Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1844-04-04
NtsptcIu0!, YOU CDICIIni s0r'ani.
AARON Y. BROWN.
Ness-z pt.tr & Pre-


IirumirAar, Feb. y, Ios2.
Wy Doar SIR :-Nours @. The 22l u,. has been rcceiv-
ed. and with II the Madisouiin, containing Governor Gil
ners letter on the subject q! The a''nexaton OF Texas 10
the United States.
You are not mistaken in surprising that | have formed
an opinion on this interesting SUBJECT Il occupied much
ofmy attention during ny presidency. aud am sure has
lost none Off importance BY what has sinre t|rarsqired.
Soon after my election in lo29, II was made known to
me by MIR. Erwin, formerly our minister AT the court Of
Madrid. that whilst at that court he had laid the fornda-
ilon Of a treaty with Spain for the cession Of the Tloudas
and the settlement of the boundary 81 Louisiana. fixing
the western limit Of the latter NJ the Rio Grande.s agree
ably 70 the unders'andinao f Fraucc-iiai be had written
home 10 oar government for powers 10 complete and sign
tins negotiation but hat. instead Of receiving such an-
tiprty, Tie negotiation was taken oui OF his hands and
transferred To Washington. ard a new treaty WAS there
concluded, by winch the Sabine. and not the Rio Grande
was recognized and established as the boundary OF Louis
lana.
Finding that these statements were tue. and tia, our
government did really give up that imporian' territory
when It was at its option 10 retain II, | was filed witha
tonishment The night 10 the territory was obtained
from ! rance: SPAN stood ready 10 acknowledges II 10 the
RIO Grande and yet the authority asked by our minister
10 insert the tile boundary WAS not only withheld. bui. in
lieu Off. a limit was adopted which stripped rs Of The
whole of the vast country living between the Two rivers.
On such a subject. | thought with he ancient Romans,
that II was right. never 10 cedc any land or boundary Of
the |repu5ic but always to add 10 II by honorable treaty
tlius extending the area Of freedom and 1t was IN accor-
dance with ihis feeling that ! gave Our minister al Next
co instructions to enter upon Il negotiation for the retro
ceSsiun Of Texas 10 The Umiied States.
This negotiation failed. and shall ever regret i. as Il
misfortune 10 both Mexico and the United States Alr
Glmcf's letter presents many OF ,he considerations which,
IN my judgment, rendered the step necessary 10 The peace
p ana harmony ol The t"o countries; bur the point M II al
that time. which most strongly inipelled me 10 the course
| pursued. was tie iniusuce done 10 us by The surrender
o. TIE territory. when n WAS obvious that II could have
been retained witIoIt increasing the consideration after
wards given for The ilnridaS. could not bat feel that
the surrender Of so vast and important a territory was at
%trhuiab'e 10 IN erroneous estimate Of the tendency Of our
insiiti'loas, 'n which there was mirelod somewhat Of
jealousy 10 the rIsing greatness of the Soui! and West.
But | forbear 10 dwell on this part of The history OF his
question. 1t Is past. and cannot Row be uudone. We
can now only lC0h AT itas ore 81 annexation. if Tcxcs
pa Seuis II to u; and il She does. do not hesitate to saw
that The weli.re and happiness Of our Union require it
should be accepted.
FIN a military point Of view alone. The question lie
examined, y VIII ie found to be most important to The
United States 10 be N pos c>s'on of HAT terfiieFy
Great Britain has already made treaties with Texas;
and we know that far seeing nation never omits Il oircum-
stance IN her extensive intercourse with The w~or!d, winch
can be turned to account in increasing her military re-
sources. May she not enter into an alliance WIN IeNas!
aud rcserNlng (s she Wild tie ENF'hNeStfFh h"'lhuafy
question as a csu-e 81 war with Us whenever Size chooses
To declare ~. let rs suppose that. as an niit Win ieXns.
we are 10 eight her Preparatory 20 srch Il movement.
she sends her 5000 or $4,000 men to Texas, o,gauizcs
them on the Sabine. where her supplies and arlIs can he
concentrated bofnrc we have notice Of her Intentions !;
make a judgement on the Mississippi excite the negroes
into Instruction Ike lower country falls. aad wilh it
New Orleans; aud a scryile war RACES through the whole
South aud West.
I'm the mean time she is also moving an army along
W. ~ t'-HffH ''F'tNF - CH tH'H+' N+Nt' - ~
operation with the army from Texas. spreads rum and
havoc from ihe Lakes 10 the Gulf of Mexico.
u no can estimate the national loss We may susain.h be-
fore such "A movement could be repealed with such force
is we could organize on short notice
Remember that Texas borders on Us, on our west 10 -
degrees of north laili. ie. aud i oar southern buundag, To-
the Pacific. Remember. also. thnt it annexed 10 the L.
States. our western boundary would be to Rio Gfandc,
which i OF ITSELF ioriIi,aiion. on account of It's oXlci-
size, barrcn. aud uninhahifabie plains. With such . bar
rlcr on our west. We are I~nNucibic. The whole Euro
pean world could not. ia combination against us. maic
an impression ON our Union. Oar population ON Tie Pa
ciIc would rapidly Increase. and soon be strong euuush
for the protection OF our eastern wiaier>. and. Ia Ire
worst event. could alNn,s be sustained by timely ails
from the intermediate country.
From the Rio Grande. over land. a large army could
not march. ar be supplied. unless FROM the suifhy water.
which, by visilancr- could alN y Ice intercepted and T.,
march IN asu, near HE gulf. they could he Ia rasscd
by mlliii. aud detained until an or 4u.zci force coall be
raised 10 meet ihola.
But | am ia dauecr drumming into uaucccssar, dcia,l.
which NIX debility viii not enable me u close. The
relations, and ~ u may hear upon those Of Mexico to us.
| will no; undertake 10 follow it out 20 H. Consequences
in those respects. though may saw Thar. in All us as
poets. the annexation of Texas 1, the Uniled States pro-
misses to enlarge our citolr Of fee institutions. and Is cs-
sental to the I nitcd States. particularly IN lessening Tie
probability OF future collision wiki foreign powers. and
giving them greater efficiency in spreading the blessings
Of peace.
| return you my tlauis for your Kind letter on his sub
lect. and subscribe myself. viih great sincerity,
Your friend aud obedfeut servant.
ANDREW JACKSON.
Hon. 4. I. Brown.
P : The papers furnished me hy Mr.. Erwin, to
which | have referred IN tbs letter, can be placed m youI
possession. ifdosirod. a J.
r-f.