Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-06-28
POLITICAL.
SPEECH OF HON. WIN. c. RIVES,

Treaty. There had been many topics very ear
nestly discussed in the course OF the debate
which, in his view ofthe subject, il was not ne
cessary 10 notice. Whatever i:ay | ave been the
political motives which suggested This negotiation
in the first instance or prccipitated its conclusion
'.jusi forty days before the meeting OF the Balti
more Convention" as the Senator from Missouri
(NIr. Benton) had said, he did not stand here ic
inquire into. 10 excuse OF 10 defend them. AL
the honorable Senators suspicious in that regalC
might be well founded, and yet it would moi, in hi:
estimation, furnish valid and conclusive argu
nent agains, the annexation OF Texas, II that be
i'll itself, m object of high national expedicncy.-
So in relation 10 the conduct oi the negotiation
There were circumstances III lis inception, lis pro
gtceS. and its conSl,mniaton, which he deeply re
GREETED. and could sincerely wish had been other
wise Bat these things are past and irfcvocahe
We were mol called upon, in deciding upon the
fate oi tho Treaty 10 pass VOC OF approoailoi
or ccnsure on the acts or motives oi the admins
traiion which negotiated il. The treaty itscl
was the question now to be disposed Of by the &C
ton OF the Senate.
In doing that wisely and Justly, the first inqui
rv which presents itself is a. 10 the character am
importance olthe object sought To I've accomplish
ed by the treaty. II seemed 10 him (>ad Mr.
Rives) impossible 10 look upon the map of tht
GINl llil ~ ICiOeHiHI piiI' tii'
importance of the object 10 the unity and safety
as well As the strength and power ol the nation.-
The unfortunate alienation ofthat portion oi ON
domain. b. the treaty with Spain in 1919, had re-
vcTsed the territorial position otthc United States
and placed the weight The American empire
extending in lis northern belt from sea 10 sea, a
upon the point OF an inverted cone. II cut oi!
five hundred miles of the solid and extended base
line on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico, on which
The fabric of our dominion had firmly stood and
reduced our maritime border upon that sea, the
American Mediterranean, 10 a narrow wedge
from the mouths of the Mississippi 10 the Cape o
Florida Ii d:smcmbered the great valley OF the
Mississippi which was ours hy the laws OF God
and man and cut in twain two OF lis nobles m
bniares, the Red river and the Arkansas. Final
Is. by cu.tailins our southwestern limits 10 the
Sabine and the southbank ofihc Red river and the
Arkansas, it brought / foreign rowerwithin icw
DAYS march of the great emporium ofthc West
and Opened the WY for hostile approach 10 the
hear, of The most vulnerable, as we'll as most Ter
tile and valuable portion uf orr country.
have said, Mr.. President, that this territory
lad been ours By the laws of God and man. IN
running my eye, yesterday. very hastily over a
highly Interesting and authentic works my a.
tcniion was attracted hy the charter. granted hy
Louis XIV in l1l2 To Crozat of the right 10
trade in Louisiana, where the limits of that
princcly domain are described in general terms
as extending from the English settlements in
Carolina 10 Old and New Mexico, and patcu-
larly as embracing ''GH me njrcrS mtich f0H d.
rccily or iadrcciiV iHio He 81. LoniS' then tho
name Of the Mississippi river. The a@tRal
extension Of Louisiana IS thus defined By The
waters, both principal and tributary of the river
81 Lopis since called The Mississippi, and car
res our right. b; the fiat Of Providence, 10 the
sources ofthe Red River andthe Arkansas, which
were rudclv iruncated By the treaty OF 1919, am
half Of them thrown into a foreign dominion
But, sir, | have not thought it necessary 10 look
with any minutcacsS, into the grounds or The
history OF our former title 10 Texas under The
purchase OF Louisiana. II is sufficient for me
that all OF our great statesmen, who were con
temporary with that transaction and the terrific
rial discussions which grew out OF IT, have con
siicrcd or former right to Texas a an inc"ra
part OF Louisiana, above all serious question
Mr. Jefferson, Mr.. Madison. and Mr.. Monroe
have lc!l, in impcrshah!e characters upon The
public archives of the country, their solemn con
viction. that orr title Ia the boundary OF the
Rio dcl Nolie was a UNREASONABLE a. our RICH
10 the Island of Orleans Mr.. Adams very for
chilly sustained the same opinion in his discus
sions with the Spanish Minister III lSlS-l9
and Mr.. Clay who bore Il patriotic and distin.
guishcd lead in The legislative discussions which
were consequent on the treaty OF 1919, has recent
", in The able letter addressed by him 10 his coun-
tWmen, renewed The expression cl his deliberate
and well considered opinion that We had cleaI
tile t. the country between the Sabine and the
Rio del Norle under the purchase ot Louisiana
from France.
