Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1844-06-06
ANNEXATION OF TEXAS.
Speech Of VII. owen of Indiana,

w
IN NE House y Rspreseaiatires. Nay 81. ISi4-0a Aerigh
and duty Of the Uahed States nor 70 GeocPf the eGer made
by TsTIs ~ G1aerafgH.
The navy Appropriation bill being under discussion. in
Committee 81 the Whole on the State Of the Union. and the
subject OF the annexation Of Texas having been introduced
by several gentlemen
NJ. OWEN said: / des1e 10 offer a few remarks on a sub
jet which Was dawn Ito the present detale sesieiday by
the gentleman from south Cafolira, lNt. HoIMEsl and The
gentleman fem New Hampshire, Nj. Has and which has
been discussed to-day BY tie gentleman from View York,
Mr.. IiuNr
have not f.rgottcn, sm, hat a few weeks since, when |
opened the debate on the important subject Of the tnif, |
was almost taken T. task, as Tor presumption, by a gentle
nan on the opposite side. II now, because | seek the ear Of
the House al tins early Ieiiud Of discussion, on a question
even mpIe exciting, II may seem Ju,t cause for apology that
] adde's you before older and mole experienced members
have spoken, have 10 say, that II - Gct., rather than opIn-
ions, ] purpose briefly 10 present; facts, some OF which, though
separately and IN a general way known 10 many, may snt,
an their authentic and connected form. rot vet have fully
presented themselves 10 a portion Of my fellow members;
among the rest, # may be permitted TO Judge from his re-
maxi, 10 the gentleman fom New York And II there be
a subject the facts connected " 18th " Nh should, at this juno
tufe, be dIspassiOuately deliberately. sclupulou>ly examined
by American Statesmen, that subject Is the annexation of
Texas
This duty Of examining for ourselves. always imperative,
aoquues additional urgency from the ptesent aspect of The
SUBJECT. Those who are Accustomed I, seek opf IONS IN Dis
tingurhed authorities rather than patient Investigations, find
themselves al fault here.
FiOm the shades Of the quiet Hermitage. whence. if from
tubing pas ion, aud Of patriotism cha>teued by the calming
hand Of time. my be expected l. reach uS-fom the retire
ment II tho.e shades, 10 " hose ven.ra,ed inmate The heart
OF a grateful people still Turns with confidence and with
pride. comes a voice Of waning and of cxhortation. Gen.
Jackson, not three months since, wrote to a menber Of tas
House:
The present golden moment to Obtain Texas must no, Re lost,
aud be forever lost to THE uahed States"
From this bold opiuion somc II cur most trusted st,te,men
dissent. Henry Clay, to whom. IN spte Of hi> faults, po-
ln'cal opponent cannot refuse the cha acter Of a great man,
tases the opposite ground In his letter Of the Eth April,
on this subject. after biiehy reviewing the events Of the
Texan struggle. aud alIuding TO our recognition of Texan
independence, Mr. Clay adds:
..vrb,. ....o a. .u ,s
~ She =" a. a. -, o ,gi.,D'I ",an ,n si, q ae,~een led and TsS i
ued To ASST. aud 50 lar a. NOW vet as.e,fs her ~, . Clue
TeH@s' to Obedience. as ii part Of the Republic OF Menco."
MI. Clay then goes on TO say
Under these circumstances. II TIE Government Of the United
S Harr wsIe 20 sn%es Irxas. Il n w%ah a ag e.,, o 1n W ~ - II Z al IN, w.
-" VI \ : nue. a' In,o, 80 Sm 49, m.ua
en~,e there cannot Re a doubt. Annexation and wal With Mex
- are Identical. Now. for one. ! certainly am not wihag 10 en-
tase this country an a teretgH Tar. for the OBJECT OF acquiring
al this is very plain and, If the premises were correct.
