Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1844-05-10


md have hereunto affixed our seals respectively.
Done at Washington, the twelfth day of April,
eighteen hundred and forty-four.
]. C. CALHOUN, [Seal.
ISAAC VAN ZANDT, Seal
]. PINCKNEY HENDERSON, tSeal.
MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT.
To The Senate Of the United States:
transmit herewith for approval and ratification,
a treaty, which have caused to be negotiated be-
tween the United States and Texas, whereby the
latter, the conditions therein set FORTH has trans
ferred and conveyed all its right ofseparate and in
dependent sovereignty and jurisdiction to the Uni
ted States. In taking SO important STEP | have
been influenced by what appeared to me to be the
most controlling considerations ofpublic policy and
the general good and in having accomplished it,
should it meet with your approval, the government
will have succeeded in re claiming a territory which
formerly constituted portion, as 1t is confidently
believed, Of its domain, under the treaty Of 1903,
by France, to the United States.
The country thus proposed to be annexed has
been settled principally by persons from the United
States, vino emigrated on the invitation OF both
Spain and Mexico, and who carried with them into
the wilderness which they have partially reclaim
ed the laws, customs, and political and domestic in
stitutons of their native land. They are deeply
ndoctrinated in all the principles of civil liberty,
and will bring along with them, in the act ofre-as-
ISOLATION, devotion to our Union, and firm and in
flexible resolution to assist in maintaining the pub
lie liberty unimpaired--a consideration which, as
it appears to me, is TO be regarded as Of no small
moment. The country, itself, thus obtained is of
incalculable value in an agricultural and CONNER
cia point of view.
To soil of inexhoustbe fertility, it unites &C.
NAL and healthy climate, and is destined, at a day
not distant to make large contributions to the COM
merce of the world. It's territory is separated from
the United States, in part, by an imaginary line,
and by the river Sabine, for distance of3l0 miles; ;
and its productions are the same with those of
ny OF the contiguous States of the Union. Such
is the country such are its inhabitants and such its
capacities to add to the general wealth of the IN
ion. As to the latter, it may be safely asserted,
that in the magnitude of its productions, it will
equal in a short tinie under the protecting care of
this Government, if it does not surpass, the COM
bned production of many States of the Confeder-
acy. A new and powerful impulse will thus be
given to the navigating interest of the country,
which will be chiefly engrossed by our fellow cti-
zens of the Eastern and Middle States, who have
already attained remarkable degree of prosperity
by the partial monopoly they have enjoyed of the
carrying trade of the Union particularly the coast
wise trade which this new acquisition is destined
in time, and that not distant to swell 10 a magni-
tude which cannot easily be computed while the
addition made to the boundaries of the home mar
| ket thus secured to their mining, manufacturing,
and mechanical skill and industry, will be of char
acter the most commanding and important
Such are some of the many advantages which
will accrue to the Eastern and Middle States by
the ratification of the treaty advantages, the ex-
tent of which it is impossible to estimate with &C
curacy properly to appreciate. Texas being a
dapted to the culture of cotton, sugar, and devong
most of her energies to the raising OF these pro
auctions, will open extensive market to the ives
tern States in the important articles Of beet, pork
horses, mules, &C.. as well as its breadstuffs. A
the same time, the Southern and Southwestern
States will find, in the fact of annexation, protec
ton and security to their peace and tranquility, al
well against all domestic rs foreign efforts to dis
turb them thus consecrating anew the Union o
the States, and holding out the promise of its per
) petual duration.
Thus, at the same time that the tide of publ
prosperity is greatly swollen, appeal, of what ap
; pears to the Executive to be of an imposing, if nc
of resstless character, is made to the interests
. every portion of the country. Agriculture, whic
would have new and extensive market opened fc
: its produce; commerce, whose ships would b
, fieighted with the rich productions of an extensv
; and fertile region; and the mechanical arts, in a
= their various qualifications, would seem to unite
: one universal demand for the ratification Of tn
r treaty.
). But important as these considerations may al
: pear, they are to be regarded as but secondary
7, others. Texas, for reasons deemed sufficient
u HeISell, THREW Oh utptHutllCc vi hiGAlSu,
d far back as 1885, and consummated her indepeni
e ence by the battle of San Jacinto, in the san
y year; since which period, Mexico has attempted I
d, serious invasion OF her territory; but the conte
l. has assumed features of mere border war, cha
e acterised by acts revolving to humanity. In Il
y year 1886 Texas adopted her constitution, und
to which she has existed as a sovereign power ey
pit SINCE having been recognized as such by many
the principal powers of the world and cotempor
d. neously with its adoption by solemn vote OF h
n people, embracing all her population but nlnet
I'd three persons, declared her anxious desire to be
c. mted into association with the United States,
I'd portion of their territory. This vote thus solen
ry ly TAKEN has never been reversed and now,
er the action of her constituted authorities, SUSTAIN
a. as it is by popular sentiment she reatrms her d
if sire for annexation. This course has been adopt
to by her, without the employment of any sinist
id measures on the part of this government No
ot trigue has been set on foot to accomplish It, lie
d. as herself wills it, and the Executive of the Unit
tie States, concuring with her has seen no sutficie
he reason to avoid the consummatlon OF an act
H. teemed to be so desirable by BOTH 1t cannot
i'm denied, that Texas is greatly depressed in her
lie ergles by her long protacted war with Mexico
es, Under these circumstances, it is but natural Il
in she should seek for safety and repose under
mt protection of stronger power; and It Is equ
in ly so that her people should turn TO the Unit
ro States the land of their birth, in the first nstan
so, IN the pursuit of such protection. she mas OIL
he before made known her wishes; but her advanC
It'll have, to this time, been repealed. The Execut
on, of the United States sees no longer any cause
he pursuing such a course The hazard of now
zen eating her wishes may be of the most fatal t,
SUI dency 1t might lead, and most probably won
be, to such an entire alienation of sentiment and fe
nd ing as would inevitably induce her to look ell
The where for aid, and force her either to enter il
oil dangerous alliances with other nations, who lo
ful ing with more wisdom to their interests. would
ect is fairly to be presumed readily adopt such expe
ents or she would hold out the profier of discri
de- mating duties in trade and commerce, in order
in secure the necessary assistance. Whatever s
ex she might adopt, looking to this object would PR
ads disastrous in the highest degree, to the Interest,"
the of our permitting the carrying trade and home m
~M