Independent Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1842-1844, 1844-05-25

will be your desire to make my views o
this subject public"
/ am profoundly sensible Of your goo
and patr otto views IN making this inquiry
under existing circumstances, and shal
proceed to reply, in all frankness and sin
cerity, to your inquiry.
/ assume that there exists no cons;itu
tional objections TO Texas being incorpo
rated with our Union. That question
appears to be set al rest, since our acqui
sition of Louisiana and Florida, and III
abundant, and as | have supposed salts
factory discussion Of it TO which all hay,
access. viii at least venture 10 say tia
hey have satisfied my mind.
Passing, then, to the general question
the reasons are so numerous, cogsat
powerful, and urgent, both on the score o
policy and humanity, for making Texas
part Of the Union, and have so strong
bearing upon our national industry, rev
enues, prosperity, and power, that have
not been able 10 refuse the assent CT my
Judgment to them.
have considered, on the other hand,
the views alleged against the measure
and, greatly as the sources whence they
emanate are entitled to, and have, my res
pect, they have not proved, on the calm
est reflection, sufficient with me to out
weigh the strong reasons that exist IN Its
favor. That a step of so much nagnl-
tude, present and future, should meet with
opposition in the first instance, is to be
expected. This was the case when we
acquired Louisiana and Florida the OBJ
jectons TO which are now forgotten in the
unspeakabIe advantages flowing from it,
and TO flow throughout ages to come.
Such, it appears to me, would decidedly
attend the annexation Of Texas, Mil
lions unborn, and ages in the future, may
be expected 10 reap the advantages Of Its
Incorporation with cur Union, long after
the objections of the day are forgotten.
This important acquisition, which can
now he obtained with honor and adyan-
tage to all parties interested, bringing
with it the consent and affections Of lis
inhabitants, will, perhaps, when future
necessity makes its acquisition imperative,
be acquired only through desoIating war,
sanguInary conquests, and the loss Of
,hose affections of the Texan Inhabitants
so essential to happiness in a united and
republican people. But | woull not be
for gaining those advantages, however
transcendent and lasting | believe they
would be for our country, at the expense
Of justice.
The main question, therefore, is, would
annexation" give Mexico Just grounds Of
for, Of course, no other foreign
country has anything TO do with the ques.
ton. Now | have not been able to bring
my mind to the conclusion that it gives
Mexico any just ground of complaint
whatever. 1t Is almost eight years since
Texas won her independence at the de.
cislve battle Of San Jacinto. No serious
invasion OF her soil or other efforts of
important movements in arms, have been
made by Mexico against her since that
decisive victory. 1t was. in fact, the con.
summation Of Texan independence, and
has produced throughout the world the
unavoidable effect of an event so decisive.
The most powerful States OF Europe have
fully recognized the independence of
Texas--not suddenly, it is necessary to
bear in mind, but after letting time enough
elapse fairly TO attest that the overwhelm.
ing victory Of San Jacinto was decisive.
Those States never would have recognized
her independence 50 long rs they supposed
there existed any probability of Mexico
being able again to reduce Texas to sub.
mission by force Of arms. 1t has, indeed,
been a principle with the United Sta'es,
when civil war existed in countries, to
treat each party alike, as soon as the
power of wagng war de facto existed
with each. But this has not been the
practice Of the powers of Europe. They
act on different principles, to which their
institutions naturally incline them. They
are slow to sanction resistance, in any
shape, 10 existing authority in government.
They were very tardy, as all may remem-
Der, in acknowledging the independence
of the reTolteI colonies Of Spanish Amer
lea, Including Mexico among hem; never
theiesS, most of those ancient Kingdoms
and States have adopted Texas into the
family OF nations by their most solemn
acts of recognition, which went with
them a great deal more than the mere
formal acknowledged of de facto gov
eminent existing in Texas, and liable, at
one moment, 10 DO again overthrow;
and which facts may therefore well make
us feel easy as to their opinion of annex.
alton.
The capture Of Lord CORVALLIS did not
more effectually establish independence
for US by force of arms, mot as much so,
perhaps, all circumstances considered, J
as the total overthrow OF the Mexican ma
ton established independence for Texas.