The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1844-08-23

M ontezumas The appearance OF five thousand
well appointed American troops, properly equip
ped and provisioned, would throw Mexico into
convulsions, from which she would recover but
to learn the downfall of her empire.
General Jockson speaks like philosopher and
patriot on this, as upon all other subjects. In his
letter of May, lS, 1874.
"In reference 10 Mexico, would use the fol-
lowing lnguage We have carefully abstained
from all interference with your relations to Texas,
except TO acknowledge her Independence, in the
same manner, and upon the same principles, that
we did your independence when you separated
fromlSpain. We have, indeed, been moreEcrupu-
lous with you than with Spain, for, without
consulting or respecting the feelings of the latter
power, our government did not hesitate to open a
negotiation with you for the rerocession of Texas,
and that, too, long before your independence was
acknowledged by Spain. But the time has now
come when we feel that this delicacy ought no
longer 10 restrain us from treaty with Texas,
particularly as we know that our failure to do so
will produce results that may endanger the safety
of our own confederacy."
THE CONSTITUTIONALITY OF ANNEX
ALTON
1t is also asserted that the annexation of Texas
would be violation of the constitution Did
jefferson violate the constitution when he pur-
chased Louisiana from France? DID Monroe
violate the constitution when he purchased the
Floridas from Spain? And did the two Congresses
which sanctioned and ratified those measures also
violate the constitution If Louisiana and Florida
were annexed constitutonally, then may Texas
also be- for it surely cannot be constitutional to
annex territory at an expense of forty millions,
and unconstitutional to annex it when we get
the land for nothing The position assumed by
demagogues and dots, that, if Congress can annex
territory to the United States, it can also annex
the United States TO some foreign government, is
too contemplate to merit even passing notice
1t is argument used alone by such pure patriots as
can look complacently and behold Great Britain
stufing into her Unsuitable NAV all the governments
on earth, that she has power to subdue or gold to
purchase, but when our glorious Union attempts
honorably to recover a noble domain, which was
once its own, must raise the cry, "H is uac0nSti-
tutioRul."
THE HUE AND CRY ABOUT SPECULA-
TORS
The attempt made by its enemies to induce the
impression that annexation is mainly contended
for by spectators and others interested in the
advance of property in Texas, is no less futile than
unjust The same impulse that prompts Ameri-
to refuse to surrender Oregon to the British,
renders them jealous friends of reacquirng that
which was our own, and will be England's unless
annexed to the United States. What matters it
to the mere speculator, whether property advances
in Texas from her connection with England or
with the United States? The effect would be the
same in either event. Was Henry Clay actuated
by desire to speculate in lands or scrip, when he
instructed the American minister at Mexico to
offer that government millions for the repurchase
of Texas? Was John Quincy adams actuated
by the same sordid motive, when he acquiesced in
those instructions? Was Martin Pan Buren in
pursuit of private gain when he gave instructions
similar to those of Mr.. Clay! Were all the men,
bers of the State Legislatures, which have unani-
mously adopted resolutions favorable 10 annexation
bribed and corrupted by the desire to speculate in
lands and scrip. Is the Hero of .Neoc Orleans
governed by love of plunder and speculation,
when he declares that the safety of our own
country demands the annexation of Texas' The
men who raise this cry about spectators, should
first have ceansed their skirts of the putrid filth
which smears them, from wallowing in the rotten
carCasses of broken banks. They had better first
dry up the tears of the widow and the orphan, oy
restoring TO them the property out Of which they
have been robbed by shaving operations in depre-
ciated paper and canal scrip. They should have
cleared their characters OF the infamy which
backens them, on account of these and other
plunderings, before they accuse such men as
Andrew Jackson, Thomas II. Benton, Lewis Cass
James Buchanan, Richard M. johnson, Charles
Stewart and long list Of other patriots, of being
governed by love of punder and of speculation.
ITO be eontinuedl