The Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1834-184?, 1844-03-28
From the Louisville Journal.

A4A&t liz 4
terms of a treaty for the annexation ofTexas
to this country had been arranged, tuins
out 10 be true. The first intimations of a
measure of the very highest importance to
this nation comes from a foreign country! i
A creature, like Tyler, has it in his power,
silently and secretly, TO engage eighteen
millions of people in a foreign, if not a civil
war, and which, in the opinion ofmany, would
cause dissolution of our happy Union
From a long editorial article in the National
In~telligencer, of the 18th, we extract the fol-
lowing, which leaves no doubt of the truth
ofthis astounding intelligence.
sit is now some months ago-probably not
long after the retirement of Mr.. Webster
from the Department of State-that an ov-
erture was made, by this Government,
through the Secretary of State, inviting from
the Executive of Texas General Houston)
a proposition for the annexation of Texas to
the United States. This overture was, at
first, five understand rightly, rather coolly
received by the Chief Of the young Repub-
lie. But, since the meeting of Congress,
the Government of Texas having been
again approached-we will not say impor-
tuned, though circumstances almost justify
the use of that phrase-by the Executive of
the United States, General Houston did at
length consent to negotiate on the subject.
The terms of an arrangement between the
high contracting parties are already arranged
&if not already done they are to be reduced
forthwith to the form ola treaty, through the a.
gency OF a special minister from Texas,(Mr.
Henderson, who is already on his way TO
this ciry for the purpose, il, before this paper
goes topress, he has not already arrived.
$50 far as the President of the United
States and the President of Texes are con-
cerned, the treaty is all but made.
"This information has, we confess, filled
our minds with humiliation and apprehension.
Humiliation at the unauthorized and almost
clandestine manner in which, after having
heretofore solemnly rejected, for unanswer-
able reasons, a proposition for annexation,
when sought by the Government of Texas,
our own Government has gone a-wooing to
that of Texas and solicited its fayors; and APP
p%rehension Of the consequences of the con-
Summation of the treaty, which the President
II AO0Ot a 8OOA lQd CIiC NIL U6
promptly ratified by a constitutional majority
ofthe Senate of the United States.
1.-The sudden occurrence of this question is
one OF those occasions of engrossing interest,
which, like that OF a foreign invasion. or a rebel
lion at home a pestilence on an earthquake
ought to suspend for a time all mere party differ
ences and contentious 1t is a question Of peace
or war; of self-preseryation of national existence.
in comparison with which the ordinary topics oil
party controversy dwindle into absolute insignI-
hcaDce."
After these remarks, the lntelligencer pro.
eeeds to assign a number of powerful. and, ie
our minds, conclusive reasons against the annex
alton of Texas, for which we have not room a
present. But we cannot omit the letter, on thi
subject, of Mr. Forsyth, Secretary of State, un-
der Mr.. Van Buren,. We quote from the Intel
igencer:
ION the fourth of August, 1887, a few month:
alter the accession of Mr.. Van Buren, 10 the Pres
ideney, a correspondence was opened with Mr.
Forsyth. then Secretary of State, by Gen. Mem
ucan Hunt, envoy extraordinary and ministe
pleDipotentlary OF the Republic of Texas, il
which the annexation OF Texas was formal
proposed to this Government, and supported b,
a train OF argument quite as cogent as any lhaI
can now be applied 10 sustain such an aDplica
ton. The offer was declined, as our reader
know, by the Presidents; and this decIension wa
communicate by Mr.. Forsyth to the Texial
minister in o letter under date OF August 25,h
than the terms OF which nothing can De NOR
decisive or explicit. 1t is from this letter tina
we make the following extracts tor The irrorma
tion of such OF our readers as have never see
or have forgotten this correspondence:
1.-THE question OF the annexation of a foreir
independent State to the United States has ne,
er before been presented to this Government
Since the adption of their Constitution two laro
additions have been made to the domain ori q
nally claimed by the United States. In acoui
ing them this Government vas not actuated h
a mere thirst Tor sway over a broader space
Paramount interests of many nembers of IN
eonfederacy. and the permanent weiI-beinp
all, imperauvely urged upon this Governmer
tbs necessity OF an extension of its iurisdictio
over Louisiana and Florida. As peace. howev,
was our cherished policy, never to be deoarte
from unless honor should be perIIed bv adhe
ing to il, we patiently endured for a time ser
Gus Inconvenience and privations, and soupI
a transfer of those regions by negotiations al
not by con quest.
"sThe issue of those negotiations was a cord
tional cessIon OF these countries to the Unite
States. The circumstance, however. of the
being colonial possessions of France and Spair
and therefore dependent on the metropolita
Government Is, renders those transactions mate
tally different from that which would be pr
sented by the question Of the annexation of Tie.
as. The latter is a State with an independe1
Government, ackn owledged as such bv the
States, and claiming a territory beyond. thous
bordering on. the region ceded by France.in Il
treaty of the 3Oth OF Aprii. 1903 Whether ii
Constitution of the United States contemplate
the annexation of such a State, and, if so,
whas manner that OBJECT is TO be effected, a
questions, in the opinion of the President,
would be iaexpedlent, under existing circur
stances, TO agitate.
$50 long as Texas shall remain at wa r, viii