The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-07-17


war with Great Britain; and that such propositions
wall be gladly accepted BY our Government and
people.
l DO not say these things because have any want
OF faith IN President Houston hut because know |
the almost overpow erina Influences that are brought
10 bear upon him. You will, doubtless, be furnished
BY this mail, through Geaeral Henderson, with the
c, dence that the commission for srr1istice wa. at
once rejected by General Houston, when II reached
him, on the ground ihat were treated IA II as a /
department OF Mexico, and that the commissioners
had not The slightest authority 10 treat upon that ba
BIS. la truth, the commissioners, who are violently
opposed to annexation, believed here TO have en-
tered into that agreement Tor the very purpose Tor
which il will doubtless be used by Mexico and the /
opponents OF annexat,on--io defeat the measure
aud there is great fear here that the disaso~a by the
President may not reach you IN season 10 meet the /
objection as copy OF the instructions TO the com
mssioDers, and the sc,ion Of the President on the
srmstice, VIII not reach here IN season 10 90 out by
the Neptune Gen. Henderson Will have, however,
letter from the President, which may have some
effect TO a certain extent
am absolutely certsin that this l. the only treaty
you can ever get aud that propositions will be
crowded up n the moment the treaty Is rejected,
that viii place the subject beyond your reach by |
peaceabe means. There is no doubt entertained /
here that the English and French ministers at your
court have Instructions 10 interpose their protest. II
they ,hink such Sc may prevent, and not acce-
lerate, The measure; and may DC the oaty means OF
pre- venting IT. Such information has been received |
here from quar'er entirely to be relied upon--a, |
Paris but the movements OF those Governments |
with your own on that question are better known to
you than TO Us.
am not willing that this !, tier shall go on The |
files OF your Department. | not certain you |
think the facts communicated OF any importance |,
that you may not have then from other quarters,
on which you have IN re right to rely or that they
may not be too late for any useful purpose. TX an
neXaiion should fail this letter might prove very in
furious to me, IL known here ii the sue
ceeds, care nothing about il
among the few friends Of annexation who
are much IN the confidence Of the Executive as To
know what movements are taken TO favor or defeat
the measure; and repeat, if said il before tina,
annexation that peaceaby, unless by the
present movement that it is not at all unlikely 10 be
broken off from this quarter and that the line be-
tween Texas aud the United States will form the
Stare line within i've yeas after commercial treaty
shall be formed with Great Britain and that by
own free will and still sooner, If we are LETT
alone to take care OF ourselves for We cannot go
into another with Mexico and leave families
al home, exposed TO the dangers Of slave popula
ton and oiH surrender the country TO
Mexico, while one man is left 10 fight.
Extracts from prirafe letter from gentleman residing
in Ttras TO the Secretary Of State.
GALVESTON, November 20, lS43.
SIN: letter lately received from -----, is the
occasion Of this. do not suppose shall be able to
possession OF, through channels that will en,lc j, to
greater consideration than mine. have WATCHED
with some interest every matter touching the affairs
of Texas, not only as it might be supposed TO have
bearing upon our interests, but those Of The United
States. Nlne-tenths Of all the people Of Texas pre-
fer annexation 10 the United States and il driven to
form other political associations il will be from the
force Of circumstances they cannot control, and
when they reduced TO that state which will
make il a matter Of self-preservation only That a
L.ah la.I IA Al. r l.
macy, well calculated 10 lead TO such a result have
the best reasons to believe anc whether they may
finally lead to anticipated results, depends, / firmly
believe, on the action Of the United States.
The first object of Great Britain in this negota-
ton is, to prevent the annexation Of Texas and
through her minister here she required as prelim-
mary before she seriously undertook the arrangement
of affairs with Mexico, that instructions should
be sent TO minister ashington to suspend all
further negotiations on that subject. That having
been done, the British minister entered upon the
Texan question zeaousy.
4 he first application 10 Santa Anna was for an
armlstice which he declined subsequently how
ever, he agreed TO receive commissioner treat on
the subject provided II was understood that the SUI
premacy OF Mexico was acknowledged, and the ne
gotiaon go upon the basi, of the propositions sent
ny Judge Robinson. This communication made
Mexico would al present listen to The President
was advised by both ministers TO accept of The terms
as IT nothing more than informal acknow.
ledgment OF Mexico, and giving II as their opinion
that, IN the end, II would be the of procuring
peace, for which they had the Instructions Of their
governments TO press earnestly upon Mexico.
] do not believe that Great Britain has the most
remote design, or WISH to own Texas proper as a
colony. She has too much sagacy not to know that
IN any sate OF the case, this is impossible; 10 say
nothing of the certainty of war with the United
States. She is sensible hat the nature of our people
such, that II would require soldier TO every clti-
zen TO keep them in subsection The first great OBJ
Ject, as have SAID, rs to prevent the anne xaton to
the United States If tbs should happen she be-
eves will be the first step TO further conquests in
Mexico She does not, or will NOT, see that under
your institutions foreign conquests are impossihle-
That government sees # Texas is If dependent as
we are not, and cannot be, manufacturing people
the expenses OF our government in a state OF peace
not exceeding s 100 600, and our tariff for reye-
Due only that she viii have a market here not
only 10 support Texas, but a DEPOT for an i'm
meDse amount Of merchandise to smuggle through the
extended line of fronti,r on the side of the T. States
as veil as Mexico-both high tariff Sites. They also
believe that The tate OF parties IN the u g. present.
does not permit the possibility Of the annex
alton Of Texas; that the power Of the abolition
sis, Of those who are DESTROYS Of obtaining in
both branches Of Congress the ascendency of
the free States, and the Presidential question uni-
ted, VIII array suheieni power against the measure
10 defeat IT, In the mean time their negotiations
are 10 progress with Mexico and finally the oues-
ton will be presented to US, will you have peace
With the Neuces Tor boundary, nth the aboli. |
too Of slavery, 10 be paid flr your slaves; or if
you prefer IT, TO hold those you have for life but to
prohioi. their ntIoducton hereaiteri The reason
why Mexican supremacy IS d sired TO be acknow.
lodged at present -, that It simplifes the treaty and
avoids as they suppose, the necessity Of recurring to
organic laws TO effect abolition. There Is no doubt
that sufficient guarantee (hss bccn) ALREADY given
as makes o certain that money is ready or soon
would be- 10 pay for slaves. IL is asserted that the
option will be gwen us, either hold the present
slaves for life, OF TO re paid for them and have them
apPreniced for term OF years, at wages nominal
only You will see that both arc seductive It, ad.
ded 10 this we are indeed to believe our danger Is
Imminent; " our coast Is hlookaded and large sr-
my marched TO our western frontier our President
with hrs train OF satellites, advocating the terms pro
posed our hopes OF relief from the United States