The Ohio Democrat. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1840-1900, 1844-05-30
From the Nashville Union
GEN. JACKSON AND ANNEXATION.

uue Sn his leuer comes Iorh al the urgent request
ofGen. Jacksons numerous friends, who have address
sed him Of late and expressed desire to know if his
sentiments have not changed in regard to annexation,
since so much infohatioh has been brought to bear up
on this great measure by The letters Of Mr. Van Buren
and other distinguished men OF our country.
>, HERMrAoE, May f3, 1914.
To tie Editdr Of the UnionI
SIR am induced to address you this letter, because
have within few days past, received letters from
many Of my friends, who have expressed desire to
know whether my views in relation to the policy of an
nesatng Texas to the United States have been changed
by the light which the subject has received from the
recent letters Mr. Van Buren, and other prominent c
zens and because seems to be necessary that should
answer or be misunderstood
Having no connection with the question, except the
interestwhch, in common with other citizens take in
all that concerns my country, What have heretofore
said upon it was dictated by no desire to be promin-
ent actor. II was certainly far from my expectation
that there should be an effort in any quarter to make the
question mere party one. Hence, when it was brought
to my notice some twelve months ago, by the honorable
Mr.. Brown, OF this State, answered his inquiries with
promptness and trankness.
had not forgotten the principles by which my adj
ministratiod had been guided when attempting to obtain
Texas 6y negotiation with Mexico nor the care which
was taken to convince Mexico afterwards that this 60
vermenrhad no agency directly or indirectly, in the
steps esoed to by the people of Texasto establish for
themselves an independent government In the reference
which Mr. Van Bureh has made my conduct as Pre-
sldent in these respects he has stated what is entirely
true, and has deneaed with the ability add perspcuity
which characterize the course of our government in its
intercourse with foreign powers Butjust and accurate
as he is, and subscribing most fully as do to all that
he alleges as applicable to the question as stood in my
administration and it did under his own still think
that the circumstances are so far altered as to give
new aspect to the whole question, and to authorize a
corresponding change in the discretion with which our
government may now act upon it.
AT the present PERIOD cannot be doubted that Tex
as is ableto maintain her independence of Mexico, il
each State is left to its own resources uninhuenced and
unaded by any foreign power. Eight years have clap
sed since the memorable battle Of San Jacinto and there
has been no serious attempo the part Of Mexico 10 oc
cupy the country and it is certain none can be made
with any prospect of success lnthis state of affairs,
acknowledged by ourselves and the principal powers Of
the world as an independent nation and treated as such
Texas renews to the almost unanimous wish of hel
citizens to be annexed to the United telling us
substantially that if now repulsed she must form such
alliances elsewhere as will best enable her 10 improve
her resources and repair the disasters which she bas
suffered from protracted quasi war She IS sensible
that her happiness will be best secured by ncorporatoe
into our Union-hat the disposition and pursuits of her
people, being homogeneous with those Of the u States
receive no adequate protection from any other quar-
ter We admit the truth Of these assertions and feel
that they constitute powerful motive for action indie
pendent OF the consdera ons which are suggested by
prudent regard for the stability of our own ins,l-
| tions. ,.r
In reference 10 Mexico, would use the following
language: have carefully absained from all inter-
ference with your relations to Texas except to acknow-
ledge her independence in the same manner and upon
the same principles that did your independence when
you separated from Spain. Wehave indeed, been more
scrupulous with you than with Spain, for without con-
sutng or respecting the feelings of the latter power our
government did not hesitate to open negotiation with
you for the rerocesson of Texas and that too long be-
fore your independence was acknowledged by SPAIN
But the time has come when we feel that this della
cy ought no longer to restrain us from a treaty with
Texas particularly we know that our failure to do
so will produce results that may endanger the safety OF
our own confederacy.
cannot think there is discrepancy between these
views and those avowed BY my administration, when
proper allowance ismade for the change of crcumstan
ces or that they contain any we'll founded cause for
complaint on the part Of Mexico .rt
1t may now be stated as TACT on which we may re-
y with the greatest confidence, that if Texas be not
speedily admitted into our confederacy, she must and
will be inevitably driven into alliances and commercial
regulations with the European powers, Of character
highly injurious and probably hostile, to this country
What would then be our condition} New Orleans and
the whole valley of fhe Mississippi would be endarger-
Fed The numerous herds of savages within the limits
of Texas and On her borders would be easily excited
Ito make war upon our defenceess frontier
donot deem Unnecessary to be more explicit here in
the enumeration Of the reasons which justify 10 mind,
the speedy annexation of Texas to the United States
my aim is to give to this country the strength 10 resist
foreign interference Without Texas, we shall not have
this strength She is the key to our safety in the south
west and west She offers this key to us on fair and
honorable terms Let us take G. lock the door against
future danger. We can do it without giving Just of
fence to Mexico. Indeed we may say that the measure
is called for by the interests of Mexico no less than Of
our own; for without it. she can have no reliable guar
'antee against future invasion .0f
AS to the form Of fannexation, do not think it ma