terence between the two countries. See
ing then that new preparations Tor hostile
INVASION Of Texas were about to be adop
Ted by Mexico and that these were hrongti
about because Texas has adopted the sug
gcslions Of the Executive upon the suhIec
Of annexation, it could net posslveIy have
folded its arms and permitted a.war threat
cned to be accompanied by every act thai
could mark a harharouS age, To be waget
against her, because she had done so.
Other considerations OF controlling
character Influenced the course ot the EA-
ecu,iye. The treaty which had thus been
negotiated, had failed to receive the rali
licalion Of the Senate. One OF the chic
objections which we're urged against il
vas found to consist in the fact that the
question IF annexation had not been sub
United to the ordeal Of public opinion ii
tie United States. However untenabf
such an objection was esteemed To be, IL
view of the unqucsrionablc power OF the
| Executive to negotiate the treaty. ana lht
great interests involved in the question
felt it to he my duty to submit the whole
subject to Congress rs the best cXponndei
of the popular sentiment. No Gehnlt've
action having been taken en- the subject by
Congress, the question referred itself d.
rccly to the decision Of the States aud the
people The grca, popular election whlcl
has lust terminated, afforded the best OPP
p0rlunily of asccrlAinng the viii ol tie
States and People upon il, Pending that
issue, it became the lmperIllvc duty OF the
Executive to inform Mexico that the Qnes'
iiun was still before tic American people,
and that, until their decision was pro-
nonnced, any serious invasion OF IeXa'
would be regarded as an attempt to lore
stall their Judgment, aud could not be look
ed upon with indifference. am most haI
py to inform YOU that no such an INVASION
has taken place, and trust that whatever
your action may be upon II, Mexico will
see the importance Of deciding the matte;
by a resort To peaceful eXpcdlens, in pref
srencc to those of arms. The decision oI
the People and the States, on this great
and interesting subject, has been decisive
~ manifested The question of annexa-
ton has been presented markedly To Their
consideration. BY the treaty itself, all col
lateral aud Incidental issues, which were
calculated to divide and distract the pub
lie councils, were carefully avoided. These
were left to the wisdom of the future to de.
icrminc. presented, | repeat, the isola-
ted question of annexation; and in that
form i, has been Submitted to the ordeal ol
public sentiment. a controlling m0lor!t,
Of the people, and large majority OF the
States, have declared III favor If Immediate
annexation. Instructions have thus come
up to both branches of Congress, from
their respective constituents, IN 'ern'
most emphatic. 1t is the will Of both the
people aud the states, that Texas shall be
annexed to the Union promptly aud i'm
medidiely. 1t may be hoped that in car
rying into execution the public will thu,
declared. collateral issues may he avoided
Future Legislatures can best decide as tn
the number of states which should be form
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