Liberty advocate. [volume] (Liberty, Miss.) 1835-1866, 1844-12-21


bib,lrJ, / wprut, nv ciphl INV rlf
y,as Of frultIrsa and uiuops run'csi q
IN tho mpanimr, 1ckns hlsbcrn pfowtn
IN reoplniiuu and RESOURCES. ltmIRmlio
has flowed into her loff.lHfy itmn u
,nfts ri the would, iu cutfoul whlr
ronfiuura to increase ~ strength Mes
,co frquIfcs permanent boundary bt
tween That young Republic and hcfsol
Tcyaa.nt no distant day, II che continue
,eparalp md detached from the Unto
States, vii inevitably seek Ia cnnsoiIut
her strength by adding to her domain lh'
CONTIGUOUS provinces Of Mexico,
Tho spirIto revolt from the control o
the Central Government has, heretofore
manifested itscr in some Of those prov
inces; md il is fair 10 infer that lhcl
would be inclined to take the first lnvo
rablc opportunity TO proclaim their indie
rprdencc. md 10 form close alliances viii
Texas. The war would thus be endless
or. T. a cessation Of hosllIlies should &C
ur,lhey would only endure tor a season
The interests Of Mexico, therefore, coulc
ia nothing be better consulted than IN a
peace with her neighbors, which would
result in the establishment of a perma.
nent boundary, Upon the ratification Of
the treaty, the Executive was prepared t.
treat with her on the most libCral basis
Hence the boundaries Of Texas we're leIl
underlined by the treaty.
The Executive proposed 10 settle these
upon terms that all the world should
have pronounced Just and reasonable
No negotiation upon that point could have
been undertaken between the u. States
and Mexico. in advance of the ralica-
ton Of the treaty. We should have had
no righi-nO pOwer--n0 authority 10
have conducted such negotiation; and
10 have undertaken it, wauId have been
on assumption equally revolving to the
pride Of Mexico and Texas, and subject
ing us to the charge Of arrogance: while
to have proposed in advance Of anneXa
lian, to satisfy Mexico for any contingent
interest she might have IN Texas, would
have been to have treated Texas, not as
an independent power, but as mere de-
tendency Of Mexico.
This assumption could not have been
acted on by the Executive, without SCI
ting at defiance your own solemn decIara-
ton that that Republic was an lndepend-
ent state Mexico, it is true, had threat.
ened war against the United States, in the
event the Treaty Of Annexation was rat
fled, The Executive could not perml,
itself to be influenced by this threat. 1t
represented in this, the spirit Of our peo
pie, whe are ready to sacrifice much tor
peace, but nothing TO Intimidation. A
war, under any circumstances, IS greatly
10 be deplored, and the United States is
the last nation TO desire it, but if, as the
Of peace, it be required OF US To
forego the unquestionable right of treat
ing with an independent power, of our
own continent, upon matters highly int
resting 10 both, and that upon a naked and
unsustained pretension Of claim by a
third power, TO control the free will OF
the power we treat--dcvoled as we may
be TO pence, and anxious to cultivate
friendly relations with the whole world.
the Executive does MT hesitate to say
that, the people OF the United States
would be ready to brave all consequences
sooner than submit TO such condition.
But no apprehension Of war was en-
tertained BY the Executives; and | must
express frankly the opinion that, had the
treaty been ratified by the SENATE, it
would have been followed by a prompt
settlement, to the entire satisfaction of
Mexico, Of every matter in difference be
tween the two countries. Seeing then,
that new preparations for hostile INVASION
of Texas were about to be adopted by
Mexico, and that these were brought
about because Texas has adopted the sng
reslon Of the Executive upon the subject
of Annexation, it could not paSSiveIy
have folded It's arms and permitted war,
threatened to be accompanied by every
act that could mark a barbarous age, 10
be waged against her, because she had not
done SO.
Other considerations Of a controlling
character Influenced the course OF the
Executive. The treaty which had been
negotiated, had failed to receive the ratl
fcalion of the Senate. One OF the chief
objections which were urged against II,
was found TO consist in the fact that the
question Of annexation had not been sub
miHed TO the ordeal Of public opinion in
the United Sta,es. However uuenohle
such an objection was esteemed % be m
view Of the unquestiouable power of the
Executive to negotiate the treaty, and the
great and lasting interests involved in the
question, feel it to be my duly to submit
the whole subject to Congress as the best
expounders Of popular sentiment No
definite action having been taken on the
subject by Congress, the question refer
red itself directly to the decision OF the
States and the people
The great popular election which has
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