The Whig standard. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1843-1844, 1844-06-18

the former, and give battle under the lxsiGrs Let
the divisions of the self styled Deuucsacys Gq<tle
the question between themselves. tn WhiYs
OF the United States have no desire TO rob MI.
Tyler OF any portion of his political fame. or his
Presidential capital, 30 far as either can be de-
rived from the Texas question.
| In the main they agree with the opinions Of
their chosen champion and leader, HENRY CLAx,
| upon the question of annexation, and will express
their opinions in his eloquent and truth telling
| words of without the loss Of national charac-
ter, without the hazard of foreign war; with the gem
eral concurrence Of the nation, without any dan
ger to the integrity of the Union, and without
giving an unreasonable price for Texas, the ques-
ton of annexation were presented, it would APP
pear in quite different light from that in which.
apprehend, it is now to be regarded" 1t is
because immediate annexation presents all these
Objectionable features that Mr.. Clay, Mr.. Van
Buren,, Mr.. Webster, Mr.. Benton, Mr.. Choate.
| Mr.. Rives, and other leading and influential men
OF all parties, object to the measure. 1t is for
this reason that the Wings as lovers Of their
| conntry's fame, and their country's honor are
opposed to it.
Mr.. Clay says: I" When the treaty Of 1919 was
laid before the House Of Representatives, being
member Of that body, | expressed the opinion,
which ! then entertained, and still hold, that
Teras ,oas sacrificed 10 the acquisition Of Florida
We wanted Florida, but thought it must, from
its position, inevitably fall into our possession
that the point Of few years, sooner or later, was
of no sort of consequence, and that in giving Ave
millions of dollars and Texas for il, we gave more
| than Just equivalent. But if we made great
sacrifice in the surrender of Texas, we ought to
take care not to make TOO great a sacrifice in The
attempt to reacquire 1t"
"We have fairly alenated our title to Texas
| by solemn national compacts, to the ful6lment Of
| which we stand bound by good faith and national
honor 1t is, therefore, perfectly idle and ridicu-
lous if not dishonora5le, to talk of resuming our
title to Texas, as if we had never parted with it.
We can no more do that than Spain can resume
| Florida France, Louisiana; or Great Britain,
the thirteen colonies, now composing part Of the
United States"
"If the information have about it be- corrpct,
| Mexico has not abandoned, but porseyoros II the
assertion Of, her rights by actual force Of arms,
which, If suspended, are intended TO be renewed.
| Under these circumstances, if the Government Of
the United States were to acquire Texas, it would
acquire along with it all the membranes which
Texas is under, among them the actual or sus-
pended war between Mexico and Texas OF that
consequence there cannot be doubt. Annexa-
alton and war with Mexico are Identical Now,
for one, certainly not willing to involve this
country in foreign war for the object of acquir-
ing Texas" - regard all wars as great caIaH-
tiles, to be avoided, if possible, and honorable peace
as the wsest and truest policy of this country"
"Shoud Texas be annexed to the Union, the
United States will assume and become RESPONSE
for the debt Of Texas, be the amount what It may.
What it is, do not know certainly; but the last
have seen it stated at is thirteen millions Of dol
lars" What say you to this statements Messrs.
Van Zandt and Henderson. You admit that no
general estimate has been made al the Treasury
Department of Texas since the 18th of January,
1871, when it was seven millions Of dollars" and
you add "that the debt cannot have materially in
creased except from the interest which has since
| accrued" This interest would make the debt
| eight millions and a quarter of dollars; Mr. Clay
says the Losoest estimate is thirteen millions Of
dollars difference between you about foe nilli-
ons Of dollars. Now, since by the treaty now
under consideration, the United States has to pay
this debt, whatever it may be (for how can the
amount Of liability be fixed by treaty y, it's amount
may be of no "matsrial" consequence to you, but
it is OF considerable consequence to u.s.
Mr. Clay adds: " If Mexico yields her consent,
Ito the annexation of Texas,) that would material
" affect the foreign aspect of the question, If It
did not remove all foreign difficulties. On the
assumption of that assent, the question would be
confined to the domestic considerations which be-
long to it, embracing the terms and conditions
upon which annexation is proposed. do not
think that Texas ought to be received into the
Union as an integral part Of it, in decided oppose
ton to the wishes Of considerable and respec-
table portion OF the confederacy. think 1t TAR
more wise aud important to compose and har-
monze the present confederacy. as it now exists.
than to introduce new element of discord and
distraction into it. In my humble opinion, it
should be the constant and earnest endeavor OF
American statesmen to eradicate prejudices, to
cultivate and foster concord, and to produce gen.
eral contentment among all parts OF our confede-
racy. And true wisdom, it seems to me, points
to the duty of rendering it's present members hap
py, prosperous, and satisfied with each other.
rather than to attempt to introduce alien MEM
certainty of deep dissatisfaction"
But why quote further from Mr.. Clay's candid
and manly, and statesmanlike and honorable, ex-
position Of his views and opinions Every word
will be treasured up in hundreds of thousands of
Wing bosoms, his sentiments viii guide the con-
duct Of the Wings, and marshal them to certain
and glorious victory. He is not opposed to the
annexation Of Texas, when the difficulties. which
at present surround that question, arc removed.