The Whig standard. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1843-1844, 1844-06-24
A NEW DIFFICULTY.

A NEW DIFFICULTY.
The following extract from the London Times,
the ministerial journal, presents difficulty con-
nected wi'h the annexation question, which is
new to US, and yet it is one which must form a
real, substantial, and weghry impeachment to any
treaty or compact which may lie made upon that
subject and one we apprehend which the high
contracting parties will rot find it an easy matter
to overcome. Texas has entered into treaty stipu-
la1ioas with England, granting the right If search
with view to the suppression of the slave trade,
which she has no right, under any pretext, I"
AVOID and her admission into this Union could
not, according to the most obvious principle Of in
ternational law and ,nmon sense, release her
from her Obligations. the authority of Vattel is
most explicit and pointed on the subject, as will
be seen in the quotation made by the Times. the
reason and property of Walters dictam is too
pain need illustration; but one occurs 10
so germane TO the subject of Uncle Sans ILL
cit amour with Texas, aud SO we'll calculated to
render the idea familiar to persons the least ac-
quainted with such topics, that we.wll venture
to give it. We draw the illustration from plain
principle of common law, which every person
who has set upon jury must have seen practi-
cay applied spinster of thirty, who has en-
numbered her property by trading "upon her own
hook" might take it into her head, that by marry
ing bachelor Of forty, she would be released
from liability to her creditors, and that her prop
cry woull no longer be subject to their just de-
mands-in word, that the moose Of matrimony
would unloose the grasp of the sheriff. But in
all such cases the law holds her husband, and the
property he acquires by her. responsible to the
creditor and the reason of the law is acquiesced
in by the whole world of manklnd-without it the
occurrence. In like manner, if Uncle Sam takes
Texas to his bosom, he must according to the
laws of nations, take her "for better or for
worse" with the load of her obligations upon
her. And if there be any truth in Vattel, Eng
land will have the clear right, in the event of
nexation, TO demand of this Government the sur
render of the right of search, SO far as the COM
merce IF Texas is concerned. And shall we yield
it--shall we change our whole foreign policy, and
surrender rights for which we were ready 10 60
to war few short months ago, all for the acqui-
stion Of Texas!
But again. The public debt of Texas has been
contracted upon the faith of her public lands, to-
gether with the revenue derived from iInposts.
BY the defunct treaty, both the lands and the i'm
poste are surrendered to the Federal Government,
while only given amount of the debt is assumed,
viz: ten millions. Now, if it shall turn out, as
every body believes, that Texas owes twice or
thrice ter millions, WIN is to be held responsible
for the excess above the stipulated amount? VINO
but the United States And suppose fore IN ma
tions to whom, mainly, this vast excess is due,
shall demand it of this Government, as they will
have The right to do-shall we pay it Or shall
we incur war by refusal To pay it under such
circumstances would argue cowardice and not
topay it, paltry, scurvy, baseness Not to pay the
deb. contracted upon the faith of property and
resources which We should hold under the treaty,
would place us in an attitude no more re spectable
than that of common swindler, or receiver of
stolen goods.
In every point of view this nefarious REGULATING
scheme CT annexation is beset with d fficutv. and
in no way can this nation honoraby acquit itself
in the premises but by putting the seal Of repro.
baton upon it's authors. If Texas cannot be ac
qured without foreign war, and without disturb.