Hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1843-1845, 1844-09-19
Another Letter from Mr. Clay
on Annexation.
ASHLAND. 9th July, 1914.

ASHLAND, 9th July, 1914.
GENrLEMEN-I have received your
: favor informing me that my views, as
, disclosed in my letter from Raleigh. or
} the question Of the annexation of Tex
as, are misconceived, if not misrepre
sented in your quarter; and that it is
supposed that | have changed my O.
pinion from wha, it was in 1919.
endeavored to express myself in thai
letter as explicitly as | could, and
do not think now that it can be fairly
misin,erpreted.
In 1919, when | addressed the
Housesof Representatives, the Execu-
tive had negotiated the treaty with
Spain, by which Texas was ceded TO
that power, but Congress had not then
given any sanction to the cession.
believe now, as thought then, that
the treaty-making power is not compe-
tent, without the concurrence of Con-
gress, to cede away any territory be-
longing to the United States. But
Congress, by repeated acts subsequent.
ly manifested lis appreciation of the
treaty; and these acIs rendered it as
valid and obligatory upon the United
States, as if Congress had given its as
sent, prior to the conclusion OF the
treaty. AT tna. period of 1910, lie Xas
as claimed by US, was unpeopled. No
hostile incursions had been made into
it by citizens of the United States. In
1925 and 1927, there were but few in
hab!tan.s of Texas. consisting of some
solonists, planted there under the au
,hority of Mexico. At neither of the
three periods above mentioned had
any State or section, i'll this Union,
manifested any opposition to Texas
becoming part of il. |; has been said
tina. Mr. Adams administration offered
to negotiate with Mexico for Texas,
Notwithstanding the existence of war
between Spain aud Mexico, and that it
could not therefore have believed that
the ACQUISITION of Texas, at this time,
would have involved the United States
with war with Spain. Hence il is ar
gued that tie ratification of the late
treaty could not have compromised
our peace.
! Mr. Adams thought i, desirable to
obtain Texas. Two foreign powers
claimed it. Mexico was in possession
and Spain was doing nothing to assert
and enforce her claim. Her represen-
tative had even gone SO far as to stipu-
tate, in a convention. TO acknowledge
the independence Of Mexico, although
that convention was not ratified by
Spain.
! Mr. Adams had right to authorize
the negotiation Of a treaty for The &C
QUESTION of Texas with both or either
Of the powers claiming it. 1t was nat
ural that he should begin with that
power which had the possession Of
Texas. Spain had interposed no OBJ
stacle. She had made no declaration
tina! she would regard the acquisition
Of Texas as an act Of war. In point Of
fact, no overture was formally made to
Mexico TO purchase Texas, no negoti.
alton was opened, no treaty was con.
cluded. Ii negotiation had commence
ed, or if a treaty had been signed, and
Spain had protested, the prudent and
cautious policy which characterize d
Mr. Adams administration, would un-
doubleday have prompted him to quiet
Spain, and accommodate the matter,
previous to the annexation Of Texas to
the United States, and WITHOUT plung-
ing them into war with Spain. How
totally different are all the crcumstan-
ces under which, with Adams au,hori-
ty, + authorized the overture to Mexico
from those which attended the recent
treaty of Mr. Tyler! So far from Mex
leo being silent, she repeatedly and
soIemnly delared that she would con-
: slider annexation as war with her,
Texas was no longer an uninhabited
country. 1t had been wres!ed from
the dominion Of Mexico by citizens,
many Of whom went armed from the
!, United States. The war between
!. Mexico and Texas had not been termi-
mated by any treaty of peace. Mr. Ty-
Ter not only did not consult Mexico,
! but he announced that her assent 10
, the annexation was altogether unne-
I. csssary. And he proceeded to con-
| clude a treaty. embracing a large ex-
v tent Of Territory, and numerous pop.
5 ulaton, not comprehended in the Tex
}. az which the United States coded to
u Spain in 1919.
g In the meantime, TOO, powerful oP'
r position had arisen in the United States
II against the annexation of Texas to them
I Several States had declared, through
e their Legislatures, against it. 1hi'
O ,Oas the opposition to the measure, Il
d which. in my Raleigh letter, | ailaa
lr ed, ,0hen I spoke Of a "considerabt
and respectable portion Of the eosfea