The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1844-05-10

1t was under this view of the constitution that
the purchase of Louisiana in 1903, only fifteen
years after the adoption of the constitution, promis
ing the incorporation of the ceded territory into
the Union, and the admission, as soon as possible,
of the nhabitantst to the enjoyment of all the rights,
advantages, and immunities of citizens Of the u.
States, was ratified, confirmed, and finally executed
by every branch of the federal government whose
cooperation is required b. the constitution. 1t Is
true that Mr.. Jefferson, in the interval between the
negotiation and submission of the treaty to the
Senate threw outthe opinion that the constitution
had made no provision for our holding foreign ter
rtory nor for incorporating foreign States into the
Union. The fact of his approving the treaty, and
the laws necessary to its execution, must however,
be regarded as conclusive proof that, upon looking
further into the matter, his opinion was changed.
The attempt to convince him of his error was made
| by his friend, Governor Nicholas, as appears by
Mr. Jefferson letter to him; and have little doubt
that, if his letters to Breckenridge and Nicholas
had been published in his lifetime, or his attention
been in any other way directed to their contents,
he would, from his habtual care in such matters,
have avowed the change, and explained the grounds
on which it was based It's equally true that the
acceptance ofhe cession, as well as the admission
of the State, became party questions, and were
contested with partisan warmth Ofthe vital i'm
portance of that gleat acquisition to the safety,
prosperity, and honor of the whole Union, there
can, however, now be no diversity ofopinon.-
But the councils of the naton in the course Of time,
ceased to be at all divided upon the question of con-
stutiona power to accept cession OF foreign ter
ritory, with a view to its ultimate admission into
the Union In 1919 the Spanish treaty for the ces-
sion of East and West Florida, containing the usu-
al stipulation for ultimate incorporation into the
Union, was ratified; and, upon the call of the names
of the senators present, it appeared tht every one
voted for the ratification Upon the question of
constitutional power, so far as that went, the
Senate of the United States, had therefore, be-
come unanimous.
Certainly no remarks are necessary to show that
there be possible difference produced in the
constitutional question by the relative positions oi
the territory comprising Louisiana, the Floridas,
and Texas, in respect to the old United States.
| have gone thus fully and minutey into this
matter, as well from deep sense of the vast impor
tance of the question, as from sincere desire TO
satisfy those OF my friends who may differ from me
on this point and whose opinions hold in the high
est respect that have not yielded my assent hasti
ly or unadvisedly to the views have here taken
of the subject.
Having thus given you my views upon the con-
stitutional question, will, with the same frank.
ness, answer the remaining portion of your inqui,
res, viz: the expediency of Immediately annexing
Texas to the United Sta tes, or so as her con.
sent to such annexation may be obtained
| have already referred to an application for the
accomplishment of the same object that was made
to this government by Texas, whilst was Presi
dent. The history of the Texan revolution, ant
the then condition of that republic, as well as the
probable advantages to result to both from the pro
posed annexation, were placed before us in an elab
crate and able communication. 1t can scarcely be
necessary to say that the application was consider
ed with that attention and care which were due to
SO grave proposition, and under the full influence
of feelings of sincere solicitude for the prosperity
and permanent welfare of young and neighborine
State, whose independence we had been the frs
to acknowledge which constitute, and
sincerely hope, ever will constitute, the prevailing
sentiment of the people ofthe United States. lr
coming to the decision which it became my duty tc
make, was aided, in addition to the other mem
bers my cabinet, by the counseland constitution
al advice of two distinguished citizens of your Owl
section of the Union of the first order Of intellect
great experience in public affairs, and whose devo
ton to their own, as well as every other section o
the Union, was above all question. The result o
our united opinions was announced to the Texar
minister, (Gen. Hunt,) in communication from
the late Mr.. Forsyth, the substance of which lean
not better express than by incorporating or two
brief extracts from it in this letter. Upon the gen
eral subject, my own views, as well as those of my
cabinet, were thus stated:
$50 long as Texas shall remain at war, while
the United States are at peace with her adversary
the proposition the Texan minister plenlpoten'
tiary necessarily involves the question of war witt
that adversary. The United States are bound tc
Mexico by treaty of amity and commerce, which
will be scrupulously observed on their part so long
as it can be reasonably hoped that Mexico will per
form her duties, and respect our rights under it,
The United States might justly be suspected ofa
disregard of the friendly purposes of the compact
if the overture of General Hunt to be even re-
served for future consideration, as this would i'm.
ply disposition on our part to espouse the quarrel
ofTexas with Mexico-a disposition wholly at va
rance with the spirit ofthe treaty, with the uni
form policy and the obvious welfare of the United
States.
"The inducements mentioned by General Hunt
for the United States to Texas to their terri
tory, are duly appreciated but, powerful and weigh
ty as certainly they are they are light when oppos
ed in the scale ofreason to treaty obligations, and
respect for that integrity of character by which the
United States have sought to distinguish them