Democratic standard. [volume] (Georgetown, Brown County, Ohio) 1837-1850, 1844-06-11
JAMES X POLK.
GEN. JACKsoN'S LETTER.
HERM1rAer. Feh. IL. lsA3

My DEAR SIR:-Yours of The 23rd u 1t.
has been received, and with it the Mad.
soniaO, containing Gov. Glimer's letter
on The subject OF the annexation of Tex.
as to The United States,
You ale not mistaken in supposng
that have formed an opinioh on this
interesting subject. 1t occupied Much
Of my attention during rny Presidency,
aud | am sure has lost none of its impor
tance by what has since transpirsd.
Soon after my election in 1929, il was
made known TO me by Mr.. Irwin, for
merly our minister at The court of Mad
rid, that whilst at that court he had laid
the foundation of treaty with Spain for
the cessiOn Oft Fioridas, and the set.
dement, Of the boundary of Louisiana,
fixing the western limit Of the later at
the Rio Grande,* agreCably to the un-
derslandng Of France-ihat he had
written home 10 our Government for
powers 10 complste and sign the negoti,
alton but that, instead Of receiving such
authority the negotiation was taken
out OF his hands and transferred TO
Washington, and new treaty was
there concluded, by which the Sa>
bine, and not the Rio Grands, WAS re-
cognzed and established as tho bounda-
Ty Of Louisiana.
Finding that these statements were
true, and that our Government did real
| ly give up that important territory, when
| Il Mt fhaIr nntinn In
was filled with establishment. The
right to the Territory was obtained
from France; Spain stood ready TO &C.
knowledge it 10 The Rio Grande, and yet
the authority asked by our minister 10 in
serl the true boundary was not only with.
held, but III lieu Oft, limit was adopt.
ed which striped us of the whole of the
vast country lying between the two riv'
ers.
On such subject Thought with the an.
cient Romans, that il was right never TO
cede any land or boundary Of the Re-
public, but always to add 10 1t by hon.
orable treaty, thus extending the area
Of freedom, and it was in accordance with
this feeling that l. gave our minister 10
Mexico Instructions to enter upon nego
liation for the retrocessOn OfTexas TO the
United States.
The negotiation failed, and shall ev'
or regret it as a misfortune to both Mexi-
CO aud the United States. Mr.. Glimer's
letter presents many Of The considerations
which 10 my judgment, rendered the step
necessary to the peace and harmsny o
the Two cOunries; but the point in it al
that time, which most strongly impelled
me 10 The course | pursued, was the in
justice done to us by the surrender of the
territory, when it was obvious that il
could have been retained without increas
ing the consideration afterwards given
for the Floridas. ! could not but fee
lhat'the surrender Of so vast and impor-
tant territory was attributable 10 an err
roneous estimate OF the tendency Of OuI
institutions, in which there was mingled
somewhat of jealousy 10 The rising great
ness of the South and West.
i But forbear to dwell OH this part OI
the history of This question. II is past,
and cannot now be undohe. We can now
only look at it as one of annexation, il
Texas presents It to US, and if shs does
! do not hesitate TO cay that the welfare
and happiness of our Union require that
il should be accepted,
II in military point of view alone
the question be examined, 1t will be found
to be most important TO the UnitedStates
10 be in possesession Of that territory.
Great Britain has already made treat
les with Texas, and we know that far
seeing nation never omits a circum
stance, in her extensive intercourse will
the world which can be turned toaccoun
in increasing her military resources.
Let us suppose that, as an silly viii
. Texas, we are to 6ght her. PreparAtor.
70 such movement, she sends her 30,