mig TO her purpose Ultimately 10 reeorqucr Texas, has pre-
served all her lights over her las pat Of he Republic Of
Mexico" II tins be tue, Mexico may righyuHy make war
on Us. Il we annex Texas We. therefore, IN annexing her,
would cng'ge ~Trongfuiiy 10 war And in regard TO such a
nwt to ri~k being dawn into 1t. "for the Object Of acquiring
Texas The night and wrong of The case | will examine
by and BY now only calling your attention 10 The important
TACT hat vi Gay : Argument inoIhs annexation foerer'
without the assent Of Mexico And this is The gound. IA
ken no, only ~ the Presidential ~candid,te. but by the con
trolling journals Of the Wing paty. The National Intcli-
genoerof May o, in ITS leading article, dccl res:
Let TEXAS lie anaesed ritasnl ne ess.est ef Miro and we
the hare imarinaron OF whrh is sum lent To I'll with alarm and
dismay tie bosom Of every friend 10 1> country"
MIR Van Buren,, a MN wise and far-seeing As few states
men ac or ever have been. takes different found; halfway,
II | may 50 express. II. between MI. Clay General JACK
son. After IS abIshins. be,ond ca,iI. fin his letter Of Aprl
20) the constitutional right 70 annex. he quotes a still APP
plIcable 10 the present lunctue, The language of General
I,cL.on IN lS36 that -, n, carlv movement weuIl snbiect us
however unJustIy, To the impuiation If seeking TO establish
the claims Of our neighbors 10 a territory. with a view to its
subsequent acquisition by ourselves" MIR. Van Buien adds,
however. tins very important opinion:
Il Nv no means contend. that a formal recognition Of 7eras 6g
.Nsueo IS necessary 10 justify Us in asserting to her annex Nation to
change in the relarions lerwcen these two countries as 10 render
a ae' q that ,sarae,er % ne part Of .ueI'eo a.aeeessary and
ten have been able to ohtain On tie subject, no change has yet
ina: piieablc'" -" "-' nc '''0" 10 "s's 's''"''
Here. then, are three opinions; the one. that we have a
have a right. until Mexico consent T. the annexation and
the thiId. that time and circumstances may he eafter give Us
a light without consulting Aiexic,. but have not yet done So
And, IN support Of each II these cjniending opinions, one Of
the most distinguished names among the living statesmen Of
America can be adIucei.
To the facts Of the case let u appeal. 10 guide our deci-
sion, where authorizes entitled TO Tie highest respect disa-
gee:
b, the treaty Of April 80, 1903, during JcfferSon's admin
isiIaiion, the colony or province Of Louisiana" a every
one knows. was purchased Of France. The western bound
airy Of this ''colOny or province" extended 10 the Rio del
Noftc, and Of ceurse included Texas, which thus became
ours. Ii any one IS found, so rash. or so irle acquainted
with the facts. i TO question this. let htn sunes me to refer
him ~ III. Clas's speech of April 3. 1920, published in the
National lntelIgenceT Of April IL, of the SINE year0 in
which, while arguing against any cession of Texas, he say
"He Mr.. CLAW presumed the spectacle would rot be pres enied
Of que-tO' ing. IN this branch OF tie government. our title 10 Tex
as. w.ich bad heen constantly mai.tained by the executive. Tor
tie Wa. at tie same time. ready rc make out tie title. II aHy ons
ssfhs House rere fearless eaoasA % eoatrere,f II"
Nj. Jo.Ern Il. INGER>oLL inquired Of Mr.. Owen if he had
read a speech Of MI. Benrons. published this morning. m
which he showed, thai the bountarie proposed by the present
treaty were not the same j. those of Tex =, as celcd 10 US IN
lsOJ but Ine."is1 considerable" stsip Is ssfriiov beside.
Hr. OWEN. Yes, have read that speech. ~psak here
Tot II the Treaty, Al Is not before Us nor Of the bs,tdaItcs
be they what they may, determined ;, n; | sneak of TIA,
Texas. the title TO which Nj. Clay 80 boldly maintained =,
1870 Texas as cedei 10 US IN 1903; Texas TO the RIO del
Nortc.
BY the treaty Of Atrii 50, ISC3. then, Texas became n,r,
Of the Union. rhe third article II that treaty contains the
compact " which the United States made IN fsvoI Of the inhab
liant. Of Loui>iana proper. and If Texas. at the time they
were thus admitted into the confederacy. Al thi, time
when = much \ satd about the Va 'latien Of tue solemn faith
of treaties, II Is especially worthy of attention. II reads as
follows:
pointed in tie Union OF tie United stat s. aud admitted. a 3 sor
a possib'e. arcorfin. To the pTinripiss OF tie re- leral consri,ufion
KxAIsrssEp AND rRorEerrp IN the free enjoyment Of rHrrE
usrRry, PROPERTY. AND THE RrLiGIoS which tIey profess"
For sixteen years Texas remained an integral pal ton o.
the Union prot cted. sccor'ing 10 The terms II this promise
by The government II the United States.
On the 2si Of rehTuarv. 1919. a treaty was signed Al
Washingt m by Loui> DC ems on the part II SPAIN. and ] In
Quincy Adams on behalf Of the United States, Nv which
foG the sake Of obtaining the FoTiias. our government agree
TO cede To "hts Catholic Majesty" the territory Of Texas
The subsanee OF this treaty agreement is thus summed M
by Mr.. Clay, IN his speech Of Apsil 3, 1870, already refeneS
results. then. that We have given for Florida, charged am
sasumse,sa ? =. srsf. anIne.~'s~d Tssas sssssd hve NIL