Columbus Whig. (Columbus, Miss.) 1843-18??, 1844-06-06
G0LUMBUs MIssIsnIPPI, Thurs
For the Wing.

| =
TO view it as a citizen ofthis Union-as either
. OF the South las one whose interest is identi
fed with the South and with its institutions
through veal and through woe. Perhaps m,
+ views may not accord with yours on this sub,
ject, they are entertained BY me from the light.
before me, and assure you are not assumed
because this o. that man or party have taken
them up. Are there not circumstances exist,
i, ing at this tiAle, which would render the &C.
QUESTION ofTexas like Ben. Franklins whistle
too dear. Can it be doubted by any. that the
annexation Of Texas would be Just cause of wal
on the part of Mexico?SDoes it not amount to a
declaration of war on our part? Mexico and
Texas are at war-Texas proposes to Mexico q
cessation of hosiilities for the space of six
months, and in settling the terms of such ar
mistIce, acknowledges herself colony of Mex.
leo. In the meantime our Secretary of State
Mr. Upshur. after begging and threatning Tex.
as by turns. holds the following language to her,
which will be found in his letter to our minis
ter IN Texas, under date of the 18th January,
lo44: "Fhe pending negotiation with Mexico
ought not to present any difficulty, unless Tex
as is prepared to go back again under the do
minion ofthat pow err again. "lf Mexico shall
refuse that acknowledged (of her indcPen-
dence) Texas will the more need the protection
| which the United States now offers. Now
at the termination Of this armistice, unless
some arrangement can, in the mean time, be
made, hostilities will be resumed between the
| two countries, but when that period arrives
| she has incorporated herse,f into another gov
eminent, for the purpose, as Mr.. Upshur argues,
of protection against Mexico; bat if Texas can
reat away her Independence, she cannot treat
away her vast prairies, and as she has acknow>
/ lodged to Mexico that she has of right the SUI
| preme authority over her limits, of course Mex
leo will contend for il; but who will she contend
| wlth-Texas will no longer be an Independent
nation, & cannot make war; she has placed herr
self under the protection of U S, 4 this govern,
ment will be bound in good faith having prom
ised protection" to carry on the war for her.
So far as the interest ofthis country is concern.
ed, it matters but little whether il is declara>
lion on the part Of this country, or not. If war
| follows the annexation, it must effect US as
| greatly as though it had commenced on our
part, and the strong probability ofsuch an event
as war is recognised by Mr. U. IN the above ex.
tract, and in the fact that the government has
ordered Gen. Games to Fort Jessup, On cur
Western frontier, with an armed force. And
| hat would ask. Is To become of the great
Southern interest, in the event of war, which
.specuators in Texas lands g. Texas scrip would
! have us believe to be in SO great danger that
! it is necessary to annex Texas Immediately to
| secure its safety. The occurrence of war, it
seems 10 me, would initiate much more against
that interest than the non acquisition of Texas
Are the expenses of war nothing? are the crimes
of murder, arson, robbery &c. the usual attcn>
| dants upon war. among and upon citizens, who
would otherwise be enjoying in peace and quiz
Ell the comforts of their homes and fresides
nothing? Are the stoppage OF our commerce.
the production AMI manufacture of our staple
articles the production of all trade, the ruin of
debtors and alarm and suffering of our citizens,
nothing? that we should rush headlong to &C
| quire country, which if sold would not pay
the expenses of putting ourselves into proper
state of d fence.
| Mr.. Adams calculates the cost of putting
this country into proper state of defence, at
! sum above the W hole amount ofState indebted
ness, at about S22U,0OO 900, who then can cal>
culate the cost of prosecuting war to a sue
cessful termination. ofthe ruinous loss thi
country would meet with in the absence of all
market for cotton, hemp tobacco and other
| productions which compose the wealth of the
country, and upon winch we are dependent in
dividually for support, and for existence as a
| Nation. England too, has avowed her wish
| to see Slavery abolished in the United States.
What guarantee have we, that she would not
make use of the opportunity presented, by
war with Mexico. to carry out her object, aud
/ thereby break down her greatest rival in the
production and manufacture of cotton? But
! we will suppose thai no war would follow the
| annexation of Texas to this country, what
would be its effects in extending slavery and
in strengthening the South2 The fertile lands
of Texas would be a tempting bait, which
would draw from Delaware, Maryland, Virginia
North Carolina and Kentucky, THEN slave pop
ulation, until tie slave holders would finally
be a minority, so weak as to be unable tC con
troll their legislation. the consequences of which
would be abolition in those States. What will
then be our gain7 we will have brought into
competition with us. rich cotton and sugar
growing country. which would greatly reduce
the profits of its production, we viii have drawn
off the negroes from FIVE States and settled
them in two ri three at most, SO that we will
n the end be weaker BY or votes in the
senate of the United States than at present.
But there is still another viewwhich we should
take ofsthis question of still grea er Importance
than all others. What viii other nations think
of the infraetion of our treaty with Govern
ment who is acting in good faith towards US
and paying of in an honorable manner her in~
debtcdness 10 us2' What ought we to think Of
ourselves, to rob that Government of her ac-
knowIedged territory7 Does it not better be-
come rs TO pursue the maxims of our greail
ancesters3 Our Washington, Madison. Jeifer-
son. & host ofothers. who were ever ready To-
a.: m their lives and fortunes in defence 81