The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-06-13


Mr.. RlVES said he had proposition to submit TO
the Senate but, before doing So he desired to state
his views the general subject Of the treaty There
had been many topics very earnestly discussed in the
of the debat' which, in his view Of the sub
ject, it not necessary to notice. Whatever may
have been the political motives which suggested th,
negotiation in the first instance, or precpated its
conclusion "just forty days before the meeting of
the Baltimore Convention" as the Senator from
Missouri (Mr. Benton) had sa d he did not stand
here TO inquire into 10 excuse, TO defend them
All the honorable Senator'S suspicious in that regard
ight be well founded and yet il would not in his
estimation furnish valid and conclusive argument
against the annexation of Texas if that be in itself
object of high national expediency So in relation
TO the conduct of the negotiation There were cir
cumstances in its inception, its progress and lis con-
summation which he deeply regretted, and could
sincerely wish had been otherwise But these things
past and lrrevocable. We were not called up
on, in deciding upon the fate Of the treaty to pass
vote Of appreciation on the acts or mo-
tives of the Administration which negotiated it
The treaty itself was the question now to be disposed
OF by the action of the Senate.
IN uoiNB NndN Wisely ana Justly, The lrNt
which presents sefs as TO the character and impof
lance Of the object sought to be accomplished by the
treaty. II seemed 10 him (said Mr. Riyes) impossi-
BILE to look upon the map Of the country and not TO
recognise at the vital Importance of the object
TO the unity and safety, well as the strength and
power Of the nation. The unfortunate alienation of
that portion Of our domain by the treaty with Spain
10 1913 had reversed the territorial position If the
United States, and placed the weight Of the Ameri-
can empire, extending IN its northern belt from sea
TO sea, as upon the point Of an inverted cone II cut
of five hundred miles of the solid and extesJed basr
line, on the coast Of the Gulf of Mexico ON which
the fabric Of our dominion had firmly stood and re-
duced our maritime border upon that sea the Ameri
can Mediterranean, to narrow wedge from The
mouths Of the Mississippi 10 the Cape of Florida :
II dismembered the great valley OF the Mssis.inni
which ours by the laws of God and man and cui
in twain two OF ITS noblest Tributaries the Red river
and the Arkansas Finally by curtailipg our south
western limits to the Sabine and the south bank Of
the Red river and the Arkansas IL brought foreign
Power within few days march Of the great e,no
rum OF the West, and opened the way for hostile an
proach 10 The heart OF The most vulnerable well as
most fertile and valuable portion Of our country
have said, Mr.. President that this terriiory b.d
been ours, by the laws Of God and man In r,innin,
my eye, yesterday, very hastily over highly interest
ing and authentic work my attention was attracted
by the charter granted by Louis XIV, in I7I0 IN
Crozat OF the right TO trade in louisiana where The
links of that prncey domain are described in eene.
raj terms as extending from the English settlements
10 Carolina 10 Old aud New Mexico and n,,,ic,,
larry embracing all he rirers u6ieh IAN d,ys,,l, -
indirectly into he S. BOws"-then the name of Tho
Mississippi river. The natural extension of Lo,,i,i
is thus defined by the waters both princnaI go
tributary, Of the river ST. LUIS since called tbe Nj
sissippi, and carries right by the fat Of Prov;
dence, TO the sources Of the Red river and IN. Az
kansas, which were rudely truncated by the treat,
1919 and half Of them thrown into foreign don;n
ION. But, sir, have not thought il necessary %
LOOK, WIN any minuteness, into the grounl. or the
history Of our former title 10 Texas under "a. -.
chase OF LOUISIANA II IS sufficient for me thai all
our great Statesmen, who were contemnorsr, ,,;,t|
that transaction and the territorial discussions uhicb
grew out OF II, have considered our former rich, =,
Texas, as an integral part of Louisiana above in -,
rious question. Mr. jefferson, Mr. Madison ora
MT Noproe, nave lett, In Imperishsble charsoters
upon the puoie archives OF the country their solemn
conviction that our title 10 the boundary of the 10
del Norte was a. unques,onable as our rich, ,o ,he
island OF Orleans. Mr.. Adams very foreibly sv.
tanned The same opinion, in be discussions with ibs
Spanish Minister IN 1slS-'l9 and MIR. Clay who
bore patriotic and distinguished lead in the ieg,slo
i've DISCUSSIONS winch we're consequent on the treaty
OF iol9 mas recently IN the able letter addressed by
nm 10 ms countrymon, renewed the expression of
his deliberate and well considered oninion tha,
had clear title TO the country between the sab,ne
and the Rio del Norte, under the purchase of Lou;
sIana from France. 'u'
How this most important and valuable donn, cana
to be surrendered TO Spain by the treaty of JsIe i
amys'ery and enigma 20 say more) in our dipIo
ma ic history which has not hitherto becn soIv.d
trust the time will come when we shall n. sI;rs,.
ed on the subject, wherever The blame NAV n
there be Just cause for blame Of which will no,
now undertake TO decide That the sacrifice was no,
S,odduds Sketches, historical md d..,,;o;x, n,
Louisiana. 'P"''' "