The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-04-27

THE TEXAS QUESTION.

MR.. CLAY ON THE TEXAS QUESTION
The following Letter from Mr. CLAY 10 the Edi-
tors was forwarded iron Raleigh on the day OF It's
date but did not reach hands N time for pubca-
| ton earlier than to-day
| TO THE EDITORS on THE NATIONAL iNrELiAoENcEh'
RALE,Sa, April IT, ls4i.
GrsrLEmEs: Subsequent TO my departure from
| Ashland in December last received various com
| muDcations from popular assemblages ana Prnaie
individuals, requesting an expression oil my opinion
upon the question OF the Annexation OF Texas 10 the
| United States have forborns to reply TO them be-
cause il was very convenient during the progress
Of my Journey, to do SO, and for other reasons
did think IL proper, unnecessarily, TO introduce
/ al present new element among the other exciting
subjects which agitate and engross the pubic mnd
Tie rejection OF the overture Of Texas, some years
| ago, TO become annexed 10 the United States, had
| met with general acquescence. Nothing had since
occurred materially 10 vary .he question had seen
no evidence OF desire being entertained on the par'
| of any considerable portion OF the American people,
| that Texas should become integral part OF the
| United States. Daring my sojourn in New Orleans,
| had indeed, been greatly surprised, by information
which received from Texas, that, in the course OF
last fall voluntary overture had proceeded iron lhe
Executive of the United States To the Authorities OF
Texas TO conclude treaty OF Annexation; and that,
| in order to overcome the repugnance felt by any OF
them negotiation upon the subject, strong and as
believed, erroneous representations had been made
| to them OF state OF opinion IN he Senate oil the
United States favorable to the ratification OF such
treaty According to these representations IT had
been ascerained that number OF Senators, varying
from thirty.hve to iortywo, were ready To SANCTION
| such treaty. was aware, too, that holders oil
Texas lands and Texas SCRIP and spectators IN them,
were actively engaged promoting the object oil an
nexa,ion Still did not believe that any Executive
Of the United States would venture upon SO grave
| aud momen Gus a proceeding, not only without any
general manifestation of public opinion in favor OF It,
but in direct opposition to strong and decided express
sons Of public disapprobation. But it appears that
was mistaken To the astonishment OF the whole ma
| tion we informed that treaty OF anDeXa-
ton has been actually concluded, and is to be sub
miited 10 the Senate for its consideration lhe mo
tves for my silence, therefore, longer remain, and
feel il to be my duty TO present an exposition OF my
views and opinions upon the question: Tor what lhey
| may be worth, to the public consideration adopt
| this method as being more convenient than severa.
| replies to the respective communications which
| regret that | have not the advantage OF n view
Of the treaty ITSELF to enable TO adapt an
expression OF my opinion TO the actual conditions
and stpulations which It contains. Not possessing
that opportunity am constrained 10 treat the ques-
ton according to what presume to be the terms oil
the treaty. IL, without the loss OF national charac-
ter, without the hazard of foreign war, with tho
general concurrence OF The nation, without any dan
ger 10 the integrity Of the Union, and without giving
nexation presented, it would appear in quite
different light from that in which, apprehend, II Is
now to be regarded.
The United States acquired title to Texas, ex-
tending as believe, TO the Rio del Nor,e by the
treaty of Louisiana. They coded and relinqushed
tina; title TO Spain by the treaty OF 1919, 10y which
the Sabine substituted for The Rio del Norle a.
our western boundary. The treaty was negotiated
under the Administration Of Mr. Monroe, and win
the concurrence of his Cabinet, Of which Messrs,
r.,, T..J oil and Writ halu mai
Southern gentlemen, composed a part When the
treaty was laid before the Houie of Represent
lives being member of that body, expressed
the opinion which then Entertained, and still hold,
that Texas was sacrificed to the acquisition oil Flo
rda. We wanted Florida but I 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 h'e
millions Of dollars and Texas for IT. we gave more
| than a lust equivalent. But, If made great
sacrifice in the surrender OF Texas, ought to take
care not to make too great sacrifice IN the attempt
| TO re-acquire II.
| NV o inions of the inexpediency of the treaty OF
| 1919 dad not prevail. The county and Congress
were satisfied With It, appropriation. were made 10
| carry IL into effect the ne OF the Sabhe was resog-
missed by our boundary, ia negotiations ooth
wuh Spain and Mcreo, sfier MeSco became Inde-
pendent, snl measure, have been H. actual progress
10 mark he line, lrom the Sabine 10 Red riVef, ahn
| thence To the Pac ic We have thus larry
ale nated title 10 Texas, by solemn national co u
pacts To the iufiment of which we stand bouhd os
good faith and national honor. II :, therefore, per
ecty idle and ridiculous, # not dishonotabe, 10 ta'k
of resuming title to Texas, as Il We bad never
| parted with It. We more do that than Spain
can resume TiodS, France Louisiana, or Great bn-
the thirteen colonies, now composing part OF the
/ United States.
| During The administration of MIR Adams, Mr..
| Pinseti, Minister Of the United Stats at Mexico,
was instructed by me, with the Presidents auth N.Y.
To propose re-purcha'e of renss but ne lorhore
even TO make on overture iui that iurpise upon ms
return TO the United States he informed ne, al New
Orleans that his for not max hg II was, That
he knew the purchase was wholly lmpracteahle, and
that he was persuaded that, II he made the overture,
il would have her Ell, Ct than to aggraSatc rrlta-
ons already existing upon matters OF difference be
| twe n the two countries
! The events which have since transpired IN Texas
are well known. She re soted against the Govern
ment Of Mexico few to arms, and finally fought and
won the memorable battle Of San Jicinto annihilat.
| ing a Mexican army and making captive Of the
Mexican President he signal success OF that reVo-
! luton was greatly aided Il not who ~ achievep, by
citizens Of the United States who had migrated TO
! Texas These sIccors II they could not always be
| prevented by the Government Of the United States,
we're furnished IN a manner and 10 an extent which
brought upon some naiiona' reproach in the eyes
Of an impartial world. And, in my opinion, they
impose the obi alton Of sorupulously avoiding
the imputaton Of having iostgated and aided the
yolution with the ultimate view Of terrnorsl az
grandizsment Afler the b tile Of San Jacinto, the
United States recognised the independence of Texas
in conformity with the principle and practice which
have always prevailed in their councils, Of recogni-
zng the Government d. faoto,n without regarding
tie question d, ure. That recognition did not affect
or impair the rights Of Mexico, change the rels-
tons which existed between her and Texas. She,
on the contrary, has preserved all her rights and has
continued TO assert, and far a. know yet asserts
her right to reduce Texas to obedience, as part Of
the Republ Of Mexico, According to late in,elh.
gence, Il is probable she has agreed upon Temporal
ry suspension Of hostilities but IL that has been
done, presume IT is with the purpose upon the
mnati OF the afmisticc, Of renewing the war and
her r9rlts as sbe nonsid.r. thcn.