The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1844-04-04
BRANDON, THURSDAY, APRIL 4, 1874

is always liable to be regarded as PROOF
of an unlriendly spirit to one of the con-
tending parties" and would be "equiv-
alent, under some circumstances, to a
declaration of war;" that the recogni
ton by us of the independence Of the
Spanish American States had been de-
layed " not only until the ability Of the
new States to protect themselves was
fully established, but until the danger of
their being again subjugated had entire
ly passed away; that such was not the
copdition of Texas in reference to Mex
leo; and that as the Texian revolution
had been effected by " emigrants from
the United States" and the acknowl-
edgement Of independence had been
sought by them " with an avowed de-
sign to treat Immediately of its transfer
to the United States, and its admission
into the Union as one of the Federal
States, a too early movement might sub
ject US, hoaoeve~ ~mjustly() to the inn
putation of seeking to establish the
claim of our neighbors to territory,
with view to its subsequent acquisition
by ourselves"
Here was a conclusive argument
against the recognition, - either forced
from the President by conviction gifts
conclusiveness, or feigned to be salts
factory for the purpose of quoting ap-
prehensions in regard to the measure.
The message was referred to the Com
mittee of Foreign Affairs, who, on the
18th Of February, 1887, reported two
resolutions to the effect that "the indie
pendence of Texas ought to be recog-
nized 70 and that "the Committee of
Ways and Means be instructed to pro-
vide in the bill for the civil and dplo-
matte expenditures of the government,
salary and outfit for such public agent
as the President may determine to send
to Texas" February 2lst the resoIu-
tons were taken up, and on motion,
were laid on the table, by vote of SO
to Sc; and a motion to reconsider the
vote was lost by vote of 1O7 to 80.
And now mark what followed. Al
though the House had refused to say
that the independence Of Texas ought to
be acknowledged, and had refused TO
direct the Committee of Ways and
Means to report an appropriation for a
Minister to that country, yet, seven days
afterwards, when the public apprehen-
sion had been thus ailayed, there was
suddenly sprung upon the House prop
ositlon to amend the civil aud diplomat
ic appropriation bill by aiding an appro-
priatlon g for the outfit and salary of a
diplomatic agent to be sent to the
Republic Of Texas whenever the Presi-
dent may receive satisfactory evidence
that Texas is an independent power, and
shall deem it expedent to appoint such
minister" And what, think you, was
the fate of this proposition , Though
direct proposition for recognition, and
an appropriation for minister was lost,
one week before, by a majority of ~
yet the whole was now reversed by
majority of 43-the amendment being
carried by vote of ll9 to 76!
And what next? The President not
withstanding his conclusive argument,
two months before, against the measure;
and notwithstanding the decided vote,
week before, against it; and notwilh-
standing the suddenly reversed vote left
the expediency of concentrating the i'm
piled recognition by the appointment of
Minister, entirely within his discre-
ton, upon receiving satisfactory evil
dence that Texas was an independent
power, the President l say, notwith-
standing all this suddenly lost his scru-
pies, forgot his own arguments, and
without waiting "to receive" satislac-
tory evidence, or any evidence, instant
ly perceived that Texas was an indie
pendent power, and instantly became
satisfied that il was expedient" to ap-
point the Minister; and thereupon, in
The very saEle hour in which he signed
the bill making the appropriation, sent a
nomination ofthe minister to the Senate !;
and the Senate, in the same hour, pass
ed the vote Of confirmation!
Thus was carried the recognition of
Texan independence! And by some
such spring vote--some such Legisla-
tive sleight o'hand, and Executive Sec
ond sight, will annexation be effected, if
effected at all.
The sudden abandonment by the
President, Of his objections to recogni-
ton, without any change in the condi-
ton of Texas, or any disavowal by her
of an intention to seek =" admission in to
the Union as one of the Federal States''
was, OF course, regarded by her as an
invitation to such union Fand according
~, the first act of her minister, Mr..
Memucan Hunt, was to make a proposal
to that effect. AS the Executive could
not add a new State to the Union, he
was obliged to decline the proposal -
! But, in the mean time the annronriate