Columbus Whig. (Columbus, Miss.) 1843-18??, 1844-04-04
HnRMlrAaE, Feb. le, Is45.

% -
tner's letter on the subject OF the annex-'
alton Of Texas 10 the United State.
Yon are not mistaken in supposing
fha. l have formed an opinion on this
interesting subject. II occupied much
ofmy attention during my Presidency.
and / am sure has lost none offs im-
por.ance by what has since transPir-
ed. s.,e
Soon after thy election in 1929, IL
was made known to me by Mr.. En-
win, formerly our minister at the court
of Madrid, that whilst at that court he
had laid tho foundation ola treaty with
Spain Tor the cession OF the Florida3,
and The settlement of the boundary OF
Louisiana fixing the western limit OF
the latrer at the Rio Grande," agreea-
bly, to the understanding Of France,
that he had written home TO our gov
eminent for powers 10 complete and
sign this me- otiatioD; but that, Instead OF
receiving such authority, the negotla-
lion was taken out Of his hands and
transferred to Washington, and new
treaty was there CONCLUDED, by which
the Sabine, and not the Rio Grande,
was recognised and established as the
boundary, Of Louisiana. ,-gr@.<
Finding that these statements were
true and that our government did real
ly give up that important territory, |
when it was at its option to retain-it,
was filled with establishment. The
right to the territory was Obtained from
France: Spain stood ready to ackn owl |
edge it 10 the Rio Grande: and yet the |
authority asked by our minister TO in
sert the true boundary was not only
withheld, but in lieu Of it, limit was
adopted which stripped Us Of the
whole Of the vast country lying be
tween the two riveLs.
On such subject, | thought with
the ancient Romans, that il was RICH.
never to cede any land or boundary of
The republic, but always to add il by {
honUtable treaty, thus extending the
area of freedom; and it was in accord |
ance with this feeling that l gave our {
minister 10 Mexico instructions to act I
1pon negotiation for the retrocession Il
If Texas tothe United States. a
This negotiation failed, and | shall b
'ver regret it as misfortune to both O
Iexico aud the United states. Mr.
Timers letter presents many Of the a
onsideralions wbich,in my judgement, ii
sndered the step necessary TO the y
eace and harmony Of the two coun- p
les; but the point in it at that time, I'll
hich most strongly impeIIed me to in
e course pursued, was the injustice L
me TO us by the surrender of The ter Y
DRY, when it was obvious that il could e
we been retained without increasing ill
e consideration afterwards given for 5,
e Floridas. could not but feel that W,
e surrender Of SO vast and important tv
erritoy was attributable to an errone m
Is estimate of the tendency Of our in
tutions, in which there was mingled
mewhat of jealousy to the rising ar
ealness ofthe South and West. III
But / forbear to dwell on this part m
the history of this question. 1t is bC
ast and cannot now be undone. We W
In now only look at it as one of an
if Texas present it TO US; and b.
she does, do not hesitate to say to
lat the welfare and happiness Of our Of
|nion require that it should be accept
d. LII
If in military point of view alone, p
re question be examined, it will be
ound to be most important to the Uni
ed States to be in possession of thai n
srritorv. $
Great Britain has already made
reaties with Texas; and we know b
hat farseeing nation never omlts cir I
In her extensive intercourse Il
With the world, which can be turned 81
o account in increasing her military o
resources. May she not enter into al
lance with Texas? and reserving las v
she doubtless willy the northwestern
boundary question as cause Of war 81
with us whene yer she chooses 10 de-
clare it, let Us suppose that, as an ally {
with Texas, we are TO fight her! Pre- Il
TO such movement, she c
sends her 10000 or 10000 men to o
Texas; organizes them on the Sabine, {
where her supplies and arms can be O
concentrated before We have even no. \
tice of her intentions; makes lodge s.
ment on the Mississippi; excites The ne o
groes to insurrection; the lower coun- T
try falls, and with it New Orleans; and "
a servile war RACES through the whole S
South and West.
In the mean while she is also NOV $
ing an army along the upper western o
frontier from Canada, which, in o-op- o
Grafton with the army from Texas, Il
spreads ruin and havoc from the Lakes Il
TO the Gulf of Mexico. a
Who can estimate the national loss u
we may sustain, before such a move 4
ment could be repealed with such force +
as. We could or5anze on short no. ?
NSnoi