Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-05-03
M E S S A G z .

ISAAC VAN ZANDT, SEAL.
] PINCKNEY HENDERSON. lSEAL.J
MESS SAGE.
| To the Senate Of The United States
| transmit herewith, for your approval ana fatihca,
ton q Treaty. which have caused to Dc negotiated
be,,,een the United States and Texas, whereby lhe
,,, an the conditions therein set forth, has trans
te5 and conveyed all its right of separate and 'nde
nsndent sovereignty and jurisdiction 10 the uh'teu
S,a,ss In taking important step, nave zee" 'n
enenced by hat appeared TO me TO be Inc hosl oo",
railing considerations of public policy and ths genera
mood and in having accomplished u, shouia " 'es
,b vour approval the Government VIII nave succeed,
Cd N reclam,np Territory which formerly constituted
nor,;on as it is confidently believed OF It's DOMAIN
under the Treaty of cesson of loO3 by France 10 'he
| United States. , h haon
The country thus proposed to be annexed, mas oeen
sett led principally by persons from me uh'esu oa. "a
who eniara,ed on the invitation OF ooth Hpalh anu
Mexico and who carried with them INTO 'he ",'ueI
ness which they have partially reclaimed, Tue
customs and political and domestic institutions oi 1
native land. They are deeply ndociIlha.ea ~ ~ ;n
principles of civil liberty, ond will bring along win
them i'm the act of reassociaon devotion 10 our Ohoh
and firm and nflexble resolution TO ASSIST III man
tanning the public liberty unimPa'fea-u
which, appears to me, is to be regarueu Us VI no
email moment The country ITSELF thus obtained, Is
of lncalculabe value IN al agricultural unu
point of view.
To soil of inexhaustibs fertility, it unes genial
and healthy climate, and is Destined at DAY not avs.
tant to make large contributions to the commerce o,
the world Its territory is separated from the ohteo
States in part, by imaginary lne, ana ny Inc l,Ver
Sabine for distance of $40 miles; and Ills productions
are the same with those of many OF the contiguous
States of the Union. Such Us the country snch are
its inhabitants, aud such It's capacities 10 auu 70 "
general wealth OF the Union. AS TO tue at'ei,h ""!
he safely asserted that in the magnitude OF IT'S prodnc
TONS it will equal in short time, under 'ie pro-
tecting care of this Government, If II does net
the combined productions OF many states on ne ooh
fsderacy new md powerful impulse VIII mus De
given to the navigating interest oil Tue county,
will be chiefly enproseed by fellowczehs oil the
Eastern and Middle States, who have already altaheo
remarkable degree OF prosperity by tue par'a mono
poly they have enjoyed OF the carrying lrane o' .ne
Union, particularly the coas'wise trace wh'cn ''S
new acquisition destined in time, and That not ds-
ant, 10 swell TO magnitude which cannot easy De
computed; while the addition made to the boundaries
of the home market thus secured to their INNING ma
nufacturinr and mechanical skill and industry Will De
of n character the most commanding and important
Such are some Of the many advantages waich WIN
accrue TO the Eastern and Middle States by The ratl-
icaon OF the Tteaty-advanages, the extent OF "he"
II is impossible TO estimate with accuracy OF properly
10 appreciate. Texas being adapted 10 the cnthie VI
cotton, sugar and rce and devot'ng most o, "ei ee
ges to the raising Of these productions, Will open an
extensive market 10 the Western States, IN ine lmpaI-
articles of beef, pork, horses mules &c as wen
as in breadstpifs Al the same time, the Soulherh anu
Southwestern States will find, in The tact OF annexa-
ton protection and security to their peace ana run
GUILTY. as well against all domestic as foreign enof'
10 disturb them thus consecratng anew tue Union OF
the States and holding out the promise OF It's petnai
duration.
Thus at the same time that the tide of public pros
perity greatly swollen, appeal OF what appears
TO the Executive TO be an imposing, II not of resist
less character is made the interests oil every po-
ton of The country. Agriculture which woulo nave
new and extensive market opened for It's produce
commerce, whose ships would be freighted WIN me
rich productions OF an extensive and fertile region; ana
the mechanical arts, all their various ramiacalos'
would to unite in universal demand Tor lhe
ratification of the treaty.
