Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1844-09-19
STANTON, VIRGINIA. THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 10 Z
A LETTER FROM MIR. CLAY.

!.
gentlemen OF Alabama we take from tn
NORTH .alabamian of the 10Th ul,imo.
will be found to be explicit and full on tn
subject Of the annexation Of Texas-a sub
Ject upon which MIR. CLAY had previously de
clared himself with clearness and emphasi
which seemed TO require no further elucida
ton.
The references in the letter to the debates
OF 1919 and to the negotiations of 1927, il
relation to Texas, will show the difference
between the question now raised and the one
which engaged the attention of the Govern.
ment then. Mr.. CLAY's course on those oc.
casions as at present was open, direct and pa.
triotic
ASHLAND, 9Th July, 1914.
GENTLEMEN 81 have received your favor
informing me that my views. as disclosed in
my letter from Raleigh, on the question of the
Annexation of Texas, are misconceived. if no,
msrePresented in your quarter aud that il is
supposed that have changed my opinion
from what it was in 1919. endeayoreJ IN
express myself in that letter as explicitly rs !
| could, and do not think now that il can he
fairly misinterpreted.
In 1919, when ] addressed the House of
Representatives, the Executive had negotiated
the treaty with Spain, by which Texas was
coded 10 that power, but Congress had no,
Then given any sanction 10 the cession.
believe now, and thought then, that the
reaty making power is not competent, with
out the concurrence of Congress, to cede
away any Territory belonging TO the United
States. But Congress, by repeated acts, sub
sequcnily manifested its appreciation of the
treaty ; and these acts rendered it as valid and
obligatory upon the United States, as if Con.
gress had given its assent, prior to the concu
sion of the treaty. At that period of 1919.
texas, as claimed by us, was unpeopled
No hostile incursions had been made into il
by citizens of the United States. In 1925
and 1877, there were but few Inhabitants of
Texas, consisting Of some colonists, planted
there under the authority OF Mexico. At
neilher OF the three periods above mention.
ed mad any State or section. in this Union,
manifested any opposition to Texas compo,-
ing part of it. 1t has been said that Mr.
Adams administration offered 10 negotiate
win Mexico for Texas, notwithstanding the
existence Of war between Spain and Meyi
CO, and that it could not therefore have be-
lieved that the acquisition of Texas, at that
IN war with Spain. Hence it is argued tina,
the ratification Of the late treaty could not
have compromised our peace.
MIR. Adams thought it desirable to obtain
ieXas.-Two foreign powers claimed il,
Mexico was IN possession, and Spain was DO
ing nothing 10 assert and enforce her claim
i1er representative had even gone SO far as TO
suPulate, III a convention, TO acknowledge the
independence of Mexico, although thai con-
Vention was not ratified by Spain
Mr. Adams had right to authorize tlfe ne
gociation OF treaty for the acquisition of
iexas with both or either of the powers
claiming 1t. 1t was natural that he should
oegln with that power which had the posses
sion OF Texas Spain had inlerposed no OBJ
stacle. She had made no declaration that she
would regard the acquisition of Texas as an
act OF war. In point of fact, no overture was
formally made TO Mexico to purchase Texas.
no negotiation was opened, no treaty was con-
GUIDED. II negotiation had commenced, or
IT treaty had been signed, and Spain had
protested, the prudent and cautious policy
which characterized MIR. Adams adminis,ra-
tIon, would undoubtedly have prompted him
To quiet Spain, and accommodate the matter.
previous 10 the annexation of Texas 10 the
ohi'eo states, and without plungihg them in
war with Spain. How totally different are
an The circumstances under which, with Mr.
Adams authority. ! authorized the overture
10 MEXICO, from those which attended the re-
cent treaty OF Mr.. Tyler! SO fur from Mex.
ico beng silent, she repeatedly and solemnlv
declared that she would Consider annexation
as war with her. Texas was no longer an
uninhabiieG country. It had been wrested
from The dominion Of Mexico by citizens.
n W I'm,
9tates. The war between Mexico and Texas
lad not been terminated by any treaty of
Peace. Mr. Tyler not only did not consult
Mexico, but he announced that her assent to
the annexation was altogether unnecessary.
And he proceeded to conclude treaty.. en-
oraclng large extent of Territory, and
numerous population, not comprehended in
The Texas which the United States ceded %
Spain in 1919.
I'm the mean time TOO, a powerful opposi-
ton had arisen in the United States against
the annexation Of Texas to them. Several
States had declared, through their Legisla-
lures, against II, and others, if not whole sec
tons OF the Union, were believed TO be adj
verse TO IT.. This was the opposition to the
measure, to which, iii my Raleigh letter, al
luded, when ! spoke Of q considerable and
respectable portion of the confcaero5y. J
did notreler topersons but to States or sections.
Under such circumstances could not but
regard the annexation of Texas, at this time,
as compromising The honor of my country,
involving it in war, in which the syinpathes
Of all chrisendom would be against us, and
endangering the integrity Of the Union. !
thought then; aud still believe. that national
dishonor, foreign war, and distraction and d.
vision at home, were too grea, sacrifices TO
make for the ACQUISITION of Texas