How this most important and valuable do
main came to bc surrendered 10 Spain by the
treaty of 1910 is mystery and enigma Qo say
no morc) in Our diplomatic history which has
not hitherto been so!yc!. trust the time will
come when we shall b. enlightened Oh the sub
lcct, wherever the blame may lall-it there he
Just cause for blame OF which will not now
undertake 10 decide. That Tie sacrifice was not
necessary, in point OF tact, for the attainment OF
the chief Object of the treaty OF 1919. seems to
be concuSivcly shown bv the letter of Mr.. Adams
then secretary Of State, addressed 10 Mr.. Forsyth
our Minister in Spain, ON the 18th oi August
1919 In that letter. the Secretary of Stale SAYS
II. i> too well known and they (hc Spanish Go
vcrnmcnt) will not d"re Ia deny it, that MIR Oni>>
laSl instructions authorised him 10 conccdc much
more than he did, and that both in relation Il
the grants of land in Florida, and 10 the IIe@rh
Janadaru the terms he obtained were tH within
the limits of his Instructions"
Having thus unhappily by some unexplained
fatality. lost possession of this most valuable coun-
try. the high national importance OF rc9aning II,
BY every honorable means in orr power, has been
felt and acknowledged and acted upon b. almost
every Administration which has succeeded the
period of its inalisp;ciaus alienation 1t Is well
known that MIR. Clay, Is Secretary nj state,
made two earnest efforts. during the Admlnlstra-
ioa. and as it is understood. with The hearty con-
carrencc of Mr. Adams, Ia rc-acquire this tersi-
into Ia.
hands it had then passed, by virtue oft rcvo-
luton which separated Mexico from The domln,
ion If Spain. In the very frs year OF General
Jackson administration. the same object a%ain
attracted the patriotic vigilance and >oliciiudc OF
the Governments and Mr.. Van Buren,, as Sccrc-
iary OF State, by his instruction, renewed he
efforts which had been 80 promptly made by Mr..
Clay 10 restore the natural inTcgiy of our ter
riiorial relations, which had been so unhapplly
broken by the treaty Of 1919. y high national OBJ
iect thus endorsed by the councils and policy OF
successive Administrations, OF differing political
compilations, can hardly sustain permanent
prejudice in the sober estimate OF the country.
bv any error or fault which may have been con-
united in the recent prosecution OF it.
Besides the considerations TO which have al
ready alluded in favor OF the vital Importance oil
the object others occur upon the slightest rcicc-
ION, WHICH CdllllGl Iuil 10 ~ ~ ~
earnest attention of the nation. In lis military
relations, Texas has been pronounced by The
highest military authorityo of the country, and a
seems 10 me. with the busiest reason, The Key 10
the whole southwestern portion Of the Union
Asconnccicd with orr naval power and resources,
and that equal dominion, at least, which it should
be the pride, as ii is The Indispensable interest OF
the country, should be maintained BY our flag
upon the Gulf of Mexico, (our Mediterranean
sea. J the extended line of coast upon the mari
time border Of Texas, with lis numerous inlet,
and estuaries, is all-mportant. OF The whte field
it would oren for Inc energies OF American in
d,,>ry and enterprise, it can hardly be necessary
for me 10 speak It's soil and climate adapt il
I'M peculiar degree, 10 class OF agriculture
productions, which, yielding the richest re
turns 10 the labor OF the husbandman
would make vast addition 10 the aggregate
wealth of the nation, and which, entering largely
into the commerce, both foreign and domestic
would give greatly increased and profitable EN-
ployment 10 the navigation of the Eastern an'
Middle States. At the same time, those State
would find in Texas, filled with our own thrifty
and enlerprising people. and Incorporated into tn
Union. home market of incalculablc value 10
the products OF their manufacturing and mocha
L Y 80 al. .F1f