Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1844-05-10
TERMS OF THE RICHMOND PALLADIUM
Two DoIiars--in advance; and Three Dollars
at the expiration of the year.
MR.. CLAY on THE TEXAS QUESTION.

MI. tLAI w IEAiH EAIiUy.
The following Letter from Mr.. Clay to the Ed
itors was forwarded from Raleigh on the day Of
its date. but did not reach our hands in timo for
publication earlier than to-day.-Nat. Intel.
To Editors of tho National Tntelligencer
RALEIGH, April II, 1914.
Observation-Disclosures to my departure from
Ashland, in December last, | received various
communications from popular nsscmbla9cs and
private individuals, requesting an expression Of
my opinion upon tho question of the Annexation
of Texas to tho United States ! have forborne
to reply thcm because it not worry convc-
nicnt during the progress OF my journey. to do
so, and for othor reasons. did not think 1t pro-
per- unnecessarily, to Introduce ut present now
clement among the other exciting subjects which
agitate and cngross tho public mind. Tho rcICc-
ton of the overture of Texas Some years ago. 10
become annexed to tho United Statcs, had met
with n general acquicsccnco. Nothing had SINCE
occurred materially to vary the question. | had
seen no evidence Of desire bong entertained on
:,o part Of any considerable portion Of the Amer
lean people. that Texas should become lntc-
grail part Of the United States. During my
ourn in New Orleans | had indeed been greatly
surprised, by information which received from
Texas, that. in the course of last fall. Il volunta-
nv overture had proceeded from tho Executive of
tho tnitod States to tho Authorities of Texas to
conclude treaty of Annexation; and that. in
der to overcome the rcpugnance felt by any of
them to negotiation upon tho sub joct strong and
ms | believed erroneous representations had been
made to them of n state of opinion in the Senate
of tho United States favorable to tho ratification
of such treaty. According to these roproson-
tations, it had been asccrtainod that number of
Senators, varying from thirty five to forty two,
wcro ready to sanction such treaty. was u
ware, too, that holders Of Texas lands and Texas
scrip, and spectators in them, actively
gagged in promoting tho object Of annexation
Il Jx1, A.,
United States would venture upon grave and
momontous proceeding, not only without any
general manifestation Of public opinion III favor
OF 1t. but III direct opposition to strong and dcci
dcd expressions of public disapprobation. But it
appears that mistaken. To the astonsh-
that treaty of annexation has been actually con-
rludcd and is to be submitted to the Senate for
It's consideration. The motives for my silence
therefore, no longer remain. and feel it TO be
duty to present exposition OF my views and
opinions upon tho question for what they may be
worth, to the public consideration. | adopt this
method rs being more convenient than several re-
plics To tho respective communications which
have received.
regret that have not the adyantagc of Wow
of the treaty itself, so to enable adapt
an expression of my opinion to the actual condi-
tions and stipuations which it contains. Not
possessing that opportunity. am constrained to
treat tho question according to what presume to
be the terms of tho treaty. If. without the loss
OF national character. without the hazard of for
cIgn war, with tho general concurrence of the M
ton, without any danger TO the integrity of the
Union, and without giving an unreasonable price
for Texas the question of annexation were pre-
sontcd. It would appear IN quite different light
from that in which, apprchcnd, it is now to be
regarded
Tho United States acquired tito to Texas. cx-
tending. as believe to the Rio del Nortc. by the
treaty of Louisiana. They coded and rclinquish
Il, I,1-tI of Nv
which the Sabine substituted for tho Rio del
Nortc as our western boundary. This treaty was
negotiated under the Administration of Mr. Mon
roc, and with the concurrence of his Cabinet. in
which Mossrs. Crawford. Calhoun and Writ be-
ing majority, all Southern gentlemen. composed
Il part. When the treaty was laid before the
House of Representatives. boing member ofthat
body. Il expressed tho opinion which | then enter
tanned, and still hold. that Texas sacrificed
To tho acquisition of Florida. We wanted Flor
ida but thought it must, from It's position. NOV
,tably fall into possessions that tho poin of
few years, sooner or later. was of no sort o con-
sequence. and that IN giving five millions d dol
lars and IcNas for II, we give moro than Just
equivalent. But. If made great sacrifice in
tho surrender of Texas. we ought 10 taxi care
not TO mako too grcata sacrifice Ill the attenpt to-
roacquiro it.
Ny opinions of tho inoxpodiency of tho roatv
of 1919 did not prevail. The country an Con-
gross were satisfied with II. appropriations were
made TO carry it into effect, the line of the sabine
was recognized by our boundary. in logoti-
atoms both with Spain and Mexico after 1oxico
became independent. and measures have iccn in
actual progress TO mark the line. from thoSabine
To Red River. and thence to tho Pacific Oean.-I
we have thus fairly alicnatcd our title te Toxas !
oy solemn national compacts. to the fulfilacnt of
winch We stand bound by good faith and ational
honor. 1t is, therefore. perfectly idle an riIicu-
'ous' II moi dlshonorable to talk of rcsusinr our
wC 4
we can no moro do that than Spain caI rcsln1,
Florida. France louisiana or Great Btain tho
Ihlrteon Colonies, now composing a prt of the
United tatcs.
During the administration Of Mr. Ahns. Mr..
folnsctt, Minister of the United States Mexico
was instructed by me. with the Presidents author
~; 10 propose a repurchase of Texa; but he