The North-Carolina standard., 1844-06-05
Col. Polk on the TEXAS Question.

| The following Letter from James K Polk. the
democratic candidate for President was addressed
| TO Committee appointed by Meeting held at
| Cincinnati in March last He is the ardent and
acOaced friend of Lhe Immediate annexation of
Tsras to tie United States Read his bold,
manly and patriotic letter, and remember that
Henry Clay IS opposed to annexation 10th now
and hereafter:
COLUMBIA, Tenn, April 23, 1914.
GENTLEMEN: Your letter Of the 30th uIt which
you have done the honor address TO me reached
my residence during my absence from home and was
not received until yesterday. Accompanync vour
letter, you transmitted as YOU state conv nf
the proceedings OF very large meeting of the citizens
OF CincInnati assembled without distinction of party
on the goth inst their settled opposition to
the annexation OF Texas to the United STATES" You
reques from me &c explicit expression of opinon nm
on TINS question OF annexation Having time en-
dertaIned any opinions upon public subjects which was
unwilling to avow, II gives me pleasure comply with
your request have hesitation in declarnG that
am IN favor Of the Immediate annexation of Texas to the
terEtory and government Of The OnITed States en-.
eTtaln doubt TO the the expedie 1cy of the
Remuneration The proof is clear and satisfactory to
my mind, that Texas constituted part of the u States
the title to whic regard to have been ndispuabIe
as that to ally other portion of territory. At the time
the negotiation was opened with view to regain the
Foridas, and the settlement Of other Questions and
pending that negotiation the Spanish government itself
was satisfied OF the validity of title and was ready
to recognize line lar west of the Sabine as the true
OF 1903, with France, under which Louisiana was ac.
qured. This negotiation which had been first opened
al Madrid, was broken of and transferred Washington
where was resumed, and resulted in the treaty FIor
da, by which the Sabine fixed upon as the western
boundary of Louisiana From the ratification of the
treaty OF lSoS, with France, until the treaty of 1919
with Spain, the territory constituting the Republic
OF Texas, belonged to the United States. In 1919 the
Florida treaty was concluded at Washington by Mr.
part the States and Don LOUIS de on the uart Of
Span and by that treaty this territory living west of
Sabine, and constituting Texas, ceded by the Unit
ed States to SPAIN That the Rio del Norie or soma
western boundary than the Sabine could have been
obtained, had been insisted by the American Ser
reary of State and that without increasing the consd
GRAFTON paid for the Floridas have doubt In nv
Judgment the country west OF the Sabine and nov
Texas, most unwisey ceded away Iis part Of the
great valley OF the Mississippi directly connected by its
naVgable waters with the Mississippi River and having
once been part of Union it should never have been
dismembered from it. The government and people of
exas 1t IS understood, not only give their consent but
are anxously desrous to be reunited to the u Staea
II the application Of Texas for a reunion into our con.
isderacy shall be rejected by the United States there is
Imminent danger that she will become dependency, if
not colony OF Great Brtain-an which no Ameri-
patriot anxious for the safety and prosperity of his
country, could permit to occur without the most srenu
ous resistance Let Texas be re-annexed and The an
hory and laws of the United States be established ard
maintained within Her limits, also the Oregon erto-
y and let the fixed policy Of government be not to
permit Great Britain any other foreign power to plant
colony hold dominion over any portion of the neo
pie or territory Of either These are nv opinions and
without deemiRg Il necessary to extend this letter by
assigning many reasons which influence me in the cor.
clusions to which come, regret to be compelled to
differ so widely from the views expressed by yourseyes
and the meeting of citizens Cincinnati whom Won
present Differing, however. with you and with them,
as Do was due to frankness that should be thus
Piicif IN the declaration of my opinions.
am with great respect
Your obedient servant
n JAMES K. POLK.
- Msssrs. s. p Chase, Thos. Heaton r Finkbne
Genaliel Bailey, jr., Samuel Lewis, Committee. &C
Cincinnati, Ohio.