But, importan, as these considerations may appear,
they are to be regarded but secondary to others
Texas for reasons deemed sufficient by herself lhrew
off her dependence on Mexico far back az lob and
consun:nated her independence by The battle oil san
Jacinto, the year, since which PERIOD Mexico
has attempted serious invasion of her territory out
the has assumed features oil mere border war
characterized by acts revolving to humanity In the
wear 1886 Texns adopted her Constitution, under which
she has existed sovereign power ever since, hav
ing been recognized such by many Of the principal
powers of the world and contemporaneousy with It's
adoption BY solemn vote Of her people, embracing
all her population but ninety persons declared
her anxious desire tn be admitted into association with
the United States a portion OF their territory. This
VOTE thus soemny laken has never been reversed and
now oy The action OF her constituted authorities, sue
tanned as 1t by popular sentiment, abe re afrms her
desire for annexation. This course has been adopted
by her without the employ OF my sinister measures
the part of this Government No intrigue has been
set foot to accomplish it, Texas herself wills IL and
the Executive of the United States, concurring with
her, has sufficient to avoid the consum
nation Of an act esteemed TO bc 20 desirable by both
IL cannot be denied, that Texas greatly depressed IN
her energies by her long -proracted with Mexico.
Under these circumstances, IS but natural that she
should seek for safety and epose under the protection
of some stronger Power; and it is equally that her
people should turn 10 the IT, the land of their birth
IN the first instance, pursuit OF such protection she
has often beofe made known her wishes; but her ad.
pances have, 10 this time, been repeed The Execu-
tive oil the u. ). longer any cause for pursuing
such course. The hazard of defeating her
wishes may be of the most fatal tendency IL might leao
and most probably would, TO such entire aena
ton OF sentiment and feeling, rs would inevitably IN
duce her TO look elsewhere for aid and force her e'he
to enter into dangerous alliances with other na''ohs
who, looking with wisdom TO their interests,
would, 1t fairly be presumed, readily ADOPT suc
expedents or she would hold out the proHer OF oiS
eliminating duties in trade and commerce. ~ oraer
to secure The necessary assistance. Whatever s'cP
she irght adopt, looking to this object, wouia prove
disastrous, the highest degree, to the interests VI
the whole Union. To shy nothing OF the 'mpoiicy %
our permitting the carrying trade and home market VI
such country 10 pass out Of our hands into those Of
commercial rival, the Government, ~ the h's'
place. would be certain to suffer most hisasuousy III
its revenue by the introduction OF system OF Snug
Cling upon an extensive scale, which an army OF Gus,
tom house officers could not prevent and which "ouia
operate to affect riuriousy the interests OF all Tue IN
dus,ral classes OF this country Hence would arise
consan, collisions between the inhabitants OF The two
countries which would evermore endanger their peace
A large increase OF the military force OF the United
States would inevitably follow, thus devolv'ng upon
the people and extraordinary burdens, IN oroer
not only 10 protect them from the danger OF daily col
son with Texas herself but TO guard their border IN
IL Ic ,Iv II
the part Of The and warke tribes OF Indians
dwelling in their neighborhood Texas would undoubt-
edy be unable for many years 10 come at any time,
to resist unaded aud alone the military power OF the
IT, s. bu, it is not exuavagant to suppose, that ma
tons reapine rich harvest from her trade, secured to
them BY advantageous treaties, would be induced to
take part with her in any conflict with US, from the
stronges, considerations Of public policy Such state
of things might subject TO devastation the territory OF
contiguous States and would cost the country, in q
single campaign treasure, thrice told over, than
is stipulated 10 be paid and reimbursed by the treaty
now proposed for ratification. will not permit my
self to dwell on his Of the subject Consequent
ces of fatal character the peace OF the Union and
even to the preservation of the Union ITSELF might be
a,t non They will not, however TAIL TO occur 10