The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 184?-1851, 1844-06-19
COLUMBIA, TENNESSEE, !
April 23d. 1914. {

| NSA'N-'''4fNs 1 f-'-Nf-ocEI-t
April 23d, 1874.
GENrLDoEN-Your letter of the Both ultimo
which you have done me The nonor TO address
me, reached my residence during my absence
from home, and was not received until Yesterday
Accompanying your letter, you transmit to me as
you state, ga copy of the proceedings Of very
" large meeting of the citizens of Cincinnati
s. assembled without distinction Of party, on the
" 18th instant, 10 express their settled opposition
" to the annexation of Texas to the United
d" States" You request from me an explicit
Z" expression of opinion upon this question of an
=" t"nexatlon." Having at no time entertained any
Opinions upon public subjects which was unwil-
| ling 70 avow, it gives me pleasure 10 comply
with your request have no hesitation in de-
clarng that am in favor of the immediate re-
annexation of Texas to the Territory and Gov
eminent Of the United States | entertain no
doubt as to the power or the cxpediency of the
remuneration. The proof is clear and satisrac-
| tory to my mind, that Texas constituted part of
the United States, the title to which ! regard to
have been as indjspuable as that to any other
Iporton of our territory, At the time the nego-
tlation was opened with view to regain the
tloridas, and the settlement of other questions
and pending that negotiation, the Spanish Gov
ernment itself was satisfied of the validity Of our
title, and was ready TO recognise line as far
west of the Sabine, as the true western bounda-
ny of Louisiana, as defined by the treaty Of 1903
with France, under which Louisiana was acqui-
red. This negotiation, which had been first
opened at Madrd was broken off and transfer
red to Washington, where it was resumed, and
resulted in the treaty Of Florida, by which the
Sabine was fixed upon, as the western boundary
of Louisiana. From the ratification of the trea-
ty of 1903 with France, until the treaty of 1870
with Spain, the territory now constituting the
Republic of Texas, belonged to the United
States.-In 1919 the Florida treaty was conclu-
ded at Washington, by Mr.. John Quincy Adams
(then Secretary of State) on the part of the
United States, and Don Louis de Ons, on the
part Of Spain; and by that treaty this territoryI
lying west Of the Sabine, and constituting Tex
as, was ceded by the United States to Spain. |
That the Rio del Norte or some more western
boundary than the Sabine could have been OBJ
tanned, had it been insisted Oh by the American
Secretary Of State, and that without increasing
The consideration paid for the Flordas, have
not doubt. In my judgment, the country west
Of the SABINE, and now Texas, was most un-
wisely ceded away. 1t is part of the great val
ey of the Mississippi, directly connected by its
lavigable waters with the Mississippi river, and
having one been part of the Union, it should
never have been dismembercd for it. The Gov
and people of Texas, it is understood,
lot only give their consent, but are anxiously
iesrous TO be reunited to the United States. /
f the application of Texas for reunion into
,ur confederacy shall be rejected by the United
States, there is imminent danger that she will be-
'ome depency, if not colony of Great Bri-
ain-an event which no American patriot, anx-
GUS for the safety and prosperity of his country
ould permit to occur, without the most strenu-
MS resistance. Let Texas be re-annexed, and h
he authority and laws of the United States be
and maintained within her limits, as
lso in tho Oregon territory, and let the fixed
'olicy of our Government be, not to permit
treat Britain or any other foreign power to plant
colony or mold dominion over any portion of
he people or territory of either. These are nv
pinions, and without deeming ii necessary to s
Xtend this letter, by assigning many reasons {
'hlch influence me in the conclusions TO which
come, | regret TO be compelled to differ so
rdely from the views expressed by yourselves,
nd the meeting of the citizens of Cincinnati r
HON you represent. Differing however, with
ou and with them as do, it was due to frank
ess, that | should be thus explicit in the dccla-
ltion of my opinions.
am with great respect, In
Your obedient servant, n
JAMES X. POLK. p
o Messrs
S. P. Chase,
Thomas Heaton, )
T. Finkbrine, = =
G. Bailey,jr, T
Samuel Lewis, 8
Committee, &C.,
Cincinnaf; Ohio -,