Ypsilanti sentinel. [volume] (Ypsilanti, Washtenaw Co., Mich.) 1843-1900, 1844-06-13
POLK AND TEXAS.


the Locofoco candidate for President,
was not read at the great Locofoco rati-
fication meeting In the Park on Tuesday.
Ii is, however, genuine, and is here placed
on record as part of the history of the
times; The new position Of its author hav-
ing attached consequence to his opinions
to which, while mere private individual,
they we're not perhaps enlItled.
Columbus. Tenn. April %, IA.
GENTLEMEN: Your letter of the Both
ult. which you have done me the honor
to address to me, reached my residence
during my absence from home, and was
not received until yesterday. Accompa-
nying your letter, you transmit to me, as
you state, copy of the proceedings of
very large meeting of the citizens Of Gin
cinnati, assembled on the 59th inst. to ex.
press their sellled opposition to the an.
nexation of Texas to the United States.
You request from me an explicit express
sion of opinion upon the question of an
nexation. Having at no time entertained
opinions upon public subjects which |
was unwilling TO avow, it gives me pleas
ure to comply with your request. have
no hesitation in declaring that [ am in ia.
vor Of the Immediate annexation of Tex
as to thei territory and government of
the Unite d States. | entertain 10 doubts
as to the power or expectancy of annex
alton. The proof is clear and salts
factory to my mind that Texas once con-
stltuted part ofthe territory of the Uni
ted States, the title to which | regard to
have been as inGispuIa bic as that to any
portion of our territory. AT the time the
negotiation was opened with view to ac-
quire the FIolidas, and the settlement of
other questions, aud pending that negoti-
alton. the Spanish Government itself was
satisfied AT the validity of our title, and
was ready to recognize line far West
OF the Sabine, as the true Western boun-
Diary of Louisiana, as defined by the rrea-
ty of 1903 with France,under which Lou
lsiana was acquired. This negotiation
which had bren first opened at Madrid.
was broken off and transferred to WASH
Ington, where it was resumed, and result
ted in the treaty of Florida, by which the
Sabine was fixed on as the Western boun-
Diary of louisiana. From the ratification
Of The treaty of 1919 with Spain, the ter
ritory now constituting the Republic of
Texas belonged 10 the United States. In
1919, the Florida treaty was concluded
at Washington by MIR. John Quincy AID.
ans, The Secretary of State, on the part
Of the U. S. and Don Louis de Onis on
the part of Spain, and by that treaty this
territory lying West of NE Sabine, and
Constituting Texas, was cedeG by the U.
States TO Spain. The Rio del Norte or
some more Western boundary than the
Sabine could have been obtained, had 1t
been insisted on by the American Secre.
tary of State, and that without increasing
the consideration paid for the FIoridas.
La my judgment, the country West of
the Sabine, and now called Texas, was
most unwisely ceded away. 1t is part
of the great valley of the Mississippi, dI.
reclIy connected by its navigable waters
with The Mississippi river,and having once
been part of our Union. il should never
have been dsmembered from it. The
Government and people of Texas, it is un-
derstood, not only give their consent, but
are anxiously DESTROYS 10 be united to the
United States. 1.-THE application Of Tex
as for union and admission into our Con.
federacy shall be rejected by the United
States, there is immirent danger that she
will become dependency, if not colo
ny Of Great Britain, an event which no
American patriot. anxious for the safety
and prosperity oftheir country, could per-
mt to occur without the most strenuous
resistance. Let Texas be annexed, and
the authority aud laws Of the IT. States
be established and maintained within her
limits, as also in The Oregon Territory,
and lei the fixed policy of our Govern.
ment be, not TO permit Great Britain or
any other foreign power to plant colo
ny or hold dominion over any portion of
the people or territory of either. These
are my opinions and without deeming it
necessary 10 extend This letter, by assign
iDg the many reasons which influence me
IN the conclusions to which come. L
regret to be Compelled 10 differ so widely |
from the views expressed by yourselves,
add the meeting Of citizens of Cincinnati
whom you represent. Differing howev-
er, with you and with them as l do, it was
due to frankness that should be thus ex-
plIcit in the declaration Of my opinions.
am, with great respect.
your obedient servant,
JAMES X. POLK.
Henry Clay cut the Ashland ash stick