Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1844-06-13
col PoLk's LETTER on THE RE.AN.
NEXATION OF TEXAS

COLUMBIA Tenn, April %. lsii
den''emon-I our leticr Of the 30ih ut, which
YOU have done me the honor 10 address TO me
reached my rc,idcnce during my absence from
home, md was not received until yesterday Ae
compsnygg your lc.,er Won transmit 10 me, as
YOU state. "A copy OF she proceedings Of very
large meeting of the cilizens OF Clnclnne,i. assem-
blrd on the 30ih u.. TO express their settled oppo-
sluon Ia he annexation Of Texas TO the | nttd
Stat 8" You rcqncs from me an explicit cS.
preston OF opinion upon this question OF onncNa.
ton. Having a, no time entertained opinions up
on public subjects which was unwilling TO nvow,
i caves INC pleasure to comply with the request Co.
| have no hesitation in declaring that ] am in
favor Of the immediate remuneration Of Texas
to the territory and government ofthe u. en-
terrain No doubts as to The power or expedcncy OF
the re.ann xallon The proof is clear and salts
! fc,orv u INV own mind, thai Texas once constltu
tel pat of tn territory Of the United States the
nile To which regard to hav9 been MS ndispua.
bic as that 10 any portion Of our territory At the
time negotiation was opened with view 10 &C
qulrc the Florii1s aud the settlement Of other ques
/ tons, and pending that negotiatlon the Spanish
Government itself was satisfied Of the validity o.
our tile. aud was ready to recognize a line fal
/ West the Sabine as the true Western boundary
Of Louisian, as defined by the treaty of 1903 with
France under which Louisiana was acquired
This negotiation, which had been first opened
at Madrid, was broken off and transferred Il
Washin yton, where it was resumed, and resulted
it the treaty of Florida, by which the Sabine wa:
fixed on as the Western boundary of Louisiana -
From the ratification of the treaty of 1903 witt
France, until the treaty OF 1919, with Spain, th'
territory now consisting ofthe Republic of Texas
belonged to the IT, s. In 1919 the Florida trea
~ was concluded at Washington, by Mr. John q
Adams, the Secretary Of S,ate,) on the par, o
the u. S. and Don Louis de Ons on the part o
Spain and by this treaty this territory lying Yves
of the Sabine, and constituting Texas, was cede'
BY the Uni,d States to Spain. The Rio del Mort
or some more Western boundary than the Sabin
could have been obtained, had it been insisted Of
by the American Secretary of State, and that with
out increacing the consideration paid for the Flor
idas. In my judgment the country West of tn
Sabine, and now called Texas, was most unwse
ceeded away. It is part of the great valley ofth
Mississippi, directly connected by its navigabl
waters with the Mississippi river and havn
once been part of our Union, 1t should neve
have been dlsmembercd from it. The Govern
ment and people of Texas, it is understood, nc
only gives her consent. but are anxiously desirou
TO be reunited to the United States lfthe apl lea
ton of Texas for a reunion and admission into on
conIederacy shall be rejected by the United States
there is eminent danger that she will become
Deepen dency, if not colony Of Great Britnn-a
event which no American patriot anxious for tn
safety and prosperity of this country, coul
permit to occur without the most strenuous res'
lance lie. Texas he reannexed, and the author
" and laws of the United States be established an
maintained within her limits, as also IN the Ore
gon Territory and let the liked policy of our GOV
eminent be, not to permit Great Brilon or an
other foreign power to plant colony or ho
domains over any portion Of the people or terrtor
of either. These my opinions and wnhou
dceming it necessary 10 extend this letter, by az
sloning the many reason which influence me !
the conclusions To which come | regret to
compelled to differ so widely from Yourselves, an
the meeting of citizens Of Cincinnati whom yo
represent Differing. however with you and wit
/ them rs do was due to frankness that shout
be TINS explicit in the declaration OF my opinions
>. am with great respect your obedicnt servant
JAS X. Polk.
+ To Ncssrs S p Chase, Thomas Hea!on, &c
. Committee, Cincinnati