The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1844-09-05

inst. " Y. Tribune.
ASHLAND, 9th July, 1914.
GENTLEMEN IL have received your
favor informing ne that my views, as dis
closed in my letter tfrom Raleigh, Oh the
question of the Annexation of Texas, are
misconceived, if not misrepresented, in
your quarter and that it is supposed that
| have changed my oppinion from wha! it
was In 1919. | endeavored to express
myself in that letter as explicitly as could
and | do not think now that it can be fair
ly misinlerpreled.
In 1919, when | addressed the House
of representatives, Tire Executive had ne
gociaied the treaty with Spain, by which
Texas was coded 10 that power, bu, Con-
gress had not then given any sanction to
The cession. belive now, and | thought
then, that the Trealy-making power is not
competent, without the concurrence of
Congress, TO cede away any Territory be-
longing to The United States. But Con-
gress, by repeated acts, subsequently, man
lesed its appreciation of the treaty and
these acts rendered it as valid and obliga>
tory uron the U, States, as if Congress had
given its assent, prior to the conclusion OF
The treaty. At that period OF 1919, Tex
as, as claimed by US, was un2eop'ed. No
hostile incursious had been made into 1t by
citizens of the United States. 10 1925
and 1927, there we're but few inhabitants
of Texas, consisting of some colonsls,
planted there under The authority OF Mex
leo.
At neither of the three periods above
mentioned had any Stale or section, in
this Union, manifested any opposition 10
Texas composing part Of 1t. 1t has
been said that Mr.. Adams administration
offered 10 negotiate with Mexico for Tex
as, Notwithstanding the existence of war
between Spain and Mexico and that il
could not therefore have believed that the
acquisition of Texas, at that time, would
have involved the United States in war
with Spain, Hence it is argued that the
ratification of the late treaty could not
have Compounded our peace.
Mr. Adams thought it desirable TO OBJ
tain Texas. Two foreign powers claimed
it. Mexico was 10 possession, and Spain
was doing nothing TO assert and enforce
her claim. Her representative had even
gone so far as to stlpuIlte, in convention,
10 ackno Wedge the Independence of Mex
leo, although that conventnn was not Iatl-
fed by Spain.
Mr. Adams had right TO authorize the
negotiation Of treaty for the acquisition
of Texas with both or either of the pow
ers claiming it. 1t was natural that he
should begin with that power which had
the possession of Texas. Spain had inter-
posed no obstacle She had made no dec
laration that she would regard The acquisi-
ton of Texas as an act OF war. In point
of fact, no overture was formally made to
Mexico to purchase Texas, no negotiation
was opened, no treaty was concluded. II
a negotiation had commenced, or if trea-
ty had been signed, and Spain had profess
ted, the prudent and cautious policy which
characterized Mr. Adams administration,
would undoubtedly have prompted him to
quiet Spain, and accommodate the matter,
previous 10 the annexation OF Texas to the
United States, and without plunging them
in war with Spain. How totally different
are all the circumstances under which,
with Mr. Adams authority, | authorized
the overture 10 Mexico, from those which
attended the recent treaty of Mr. Tyler.
So far from Mexico being silent, she
repeatedly and solemnly declared that she
would consider annexation as war with
her. Texas was no longer an uninhabit-
ed country. 1t had been wrested from the
dominion of Mexico by citizens many OF
whom went armed from the United States.
The war between Mexico and texas had
moi been terminated by any treaty ofpeace
Mr. Tyler not only did not consult Mexl-
co, but [he announced that her assent to
the annexation was altogether unnecessa
ry. As he proceeded TO conclude treaty,
embracing a large extent Of Territory,
and numerous population, not compre-
hended in the Texas which the United
States coded to Spain in 1919.
| In the mean time, too, powerful oppo-
siton had arisen in the United States a.
gainsl the annexation of Texas to them.
Several States had declared through their
Legislatures, against il, and others, if not
whole sections oflhe Union, were believed
to be adverse 10 it. This was the opposition
to the measure, 10 which, in my Raleigh
letter, alluded, when l spoke of con-
siderable and respectable portion OF the
coatederacy' | did not refer TO persons
but TO Safes or sections.
Under such circumstances could not
but regard the Annexation of Texas, al
this time, as compromising the honor
of my country, involving it in a war, In
which the sympathes oil all Chrslendom
would be against us and endangering the
integrity OF the Union, thought then
and still believe, that National dishonor,